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Choosing Your Cat

Questions
Mixed or Purebred
Gender
Long-Haired or Short-Haired
Kitten or Adult
One Cat or More
Do's and Don'ts

Questions You Need to Ask Yourself
Before you go out and find yourself a cat, you had better ask yourself these very important questions:

Can you take care of your cat for its entire life? Your cat isn't going to be like a Tamagotchi; you can't just toss it to the corner of your room and forget about it.

Will you be able to spend quality time with your cat? Cats need to have a loving home.

Can you live with the cat hairs, the scratched-up furniture, the occasional hairball, cleaning the litterbox, etc.? Will you remember to feed your cat and give it water? If not, a cat is not for you.

You do know a cat won't be learning tricks, right? We're not malleable like those dogs are.

Do you have plans for your cat when you go on vacation? You can't just leave it at home with a bag of dry cat food and lots of water.

Can you afford a cat? There's the vet visits, neutering or spaying, the food, the toys, the litter. . . . All this can get pretty expensive.

Make sure you can have a cat where you live. Some apartments may have a no pet policy. Check first.

Are you or anyone you live with allergic to cats?

Mixed or Purebred
I myself am a mixed cat, and I'm proud of it. Mixed and purebred cats are all gorgeous. But if you happen to have a preference, here is some information about them.

A mixed-breed cat can basically be just about anything. They're a combination of breeds. There are long-hairs, short-hairs, big, small, calm, excitable, thin, not-so-thin. . . If you want a mixed cat, you can get one just about anywhere. Your friend or neighbor down the street may have a cat that just had some kittens. A pet store (go to a reputable one) will have some. Check your newspaper or flyers around town. Someone may be trying to give away or sell some cats or kittens. Last, but definitely not least, there's the animal shelter. Save those felines from being euthanized!

A purebred (also known as a pedigreed cat) has been bred (hence the name). No mixed cats in its family tree. If you want a pedigreed cat, you have to be willing to shell out a few hundred bucks. These cats can be exhibited in cat shows. You can get one from a cat show, a breeder (reputable), or a pet store (reputable).

Male or Female
It's basically your choice if you want a male or a female cat. Both will make good pets.

If you don't neuter or spay your cat, expect this to happen:

Females: They will reach sexual maturity between 6-12 months of age. Then she will go into heat (mating season for cats) 2-3 times a year. If an unneutered cat is allowed near her at those times, you can be nearly certain that she'll have kittens that many times too.

Males: They will reach sexual maturity at 9 months of age. At this point, they will want to begin marking their territory. This means they'll start spraying urine everywhere, on everything. Not pretty. Or particularly good-smelling.

Neutering your cats will solve these problems. Plus neutering will help prevent cat overpopulation, a very real problem nowadays. Here's some more information about neutering.

Long-Haired or Short-Haired
Admittedly, long-haired cats can be gorgeous. They've got that long, beautiful, fluffy hair. When you're thinking about getting a long-haired cat, like a Persian, ask yourself this: Are you willing to put in some extra work and time to take care of their fur? You need to spend a lot of time grooming your cat to keep that fur looking beautiful. If you don't, that fur will become tangled and dirty. Also, long-haired cats shed a lot more than short-haired cats do, and get more hairballs.

Short-haired cats are easier to take care of. Not as much time is needed to groom your cat. Plus, your cat will usually be able to take care of its coat itself. Lastly, if you or someone in your family is allergic to cats, you'll want a short-haired cat.

A Kitten or An Adult
Sure, everyone wants a kitten. They're cute, cuddly, and look simply adorable as they scramble around on the floor. Aaawwwww. Kittens take up a lot more of your time than adults do. There's its always wanting to play, for instance. You need to take it to the vet for neutering and vaccinations. You'll have to train your cat to use the litterbox, the scratching post, and to follow the rules of the household. On the plus side, kittens can be lots of fun and very rewarding. And yeah, they're cute. They'll also have an easier time adjusting to their new household than an older cat will.

Adult cats may not be as cute as kittens, but they're still good-looking. They will have a harder time adjusting to their new household though. They've already gotten used to their old routine. An older cat may also have gone through some abuse with its old owners, so there may be some problems it has socializing that you'll have to help it work out. On the plus side, you'll have less to worry about with an adult cat than with a kitten. An adult cat might be neutered, vaccinated, and litter trained already. It'll also be less lively, and you'll be able to just sit together and unwind at the end of the day.

One Cat or More?
True, two or more cats will be more expensive than one alone. However, getting two cats is a good idea if you won't be able to spend too much time with your cat. That way, when you're busy or out, they'll have some company. Plus, it isn't too much more difficult to take care of two cats than one. Just make sure you give your cats time to get used to each other. It's harder for two adult cats to get used to each other.

Do's and Don'ts for Choosing Cats

Do Don't

Make sure the place you're buying your cat from is reputable. Buy a cat from an unsanitary place or a kitty mill. They'll have unhealthy kittens.

Check out the kitten's parents. While kittens can have varying personalities, and enviroment also affects the kitten, agressive parents often have aggressive kittens. Buy a cat whose owner/pet won't let you see the cat or spend time alone with it.

Purebred cats tend to have hereditary defects. Ask the person you're getting the kitten from if a vet has checked the kitten for these defects. Buy from someone who doesn't want to talk about the cat's medical history or answer your questions.

Make sure that the breeder of a purebred cat gives you all the registration papers and a copy of your cat's family tree (pedigree). Buy from someone who won't guarantee that if your vet finds something wrong with the cat in the first few days after purchase, you can return the cat and get a full refund.

Bring your whole family to meet the cat to see how they get along together. Believe someone who says a kitten under four months old has had all its shots. They're lying.

If you're getting an adult cat, spend time with it away from its owner to see how willing it is to make friends with someone new. Get the weakest of the litter (the runt). They'll look weak, thin, and may be hiding in the corner.

Ask the owner or breeder as many questions as you want to. Choose a kitten that is sneezing, has diarrhea, a runny nose, runny eyes, or patches of fur missing (a sign of ringworm).