How to choose a cat breed: tips and tricks

4393Pavel

Before you ask yourself the question “how to choose a kitten?”, you must be sure that you have enough time, effort and money to care for your new pet. You need to understand that babies are very playful. They will try to play with the curtains, they will curiously explore the shelves and cabinets in your house, and also do many other things that you will not be happy with. However, if all this does not bother you, you are confident that you can properly care for a kitten, and have decided to get such a pet, then our article is for you.

It is very important to make the right choice, because for many people, pets become full-fledged family members and friends. We will tell you about the main points when choosing a pet, which you need to pay attention to first of all, so that the kitten you choose fully meets all your expectations.

How to determine if you are ready to buy a kitten

Before making a purchase, answer these questions:

Does everyone in the family want to have a cat? Talk to your household, warn them of your intention, listen to possible concerns and wishes. Having a pet is a responsibility. Its maintenance will require the participation of all family members. It is important that everyone is willing to accept and care for the animal.
Are your family members allergic to cats? It is important to clarify this before an animal appears in the house.
If you have other pets, will they be able to accept a new pet? Some dogs perceive small kittens as prey. The baby himself, with his irrepressible energy and curiosity, can irritate sedate adult cats. And it is dangerous to leave rodents and birds alone with a kitten.
Do you have enough money for maintenance? It is important to analyze your budget to see if it is enough to support a new pet. Consider the cat's lifespan; the budget should be enough for the long term.
Do you have enough time to devote to your kitten? Evaluate your schedule. Analyze whether your family has the opportunity not to leave the baby alone for a long time. Kittens need to be fed regularly, their tray changed, and played with.
Will your children be able to get along with their new pet? To ensure a successful life together for your little family members and your animal, choose a pet from the best cat breeds for children.

How to decide on the breed?

The next determining factor, which plays a huge role in choosing a pet for your home, is its breed, especially if the cat is expected to participate in various exhibitions and competitions. By the way, having settled on a specific cat breed, you must:

study the behavioral characteristics of its representatives;
visit exhibitions;
read reviews from more experienced breeders regarding its maintenance and care.

For example, the well-known Siamese cats are much more likely to develop genetic diseases than any other representatives of the feline family. Or, purposefully not wanting to have a long-haired cat, many choose the hairless Sphynx, without even realizing how much more difficult it is to care for it compared to other breeds.

Features of purebred cats

It is also necessary to take into account the fact that animal breeds bred by artificial selection through the genetic sophistication of scientists have by nature weaker immunity. Much less of these pets are endangered by an animal “without clan or tribe” that has undergone natural selection.

Many of the artificially bred breeds are not able to take care of themselves. A striking example is Persian cats, which cannot look attractive without a person. Their fluffy coat requires regular bathing, brushing and other activities, but cat licking is not enough. And in the psychological aspect, such animals are maximally dependent on the owner.

Meanwhile, there are many breeds that are characterized by the hunter's instinct. In addition to the desire to earn their living, they, as a rule, have naturally excellent physical characteristics. Among the natural born hunter cats are:

Norwegian forest;
Maine Coons;
bobtails.

Limited apartment space is not suitable for these predators. Private houses and a garden with many trees are where they can always frolic to their heart's content.

It is always necessary to remember that when choosing a kitten, the owner takes on a whole range of obligations and a mountain of responsibility. Animals are not toys or an addition to the home interior. Cats of any breed trust and become attached to humans, the main thing is not to betray them.

How to choose a kitten

Buying a kitten is not just about choosing the cutest baby.

You must decide on the breed and gender you want. The animal must suit your temperament, be healthy, socialized, and have basic skills (eat on its own, go to the litter box).

If you choose a purebred pet, it is important that he and his parents have all the supporting documents and the results of tests for hereditary diseases.

Do not buy based on the photo based on the seller's characteristics.
Get to know the candidates for purchase in advance, see in what conditions they are kept.
Look at the parents and other babies from the litter, compare them.
Do not hesitate to ask the seller, demand documents for the kitten and parents’ passports, and the results of genetic tests.
Check the physical and mental health of the chosen animal before purchasing.
Personally evaluate the conditions of detention and care.

