How to choose a cat

Most of the people today choose those from purebred as pets. The number of these breeds goes back many centuries ago, like the Siamese or Siberian. They originated in different areas around the world, so that the geographical location and climate played a very important role in the evolution of their appearance.

Both the needs and the temperament of purebreds vary
from one race to another. So if you’re tending towards a cat of this type, there arefactors to take into account to ensure that you choose, not only the race you like, but also compatible with your lifestyle.

Perhaps the most obvious consideration is the one regarding their care. Some, like the Long-haired Persian cat, need a lot more care than others. There are also differences in the size between different races. The Maine Coon is considered
as the largest breed today, as reflected on its appetite, which makes it more
expensive to maintain. Temperament also varies, as some breeds are usually noisy and active, while others are much quieter and calmer.

Choosing a cat

Choosing a cat is not something that should be done in a hurry, especially since, hopefully, you’ll get a pet that will be part of your life for the next fifteen or twenty years, if you acquire it from small on.

There are certain factors that can influence your choice of cat, some of which will fit your lifestyle and others will be a matter of personal preference, like the kind of cat you’re looking for. You might want to consider whether you’re looking for a purebred or for example a cat without a pedigree, or if you prefer a kitten or a trained adult cat for home.

choices in this regard will influence your methods of finding the ideal partner and how it will fit into your new home with you. This provides a great opportunity to
create a close link between you and your cat. To have a successful beginning
you need time and patience, although cats and, especially kittens, can turn out to be quite adaptable living together,not only with people but also with dogs.

Preparing for a new cat

Getting a kitten can be expensive: you will need food and water bowls (solid, that are easy to clean), a carpet for the food, a litter tray, a bag for the droppings, a shovel and a disinfectant to clean the tray. Also combs and brushes, which will depend on whether your cat is long or short haired, plus a cat cage for transportation.

First days

Adapting your kitten to your home is not difficult, but avoid sudden changes in its diet for the first two weeks to minimize any risk of digestive problems. You should also always have fresh water to drink available. Kittens are, by instinct, clean and most probably your new pet will already be using a tray without any problem. If this is not the case, start by placing the litter tray close by right after every meal, when it most likely wants to relieve herself.

Make a prepared place for your pet as well, make sure everything is safe for your pet. Remove any valuable object that can knock down the cat, since it could jump on the furniture and make sure you keep them out of the kitchen.

Health issues

Don’t underestimate the costs of the first vaccines and treatments for deworming, available on the vet. There are severalfactors to consider when choosing a veterinary. The location of the vet is of vital importance, ideally close to your home, so that you can get help right away.

Don’t forget to look for animal insurance as well, because this will give you great peace of mind. Young cats can hurt themself very easily on accidents and the cost of an operation can be very high.

If you keep two cats, try to get them to be from the same litter if possible. This is a safer option from a sanitary point of view, instead of having two cats from different origins.

Avoid abrupt changes on the food of the cats, regardless of the age it has.

Outdoor cats

You should also decide if it’s better to keep your cat inside permanently when it grows, for example in the case of you live near a busy street.
If this is the case, be prepared to adapt your home for your new partner, creating a recreational area for your pet. In some cases where it will be relatively safe to let your cat ventures away from home after receiving his vaccines, then it will be necessary to install a gate. There are various gate designs on the market and the important thing is make sure, as far as possible, that other cats of
the neighborhood don’t come into your house. They can not only fight with
your pet, but also steal their food or even dirt the house.

Microchips

Chip-operated crawlers work through a chipon the cat’s collar. The most sophisticated designs will open automatically when you read the information
in your cat’s microchip implant, which turns out to be vital for identification purposes.

The microchip, which is the size of a grain of rice, is injected under the cat’s skin into the backpart of the neck. This can be done either when they are small or old and thus if your cat gets lost and surrenders to a rescue organization, it can be scanned with a reader who detects the unique code in the microchip. It will redirect to a data center which will make possible to contact with the owner.

Choosing the right cat

Once assessed the impact and cost of owning a cat in terms of lifestyle, the next step is to think about what type of cat you are attracted to and which one will be most suitable. The number of recognised cat breeds has increased enormously over the past decades to a total of over eighty and there can be very marked differences in character between them.

Chosing the cat breed

If you want a relatively quiet cat that is well adapted to the inner life, then the Persian could be ideal or on the other hand, at the other extreme, one of the so-called “hairless” breeds, of which the Sphynx is the best known. They will leave relatively little hair around the house, which will facilitate the cleaning tasks.

