Choosing a cat

If you’re an animal lover, a cat might be the right choice for you.  Cats usually live a long life (many of them live over 20 years) and are both loving and independent.  They can be the perfect addition to any family.

Here are some questions to ask yourself and your family if you are considering adding a cat to your  lives.

Kitten or cat?

The first choice when deciding between cats is if you want a young cat or an older one. The kittens are certainly an attractive option, but they soon grow out of their stage of small, cute and require much attention and expense – including housetraining, and medical expenses, such as vaccines and sterilization. Kittens are also more sensitive than older cats, which means that children can sometimes treat it too rough, resulting in accidental injury or distress to the animal. For these reasons, an adult cat may be easier to connect with your family life, and because older cats in rescue centers are harder to place in homes than their younger teammates.

Pedigree or Not?

The vast majority of cats fall in the “mixed race” category – which means they are not pedigree.   Since they are a mix bag of sorts, if you get a kitten, you do not know in advance the final size or temperament.   However, many owners enjoy this element of surprise and because cats vary less than dogs, choosing a breed is less important.   Pedigree cats may also be more prone to genetic problems and health problems related to a particular race.   If you want to go the way of pedigree, here are some popular breeds to choose from.

1) Siamese

• It originated in Thailand and imported into Britain in the 1880
• Medium sized slender cat are graceful but muscular
• Short white coat with dark face, ears, paws and tail, minimal grooming necessary
• Life span of 20 years or more
• Sociable and outgoing, can be very noisy

2) long-haired Persian

• Its origin in Persia (Iran) and Turkey
• A solid long-haired cat with a broad head, round a flat face and eyes wide apart
• Long haired
• Short life expectancy of 10 to 12 years
• Indoor cats are not very active

3) Russian Blue

• It probably originated in Russia
• Medium and large cat with a pointed face and short hair
• Short blue-gray fur (cats rarely black and white)
• True to its owner, but perhaps shy of strangers, happy when relaxed

The Pedigree Cats Show – Wystawa Kotów Rasowych