Remember, you are choosing a pet for yourself not for one day, but for the next 15-20 years.

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What to look for when buying a kitten

In order not to make a mistake in choosing a new pet, do not rush to take the baby home as soon as you see him, even if you really liked him. Visit him at least twice to observe him, his mother, and siblings.

You need to make sure that the kitten and its littermates are happy and well cared for. If the animals look unhappy or tortured, or you are not allowed to see the baby in his usual environment, refuse the purchase.

What else to pay attention to:

Meet the baby's mother. She should look relaxed, happy, not afraid of people, and feel comfortable in their presence. The influence of the mother is of great importance in shaping the character of the kitten.
Assess the conditions of detention. Inspect the room where the cat and her children live. It should be clean, warm, without any unpleasant odors. The presence of cells, dirt, and strong odors should alert you. Ask the seller to show you the bowls and litter box the animals use. They must be clean. This indicates good care of the animals.
Find out from the breeder the age of the animal, evaluate whether the appearance of the kitten corresponds to this age. You cannot take an animal younger than 2-3 months.
Check the gender of the kitten. You must make sure that the baby belongs to the gender that you want to have.
Ask to see the kitten's documents, documents of its mother and father. You must make sure that the kitten belongs to the cat breed that the seller told you.
Ask if the kitten has been checked by a veterinarian, if it has any vaccinations, has been treated for parasites, or has genetic testing done. A conscientious breeder will show you a veterinary passport, which reflects all this information. At the age of 2-3 months the first vaccination should be given.
Ask to see the mother's veterinary passport; it should also contain information about vaccinations, anti-parasitic treatment and genetic test results.
Ask about diet. Find out what the seller fed you. Let the owner show the food he fed the mother and offspring and talk about the complementary foods introduced. Consider whether you can feed this food, find out about alternative brands.
Ask if the cat is accustomed to the tray and scratching post. Visit the seller several times to see for yourself.
Check socialization. Take the kitten in your arms and play with it a little. He should not be afraid, hiss, try to escape from his hands, or bend in an “arc.” This behavior is not typical of healthy, socially adapted kittens.
Ask the seller if the kitten has a nickname, try calling him by name. Smart kids at this age already respond to their name. If the breeder did not give a nickname, you can choose your own from our list of nicknames.
Examine the animal and assess its health. Read on to find out how to do this.

How to choose the right healthy kitten

A healthy kitten is a guarantee that it will cause you fewer problems. Responsible sellers will not hide from you whether the baby has health problems of a genetic or non-hereditary nature.

You should be able to examine the kitten before purchasing and take it to the vet if you have any doubts about its health. This will help resolve issues with the seller if any health problems are discovered in the candidate for purchase.

How to check your kitten's health

Examine the animal's eyes. The view must be clear. Eyes are clear, without cloudiness, redness, discharge or tears.
Look inside the cat's ears. They should be clean, without black crusts, redness, or dirty sulfur. There should be no unpleasant odor from the ears. Dirty ears indicate illness and poor care.
Look at the nose. It should be clean, without ulcers or discharge.
The kitten's coat should be clean, free of dandruff, traces of parasites, not matted, smooth and shiny. It should not have an unpleasant odor.
Look under the tail. It should be clean, there should be no signs of diarrhea or worms.
Listen to your breathing. There should be no characteristic “whistle”.
The kitten should not sneeze constantly - this is a sign of illness.
Examine the skin. There should be no wounds, ulcers or dried crusts on the body.
Estimate the weight. The kitten should not be skinny or overly plump. An overly swollen belly may indicate the presence of worms.
Look into your mouth. There should be no unpleasant odor coming from the mouth. The number of teeth should correspond to the age of the animal. They must be clean.
Healthy kittens are cheerful and playful, without apathy, aggression or depression.

Small scratches on the neck should not bother you - these are marks from the mother's teeth.

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Why do you need a cat in the house?

It would seem that all that remains is to decide on the breed of the tailed pet, but not everything is so simple. Of course, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of a particular species, but there are also equally significant points. By purchasing and bringing a kitten into the home, the owner takes full responsibility for its well-being, health and, ultimately, fate. Cats are proud and freedom-loving animals; you will have to share not only your home space with them, but also give them enough attention and care.

