Choosing a Cat
When choosing a cat or kitten, there are many things to be considered:
- Time and commitment – Although cats are relatively independent animals, they still require time and company
- Space and Exercise – If you are planning on keeping your cat indoors, then you need to consider the amount of space available to it for exercising, and simulating natural, hunting behaviour. However, should you decide to allow your cat free roaming, you must take into account your locality, and how easy it will be for your cat to get access to main roads.
- Expense – In addition to initial costs of purchasing a cat or kitten, you will also need to allow for day to day costs such as feeding and cat litter, and any routine or unexpected vet bills or cattery fees should you require them.
- Age – Although kittens are fun (and cute), they can also be quite disruptive within the household, so sometimes it is better to consider rescuing a slightly older cat.
- Experience – Certain breeds of cat require more attention than others, for example, Persians, and other long coated cats will require daily grooming, whereas Oriental breeds such as Siamese demand attention and require brain stimulation.
Other things to consider are:
Pedigree or Crossbreed? - It is important to research the different breeds of cat, this will help you decide which is best suited to you, and give you an idea of the different breed characteristics. Some breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions.
What sex? – Male cats tend to be larger than females. Entire males have a tendency to be more territorial and therefore get involved in fights which can, not only bring about unexpected vet bills for abscesses and fight wounds, but also can spread diseases such as FIV (feline aids) or feline leukaemia virus. They will also mark their territory by spraying, this can sometimes occur in the house, and also in males neutered later in their life. Female cats can be more feisty (especially the tortoiseshell colouring). They are frequently in and out of season from January to September, and can produce as many as 4 litters of kittens in that period if she is left unspayed.
What coat type? – Long or short coated? Long coated cats need more grooming and daily inspection, yet short coated cats are likely to shed hair more noticeably.
Kitten vs. older cat – Kittens are great fun, but can be a handful and time consuming as they grow up. Whereas an older cat may be more suitable to your situation having had time to mature.
