Selecting a Breed

Once you've determined that a cat is the right pet for you, there are a few other things to be decided:

Cat? Or kitten?

First of all, do you want a cat or a kitten? There's no doubt about it: kittens are adorable. They are soft and cute and cuddly, and their tireless energy and endless curiosity can be completely endearing. But kittens are also mischievous. They are discovering the world around them for the very first time and can often end up in situations that you'd really rather they hadn't (like in the middle of the living room, tangled up in a pile of shredded curtains!). Kittens also require some training and extra attention during development.

Adult cats are generally calmer than kittens. They have had enough time to learn about the world around them and figure out how to respond appropriately. By the time a cat is considered an adult, he/she will have developed his/her own distinctive personality and should have learned some basic manners. By adopting an adult cat, you'll be able to know immediately how big or heavy he/she is, and what his/her likes and dislikes are. Of course, an adult cat has a history that is unknown to you and may have more health problems or special dietary needs.

Adopting either a kitten or a cat can be a lot of fun and bring many happy days to your household. You just need to decide which is a better match for your lifestyle, or which one you simply can't live without!

Male? Or female?

Once you've decided whether to get a kitten or a cat, it's time for another decision: Male? Or female? There are not too many major differences between male and female cats. Male cats are usually larger than females, and, if unneutered, they will spray urine to mark their territory. Having your male cat neutered before puberty (usually around 6 months of age) will stop this behavior. Female cats should be spayed between 6 and 8 months of age.

Purebred? Or mixed breed?

So, now you need to decide whether you'd like a purebred or mixed breed cat. Purebreds are descended from one particular breed and can be quite expensive. So if you're not planning to show or breed your cat, a mixed breed may be the right choice for you. However, if you're set on a certain breed, check your local animal shelter. You just may find the purebred you're looking for.

If you've decided to get a purebred from a breeder or look for one in an animal shelter, you'll need to decide which breed you're interested in. There are over 40 breeds to choose from, so you may need to do a bit of research before you make your final decision.

Breed?

If you have decided to buy a purebred from the breeder or to go to an animal shelter you need to decide which breed you are interested in.There are more than 40 different cat breeds and before you make your decision you want to go the breeds page and find about the popular cat breeds click here.