If the potential owner is faced with the goal of finding a four-legged friend, then in this case you only need to know how to choose a healthy kitten. However, if the future owner is faced with a completely different task, for example, pursuing the commercial goal of breeding a specific breed, or he wants to choose a kitten for the home, or give his little one a birthday present, then the issue of choice should be approached more thoroughly.

Where is the best place to buy a kitten?

There are several ways to purchase a kitten:

pet Shop,
pet market,
from a registered breeder,
in the nursery,
at a cat show,
"buy second hand."

Pet shop and pet market

Pros of purchasing:

Wide variety of breeds.
Relatively low cost.

Disadvantages of the purchase:

It is always better to observe the kitten before purchasing in the place where it was born and lived the first months of its life in the company of its mother. This provides information about the animal's health and temperament. Pet stores and pet markets do not provide this opportunity.
Kittens of different litters can be kept in the same cage. This increases their vulnerability to infections.
Not all stores and markets strictly adhere to sanitary standards. Keeping animals in unsanitary conditions undermines the health of animals.
The kittens spend the whole day in cages, with many people passing by. At night they are left alone in the dark. This causes severe stress in the animals.
Store and market sellers do not always vaccinate their animals or carry out antiparasitic treatment. They also do not always have information about the parents and documents confirming the breed.
A kitten can live in a store for several months before being sold, this complicates its adaptation to a new family.

Buying “from hand”, according to an advertisement

Pros of purchasing:

Low price.
The ability to assess the conditions of detention once in the seller’s house.

Disadvantages of the purchase:

There is a high probability of buying a mongrel kitten under the guise of a purebred one.
Inability to confirm the breed with documents.
It is impossible to determine the exact origin of the kitten.

Registered breeder, nursery

The best way to buy a purebred kitten is to go to a pedigree nursery or registered breeder. Conscientious breeders are responsible for the kittens they sell.

They are obliged to provide the buyer with the most detailed and reliable information and answer all questions. In addition, breeders must provide information support to the buyer during the first time after purchasing a kitten.

Pros of purchasing:

How to check a breeder

A registered breeder is the best place to buy a purebred cat. But, you need to remember that there are both good and bad breeders. It is important to be able to distinguish one from the other. Next, we will tell you how to check the integrity of a cat breeder.

Conscientious breeder:

Provides all comprehensive information about the object of sale and its parents in the ad. Posts a lot of photos of the litter.
He doesn’t hide anything, doesn’t shy away from questions about the breed and specific animals. Knows the distinctive features of the breed, what birth defects it has.
Encourages the buyer to meet the kittens several times before purchasing.
Keeps the cat and its offspring clean and warm at home. Provides comfortable maintenance and proper care.
Feeds animals with high-quality balanced nutrition. Doesn't skimp on the animals' diet.
Insists on meeting the kitten's parents, gives all the information about the father and mother, and provides documents for them.
Does not give away kittens until they reach 2-3 months of age.
Vaccines kittens before transfer to a new home, carries out antiparasitic treatment, examines them at the veterinarian, and conducts genetic tests. Makes a veterinary passport with all the marks.
Provides early socialization of kittens and tells buyers how this was done (adaptation to loud noises, meeting strangers and other pets).
Registers kittens in breed clubs. Issues supporting documents to the buyer.
Reputable breeders participate in cat shows and can confirm their participation with documents.
Does not increase the price more than once a year.
Provide information support to the buyer after the sale.

Unscrupulous breeder:

Sells kittens that are under 2 months old.
Does not have clear answers to questions about the breed being sold. Avoids them.
Gets confused when answering questions about genetic breed defects and avoids answering.
Breeds too many breeds and contains a large number of individuals in a limited space (overpopulation).
He talks little about the kitten's character and boasts a lot about his titles.
He speaks negatively about other breeders and does not recommend buying from competitors.
Increases the cost due to the unusual color and non-standard size of the animal.
He is not interested in where you are taking the kitten, or in what conditions you are going to keep it.
After the sale, he does not maintain contact with the buyer, is not interested in the life of the kitten, and does not provide information support to the new owner.
Frequent price changes and lack of price list are a sign of fraud.
Doesn't register kittens, claims it's not necessary.
Does not vaccinate kittens or carry out antiparasitic treatment.

