Choosing A Kitten

By Cynthia B. Whitney

You have decided to add a cat to your household. Great! Before you go any further, please make sure that it's completely clear to you and every member of the home that getting a cat is like adding a member to the family.

Your new furry friend will need food, medical care, proper housing and love for many years. If all that is agreed upon, you're ready to think about what type of cat to get.

Please keep in mind, "a cat is a cat" is not a true statement. They have personalities like you and me. Every breed has its characteristics, and within the breed, each animal has a unique behavior. It's true, certain behavioral aspects, such as temperament and athletic ability, are manifested in certain breeds over others. But each cat will be his own; please remember that.

Of course, there are many homeless non-pedigreed cats and kittens available from shelters all over this country. First, take any shelter adoptee to your veterinarian to have it checked out. Make that sure it has been tested and found negative for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FeLv and FIV) before bringing it home.

If you're considering purchasing a pedigreed cat, you should research your chosen breed. If you have no clue what breed you might like, there are several things you can do to educate yourself.

One of the best ways to see and understand the various breeds is to attend a cat show. Most shows have 30-50 different breeds-kittens and adults, big and little, shorthair and longhair for you to observe. Most breeders will gladly tell you about their breed. Ask questions like "How active is this breed?" "Does this breed prefer to have a cat companion?" "Are they good with children?" You may be surprised at the diversity of the answers. If you do find a breed you like, the breeder may have kittens for sale.

Another way to research breeds is to read breed profiles. Each cat registry, such as the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) and The International Cat Association (TICA) has written "standards" for showing the ideal cat of each breed. These standards include a brief description about the breed, including temperament, activity levels one can expect, etc. There are also numerous books on breeds of cats and information all over the Internet.

Keep in mind that the breed you think you like best may not be the best breed for your specific lifestyle. Be practical. You wouldn't buy a racecar for city driving. And you shouldn't buy a breed of cat that has a tendency to bounce off the walls with energy if you have a small apartment.

Once you decide which breed best suits you, you'll want to start your search for a reputable breeder. There are lots of sites on the Internet with breeder directories for you to look through. But be careful if shopping on the Web. Just because a breeder is on a list doesn't make him reputable. There are kitten mills just as there are puppy mills.

How can you tell the difference between a reputable breeder and a mill? One good indication is, if the breeders have cats with current titles, like Grand Champion or Regional Winner, then they're showing their cats at shows. This is one clue that they might be reputable-since they're actively showing cats, they're not likely to be backyard breeders with low quality cats. Breeding for show quality helps perpetuate the good qualities of the breed. It may also give you a good indication that their cats are probably healthy, since showing sick cats is not permitted in CFA and TICA.

However, none of these things is foolproof. The best way to know if you're working with the right breeder is to talk to them. If they have health guarantees, are pleasant to talk with, ask you a lot of questions, don't make a lot of excuses, etc., then you probably have found a good one. If possible, it's to your advantage to visit the breeder's home and see how the kittens are raised.

If your dream kitten happens to be far away and needs to be shipped to you, most breeders who ship do it regularly and should be able to explain how the process works. Also, make sure you understand the health guarantees on your kitten. You might ask the breeder who the veterinarian is, and call the vet. This could provide valuable information on the breeder.

Wherever you purchase your new kitty companion, make sure this is what you and everyone in your household wants. It's a commitment you won't regret.

References: www.cfainc.org – www.tica.org – www.petfinder.org – – www.okpetgazette.com/okcwelfare.html – Second Chance Animal Sanctuary, Norman – Jo-Ann's Cat Rescue, Choctaw – Free To Live Animal Sanctuary, Edmond – Pets and People Humane Society, Yukon – Oklahoma City Animal Shelter

Copyrighted by Cynthia B. Whitney. To inquire about reprints:
E-mail Cynthia at cwhit@flash.net or visit Castlepurrs Cattery.

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