Other family members may influence your decision. In the event that
If you have small children, then a tolerant breed like the Ragdoll will be advisable. If you are looking for a breed that lives in relative harmony with a dog, then the Abyssinian will often be a good choice. Cat allergies are not surprising, if this is a possibility then choose a hairless breed or the Russian cat, which will be less likely to result in an allergic reaction.

There are circumstances where some breeds may not be the ideal choice. If you like to attract birds to your garden, for example, then don’t choose cats that are avid hunters like the Siamese or Oriental. One breed that shows almost no interest in hunting is the Ragdoll.

Cats without pedigree

Despite the emerging number of new cat breeds, the vast majority of pet cats come from strays that do not belong to any breed, most people prefer these cats, highlighting their stable and adaptable temperament. They are not noisy and effusive like the Siamese cat, or calm like the Russian. Even in the case of long haired cats without a pedigree, a coat is unlikely to be profuse as is the case, for example, with the Himalayas so their care will be easier.

Another aspect that attracts owners to un-pedigreed cats is the fact that they are quite peculiar in what they do with their spots. While purebred cats have standard coloration and markings, this does not apply to their un-pedigree counterparts.
pedigree. In fact, it is rare to see single-colored feral cats. One of the characteristics is the shape of the varied white coat areas on the chin and chest and often on other parts of the body. However, the variety of colours in this group is usually not so varied, due to their origins.

Some of today’s cats colours, such as chocolate and caramel, are probably only found in pedigree cats, with the Oriental breed having the greatest variety of colour and markings. Even so, if you have decided on one of these unusual varieties, you will have to be a little patient until you can get one.

Male or female cat

Another aspect to consider is whether you prefer a female or male cat. Males can reach a large size and often develop their characteristic cheeks once they mature.
Females often tend to be more affectionate, but if your male cat is neutered there will be no difference between the two.

Kitten or adult cat

Kitten or adult cat
Most people instinctively decide to start with a newborn kitten, usually between eight and twelve weeks. This will offer your kitten the chance to grow up in your home and to bond with you. Knowing the cat’s age accurately will be advantageous, especially for her medical care.

On the other hand, more adult cats need a home and their availability will be influenced by the time of year. Even cats that at first seem shy at
First contact, they can become the most devoted pets if you are prepared to spend time and create a bond with them, as you would with a kitten. The only ones that are sure to be maladjusted are those born in the wild, called “wild cats. This is because, in many cases, the
rescue hunt them and sterilize them before releasing them from
new to their habitat, rather than adapting them for the home.

Where to find your cat

The choice of where to go to find your new pet will, in some ways, have already been determined by the type of cat you are looking for. If you want a kitten without a pedigree you may be able to find someone who has just finished an unexpected litter that you want to pass around, either through an advertisement or by contacting your vet, although sometimes it is better to contact rescue centres.

Purebreed Kittens

When it comes to getting a kitten from a breeder, keep in mind that the price usually depends not only on the breed itself, but also on the potential for the kittens in question to compete. Early on, breeders should take stock of this by deciding which kittens from the litter they want to keep for their future breeding plans. The rest will be offered as pets.

But don’t be confused by the use of the term “pet type” to describe purebred kittens. This does not indicate that there is anything wrong with them, just that they have a small defect and that they will not be suitable for competitions. Their coloration may be too dark, for example, or their spots may be too dark, for example, or their spots may be somewhat random.

The risk of cats suffering from hereditary diseases is lower than for dogs, but there are specific tests that can be done today when there is a potential risk. For example, polycystic kidney disease can affect Persian cats and similar breeds such as the exotic short-haired cat. A simple sample taken from the inside of the cheek will be sufficient to determine whether a particular specimen is affected.

Taking the decision

The Internet has made it easy to find breeders. Even for the less common cats, but don’t get carried away with the design of the website. Another way to locate breeders can be through cat magazines and advertisements in the guides. Another option to consider is to visit cat shows in your area, to meet breeders directly, or to find a list of breeders societies and contact some of them through this method.

You can find out which, if any, has kittens available and draw up a list of available colours, gender and price. Never be tempted to buy a kitten without seeing it first. It is quite common to see a litter before they are ready to go to a new home.
If you want to leave a sign for a specific kitten, always ask for a receipt that clearly indicates which kitten you have chosen and if possible, take a photo of it at that moment as well.

Change in eye color
The colour of the kittens’ eyes is first of all blue and changes gradually, most probably to a dark colour in this case.

Finding a new home for the cat

Finding a new home
You shouldn’t be surprised if you’re asked for detailed information about your home and lifestyle before you’re considered a candidate to rescue a kitten or cat. The important thing the organisation will want to establish in advance is whether you can provide a welcoming environment where the cat can enjoy itself. The goal will be to match you with the right cat, so be prepared for that too. It is unlikely that you will be able to choose a purebred cat in this environment.

