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Choosing a Cat Wisely

 

What breed? Male or Female? Cat or Kitten?

You've considered the issues and decided you are ready to bring a cat into your family, now the question is where to begin?  You may have some ideas about what breed to get or whether you want a male or female cat, but before making a final decision there are many factors to choosing a cat that you may not have considered.   I know my first experience of bringing a cat home was an impulse decision and it didn’t go well.  Here is some of the information I wish I had before my first experience of choosing a cat.

You may want to start by doing some “on-site” research before choosing a cat.  Be careful though, you don’t want to make a impulse decision while you are doing your research or you will defeat the whole purpose of making a well thought out decision.  So, I make this suggestion hoping you can hold yourself to not coming home with a cat that isn’t really right for your family.

Visit a pet store and/or cat shows so that you can actually experience the real thing.  Sometimes seeing, touching and maybe even playing with the cat breed you are considering can help you make the right decision when choosing a cat.

Pure Breed vs. Mixed Breed

   Pure Breed

If you are considering a pure breed cat, be very careful where you get your cat.  In my opinion almost all pet stores are the wrong place to get a pet.  You need to be able to meet and know the practices of the breeder and her breeding stock before making a decision about whether to choose a cat from a particular breeder.  You can’t really tell where the cats have come from with a pet store.  Also you may be paying way over the amount that the particular breed you have chosen would cost from a reputable breeder.
	Sphynx

 So, if it is a pure bred cat that you want, check out the reputation and practices of breeders first.  There are many recognized cat associations that will have current lists of breeders and they may also have more information about the specific breed of cat you are choosing.

 There are problems with pure bred cats that you won’t face with a mixed bred cat, physical problems from improper breeding can creep into the breeding stock so make sure you do the research to know the breed standards and the problems that may be inherent in a particular breed before you choose a cat.  For example, Persians may have nasal problems because of their shortened faces. 

A reputable breeder will have screened for these problems (and offer a guarantee) but if you are aware of what the possible problems could be you will be able to choose a cat that will avoid these issues.  Link>>> to how to choose a breeder article

    Mixed Breed

Getting a cat from a shelter or rescue society I think is a great way to bring a cat into your family.  I have had nothing but great experiences from choosing a cat from the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) for example. 

The United States alone euthanizes between 4 and 6 million cats and dogs every year, (see spay and neuter below) so rescuing one of these animals is a good thing.  One of the benefits of a mixed breed cat is that they usually don’t have the same inherent issues that pure bred cats do for the very obvious reason that the breeding stock doesn’t typically pass problems down.   

 Another thing about bringing home a rescue cat is that most shelters will have already spayed or neutered and given the core vaccinations.  Some shelters also provide you with the first check up as part of the small fee you pay with the adoption. (it is usually around $50) 

If you choose a cat or kitten that is from someone you know, be sure you ask questions about the mother cat and make sure you get a physical exam immediately to make sure the cat you choose is healthy and gets the vaccinations he will need.

Adult Cat vs. Kitten

		Kittens can be so darn appealing that it is hard to pass them by, and you may think that your kids should experience a kitten.  First, you may think that if your decision when choosing a cat is to get a pure breed cat, you are not limited to getting a kitten.  Most breeds have rescue societies, where you can get the breed of cat you have chosen and adopt a cat that really needs you.  But, back to kittens or adult cat, if you have your mind set on a kitten here is some things to consider.
	Maine Coon

If time is a concern, a kitten just like any other baby mammal will require a lot more of your attention for a few months.  They may need to be litter box trained (although cats in general learn this fairly quickly) and they are going to suffer from separation from their mother and litter mates, so that you will have to fill that role for awhile.  Kittens also have lots of energy and will find all kinds of things to amuse themselves, many of those things may not be something you particularly want them to have. 

 If you have small children as I have said before, very young children can be hard on animals, kittens in particular.  A kitten may scratch and bite when held too tight.  Of course you should always monitor your small children and animals, but kittens are very small and easily hurt, even by accident. 

