Step 1: Choosing The Right Cat
Short-haired or long-haired? Purebred or breed-less? Cat or dog?
These are but some of the questions (apart from the last one perhaps, we all know the answer to that!) that a future cat owner asks herself before embarking on a cat owner journey.
STOP! Are you cat-ready?
The main question to answer, however, is: are you ready for the responsibility? With modern veterinary care, cats can live up to 20 years or even longer. You need to decide whether the cat will fit into your lifestyle, how it will affect other people that live with you, what changes you will need to make to your house and many other important questions.
It is a common misconception to think that cats are loners and don’t need their hooman’s attention. Cats are quite affectionate animals and will become bored and destructive if left alone indoors for too long.
Costs associated with pet care can add up quickly – have you made sure you accounted for and can cover all of it? Think of frequent litter change, food, bedding, entertainment, vet care costs, and finally the cost of a kitten or a cat itself if you’re going for a purebred, which can be in the hundreds of dollars/pounds/euros. Who will take care of your kitty if you need to go away, on vacation or a work trip? You will need to add the cost of a cat stay or a cat sitter as well before making your decision.
I am ready! Now what?
If you’re still reading – congratulations, you’ve passed the ‘True Cat Lovers Only’ test. Now let’s find you a purrfect companion! The first thing you should decide is whether you want a purebred cat, or you would be happy with a common tabby (‘moggie’).
If you go for a purebred, make sure you do your research on the breed’s needs and characteristics. Consider size, coat type, temperament and diseases/illnesses that the breed might be susceptible to. There are a few ways to group breeds on, we prefer the following:
Shorthairs
Most cats have short hair. An evolutionary development, short hair keeps the cat warm without overheating, allows it to move through dense topography, and jump freely without chancing to get stuck in thick bushes.
The advantage of shorthairs is easy maintenance, though it doesn’t guarantee your furniture will still be clean!
The most famous short-hair breeds are:
- Abyssinian
- British Shorthair
- Burmese
- Siamese
- Russian Blue
- Sphynx
Longhairs
Supposedly the longhaireds originated in Western Asia and were first brought to Western Europe around 500 years ago. Despite the thought that long hair was a genetic mutation to respond to living in a cold climate, the origins of longhaireds are still up for speculation.
The most famous long-hair breeds are:
- Balinese
- Birman
- Maine Coon
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Persian
- Ragdoll
- Siberian
A kitten or an adult cat?
Choosing a kitten rather than a grown cat might seem like a more sensible idea but there are a number of consequences to consider first. Can you picture yourself taking care of a cat well into her teens and twenties? Raising a kitten comes with a responsibility of creating a right learning environment, free from abuse and with a considerable amount of attention and care. If you have children, you need to make sure they are taught how to handle kittens without hurting them.
If you decided to adopt an adult cat, try to find out its age to make sure you’re providing adequate care and age-appropriate food. Middle age for cats starts at about 7 years and is equivalent to about 43-44 in human years. Take your cat to a vet to check she doesn’t have any age-related or other problems.
Finding a Breeder or a Shelter
Once you’ve decided on the cat you want, the next step is to choose the correct breeder or a shelter home you’ll be happy with. You can find more here.