The overwhelming majority will be feral cats. However, even if you don’t have a big budget, as some pedigree kittens, especially the more spectacular new breeds like the Savannah can be very expensive, you can still offer a new home for a purebred cat.

You can start by contacting breeders, as they may have some adult cats that are not part of their breeding plans and are available to move to a new home. They are always much cheaper than kittens, mainly because the demand for kittens is higher. But you will have the advantage that these adult cats are already adapted and, assuming they have been part of the breeder’s residence, should adapt fairly quickly to new surroundings.

Your cat’s health

There is no foolproof test to be sure that the kitten or cat you choose is healthy. Although there are several tests that can indicate hereditary diseases in some breeds.
But there are some important steps you can take to increase your chances.
The most obvious is to go to a responsible breeder who has a reputation for taking care of his or her dogs.

First care for the cat

You should receive a food sheet and details of the type of food your kitten has been eating. Follow this diet closely for the first few weeks and make changes gradually once your pet has adapted well to your home. This will significantly reduce the risk of digestive problems that could prove fatal in a cat
young ( note that at this age, kittens are very vulnerable to
any infection).

The other information you will need will be details on whether or not you have been vaccinated with a proper certification when you have been dewormed. Once you’ve acquired it, take
this information with you when you go with your new pet to the vet.

Things to check on the health of the cat

Ears
They should be clean and free of any signs of scabbing.

Nose holes
Make sure there’s no obvious secrecy. Kittens are prone to respiratory infections

Mouth
Ask the breeder to open the kitten’s mouth so you can check its teeth

Walk
The kitten should have no problem at all with its front legs stretched out,
as it moves

Tail
The cat should be able to move it without difficulty and will bend along its length

Base of the tail
No spots should be seen on the coat in this area, otherwise it would indicate a digestive problem

Fur
inspects the coat for signs of parasites, such as fleas, that will leave dark spots on the hair

Body Profile
A bariatric appearance may be indicative of belminto. Deworming is vital in any case.

Infection risks

Getting a small kitten from a shelter can be more laborious than going to a breeder, as epidemics of respiratory problems can spread quite easily in these environments, especially with kittens vulnerable to the effects of influenza
cat in particular.

The first few weeks carefully watch for any symptoms of this infection in young cats, such as watery eyes, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and the appearance of the third eyelid (this membrane can extend across the side of each eye, when the cat is under defense).

If you think your cat might be ill, arrange a visit to the vet immediately. Her health could otherwise deteriorate rapidly, for example, through dehydration from diarrhoea, which can be fatal for a young cat, far from the infection itself.

If you acquire an adult cat from a shelter and the cat’s history is unknown, you should follow a similar process. Deworming will again be essential and a course of immunisation will be advisable to protect the cat from deadly infections such as
the feline leukemia virus (FelV), in the absence of any indication that the cat has been previously vaccinated.

Reproductive aspects

Reproductive aspects
Another important aspect to consider is whether your cat has been neutered. This will be evident in the case of males, due to the absence of their testicles, which are quite obvious underneath the tail. However, in a cat the
The impact of the operation will not be visible in many cases but it is very important, especially to prevent your new cat from getting pregnant quickly.
Cats are ovulators
spontaneous, meaning that they do not have a reproductive cycle but ovulate in response to mating, which significantly increases the likelihood of successful conception.

Females can be sterilized either through the abdominal wall on the inside of the body or through the side. If this has been the case for some time, then the coat will have grown back and no signs will be seen. However, a thorough inspection may show a scar that may form a small bump confirming that the cat has been neutered in the past. Ask your vet if this isn’t clear.

First days with your new cat

It’s just as important not to let your cat out at first, especially if they’re an adult. Kittens are less likely to go astray, but bear in mind that your new pet won’t be fully protected until she’s completed her vaccination cycle.
There’s a good chance that a large number of cats will have passed through your garden, which is a potential risk. Similarly, if a kitten goes missing in one of these places it can be difficult to locate and rescue.

An adult cat will inevitably wander off if she’s allowed to go outside soon after getting it, ignoring your calls for her to return. So it is vital
It’s important that you keep the adult cat inside for two to three weeks to familiarize it before you let it loose for the first time. (You should have a litter tray available during this stage). ) Always go out in the garden with your pet at first and avoid feeding it until it is back indoors with you. This will be a routine that you will have to maintain so that he comes back when you call him. The same goes for kittens who are once old enough to go outside.