 Choosing a cat that is an adult on the other hand may fit better into your family, but they too can have issues, so you need to find out their history and as much as you can about the life they had before you decide to bring them into your family.  The circumstance of why they were given up may be something unavoidable by their families so that the happy family they came from may match yours closely and they will fit in beautifully. 

 Also, most shelters and rescue societies have observed and checked out the cat so that they know what type of family will probably work best, for example some cats get along beautifully with dogs and children, others may not have much experience around children and would do better in an all adult household. 

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Most adult cats will already have been spayed or neutered and had all their vaccinations so that you won’t have to go through any “recovery” time.  They will be litter trained, and may already know that kitchen counters are not made for cats. 

 Kittens are very cute and can be a fun experience if you are prepared for introducing a rambunctious creature into your home.  I have to say I have enjoyed having kittens in my home.  But, bringing home an adult cat has also been a great addition so when choosing a cat, and deciding between a kitten and a cat.  Just, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

Just a small aside, if you are an older adult (I am over 50), thinking about adopting an animal, keep in mind that you may not want an animal that you will have to pass down to your children. (I have two 19 year old cats right now.)  So an adult cat may be just the ticket.  Also, you might want to consider giving a “disabled” cat a home, I know that I have much more patience and time to give to an animal now that my kids are grown and a disabled cat is a wonderful companion, so when choosing a cat, don’t forget to consider a cat that really needs you.

Male vs. Female

I am not sure I can really tell the difference between a female or male cat.  If they are altered - spayed or neutered they don’t have real personality differences.  Although if they were altered later as adults they may continue more of the territorial behaviors, but that is about all.

Choosing a cat who hasn’t been altered you give you the experience of the wonderful (can you hear the sarcasm) world of mating behaviors.  First of all, unless you are a breeder, there really is no benefit in leaving your cat unaltered and in fact there are some serious reasons to make sure your cat is spayed or neutered.  Link>>> to spay and neuter article. 

A male cat that is not neutered will do a variety of things. The first is that he will “spray.”  This is one of the most unpleasant things I have ever had to experience with animals, even more unpleasant than potty training.  If you have never experienced a unaltered male cat, I will try to explain what I am talking about. 

What he is actually doing is marking his territory.  He is leaving a message for other cats.  Once a male cat has reached sexual maturity is usually when this behavior begins, although many factors can affect this. (It may begin sooner in multi cat homes.)  He is leaving a small spray of urine on vertical surfaces, furniture, doorways and walls.  The best way to avoid this behavior is to spay early.  Although some females will spray it is unusual and may be stress related and a vet should be involved. 

 Sadly, spraying is the most common reason that cats are euthanized and surrendered to shelters or worse.

Choosing a female cat who is unaltered will also have mating behaviors.  Every time they go into season or heat  (are ready to conceive)  Heat cycles can start as early as the fourth month and will continue until she bred or spayed.  The cycle will last from several days until two weeks or longer and happen ever two to three weeks.  Trust me, you will feel like she is always in heat. 

The behavior she will exhibit that is the most annoying is she will spend a lot of her time “yowling” at windows and doors to be let out.  If you allow her to be outside she will be pregnant every time.  Along with her yowling and making bizarre gyrations at the windows inside your house, all the male cats in the neighborhood will gather outside your house and spend the night yowling under your bedroom window. 

I’m sure you can tell I am a hard liner when it comes to spaying and neutering your animals.  Link>>> spay and neuter article  Unless you are a reputable breeder, there is no reason to leave your cat unaltered. So, as long as you spay or neuter, whether you choose a cat that is male or female doesn’t really matter.  Just choose a cat who’s personality fits with you and your family and lifestyle.

 So, my bottom line advice about choosing a cat, if you do your research and know what cat will work best for your family.  You will be happy with your choice and you will wonder how you ever got along before your cat joined your family.