Buying a pet is one of the biggest commitments you will ever make in your life.
Opening your heart and home to an animal that will become a cherished member of your family is very special, and is one of life's great pleasures.
When choosing a kitten or cat, it is important that you work through a clear list of what you're after, rather than buying the first kitten you see because it is cute! This will ensure that you purchase the perfect feline companion for you and your family, to live happily together for the next 10 to 18 years.
Here is a list of things you should consider: 1.
Should you get a male or female cat? Male and female cats have certain differences that you need to be aware of.
Male cats are often quite cuddly, whereas females can be quite cautious, even with people they've lived with for years.
Male cats will spray urine, both inside and out, to mark their territory, but this is not an issue if you get them neutered when they are kittens.
Female cats will yowl when on heat, and can fall pregnant quite young, but this risk can be removed by having them spayed as kittens.
2.
What sort of temperament should your cat have? Consider what sort of family you have.
Do you have young children? Are you an older couple? Are you single? Do you have other pets in the house? Based on this information, are you after a cat who will constantly sit on your lap, or do you want one that is playful and adventurous? Siamese cats are quite adventurous, but sometimes a bit too naughty for young children.
Persian cats love human attention and get along well with other animals.
Burmese cats are very intelligent, very playful, yet also very loving.
3.
What type of coat should your cat have? When you think about your future cat, do you look forward to grooming a stunning long-hair, or would you prefer the convenience of a hairless breed? There are certainly issues to consider at both ends of the spectrum.
For example, hairless breeds require warm rooms and warm bedding, whereas long-haired cats need to be brushed daily to remove knots and burs, and their coat will shed all over the house.
If you have a family member who is allergic to cat fur, you might want to consider breeds like the Devon Rex, which has a coat that sheds much less than the average cat.
4.
Will your cat be an inside or outside animal? This is probably one of the most important questions to ask because it will govern your choices of extra equipment purchases, and how you will need to have appropriate spaces set up.
If your cat is going to be constantly inside, you will need to purchase a litter tray, cover, and litter bags, and you will need to allocate a permanent location for the litter tray so that your cat doesn't get confused.
Find a place that is easy to clean so that you can keep it hygienic, and where you won't be bothered too much by any odor.
Keeping your cat outside is an option, but you'll want to make sure that it doesn't have any opportunity to kill any surrounding small animals.
This can be achieved by purchasing a modular cat enclosure.
You can custom-build these without too much effort, to work well with the dimensions of your yard.
If you arm yourself with answers to the above questions before you see your first beautiful kitten, then you'll be ready to make the best choices for your family, and for your wonderful new cat companion.
Opening your heart and home to an animal that will become a cherished member of your family is very special, and is one of life's great pleasures.
When choosing a kitten or cat, it is important that you work through a clear list of what you're after, rather than buying the first kitten you see because it is cute! This will ensure that you purchase the perfect feline companion for you and your family, to live happily together for the next 10 to 18 years.
Here is a list of things you should consider: 1.
Should you get a male or female cat? Male and female cats have certain differences that you need to be aware of.
Male cats are often quite cuddly, whereas females can be quite cautious, even with people they've lived with for years.
Male cats will spray urine, both inside and out, to mark their territory, but this is not an issue if you get them neutered when they are kittens.
Female cats will yowl when on heat, and can fall pregnant quite young, but this risk can be removed by having them spayed as kittens.
2.
What sort of temperament should your cat have? Consider what sort of family you have.
Do you have young children? Are you an older couple? Are you single? Do you have other pets in the house? Based on this information, are you after a cat who will constantly sit on your lap, or do you want one that is playful and adventurous? Siamese cats are quite adventurous, but sometimes a bit too naughty for young children.
Persian cats love human attention and get along well with other animals.
Burmese cats are very intelligent, very playful, yet also very loving.
3.
What type of coat should your cat have? When you think about your future cat, do you look forward to grooming a stunning long-hair, or would you prefer the convenience of a hairless breed? There are certainly issues to consider at both ends of the spectrum.
For example, hairless breeds require warm rooms and warm bedding, whereas long-haired cats need to be brushed daily to remove knots and burs, and their coat will shed all over the house.
If you have a family member who is allergic to cat fur, you might want to consider breeds like the Devon Rex, which has a coat that sheds much less than the average cat.
4.
Will your cat be an inside or outside animal? This is probably one of the most important questions to ask because it will govern your choices of extra equipment purchases, and how you will need to have appropriate spaces set up.
If your cat is going to be constantly inside, you will need to purchase a litter tray, cover, and litter bags, and you will need to allocate a permanent location for the litter tray so that your cat doesn't get confused.
Find a place that is easy to clean so that you can keep it hygienic, and where you won't be bothered too much by any odor.
Keeping your cat outside is an option, but you'll want to make sure that it doesn't have any opportunity to kill any surrounding small animals.
This can be achieved by purchasing a modular cat enclosure.
You can custom-build these without too much effort, to work well with the dimensions of your yard.
If you arm yourself with answers to the above questions before you see your first beautiful kitten, then you'll be ready to make the best choices for your family, and for your wonderful new cat companion.
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