Where is the best place to buy kittens?

Often, a pet store, like a pet market, is an excellent place for the spread of germs and various dangerous infections. Therefore, it is worth questioning the question of choosing a kitten in a pet store or pet market. As a rule, no seller at such retail outlets will be able to provide a kitten with a sufficiently high level of care and maintenance until the moment when a new owner acquires it. In addition, prices in such places will not be the most affordable. This is explained by the fact that kittens often have to live there for more than one month before they are adopted. Therefore, the commission spent by the store/market on its maintenance throughout the entire period of foster care is automatically added to the price of the pet.

Today, the most affordable and convenient way to buy a furry baby of the desired breed is to search for breeders using the Internet. This method of purchasing a kitten has at least three advantages: the price will be much lower (the breeder does not need to rent a retail space to sell cats), the confidence that the kittens were kept at home, which means they were well looked after, and, finally, the opportunity read reviews from customers.

As for the last advantage, we should dwell on it in a little more detail. Most honest breeders are interested in a constant flow of customers. This means that they care about positive advertising from the owners of animals already purchased from them. Some try to keep in touch with the owners and regularly publish photos and video reports about the future life of their kittens. Many grateful customers are happy to leave positive reviews about the breeder.

Which is better: an adult cat or a kitten?

To decide who is better to adopt: a kitten or an adult animal, you need to evaluate many factors. In this case, issues of the animal’s appearance, its gender, and breed fade into the background. It is important to take into account your temperament, age, marital status, presence of children, lifestyle, living conditions.

Yes, kittens are chosen more often, but only because they are charming, cute, and playful. Who doesn’t want to have such a “living toy”. But adult cats also have a lot of advantages. And given that many of them live to be 18-20 years old, you should not immediately refuse to adopt an adult cat. They will have time to give you their love and affection.

Small kittens need more care and attention. The first time must be spent on socializing the pets, accustoming them to life in a new place, teaching them to go to the litter box and use a scratching post. They require a lot of veterinary care during the first year of life. The owners will be required to create a safe, comfortable space for active, inquisitive children to live.

Adult cats, as a rule, no longer need to be taught to go to the toilet or use a scratching post. They do not need to be fed as often as small kittens. You can get love, affection and companionship from adult cats with much less effort. They are usually calmer and less active than restless kittens.

Pros of buying a kitten

You will be able to live together longer.
They have fewer behavioral problems due to previous negative experiences.
You have the opportunity to obtain more accurate information about your health and ancestry.

Disadvantages of buying a kitten

More thorough medical attention and care is needed.
Kittens need to be given more time and attention.
They need to be fed more often.

Who are kittens suitable for?

Families in which someone is always at home.
Families with older children.
Young active families.

Who is better to adopt an adult cat?

Families with small children.
Single working people and families where people are away from home most of the day.
To old people.

What should I check before taking a kitten home?

So, you have chosen a kitten and you can’t wait to take it home. Before your baby moves to a new home, you need to prepare.

Ask about vaccinations, microchipping and castration. Will all the necessary vaccines be given or is it up to you? The same goes for chipping and castration.

What does a kitten eat? Find out what the kitten ate in its home. For the first time after moving, it is better to feed him his usual food. The move itself is already stressful for the baby. When your pet adapts, you can change its diet if you wish. We recommend biologically appropriate nutrition.

What kind of litter tray is the kitten accustomed to? If you suddenly change the tray filler, this can become additional stress for the kitten. There is a chance that the new family member will not want to go to the litter box, even if he is accustomed to it. Therefore, for the first time after moving, we recommend using a litter that the kitten is accustomed to.

Choosing a kitten is a difficult and responsible matter. Careful selection will help you choose the pet that is right for you. Pay attention to every little detail and don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions. The more you know about your future mentee, the easier it will be to make friends with him. We wish you good luck in your search for your furry friend!

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Kitten behavior

So, you have examined the baby externally. You liked everything, everyone is happy. But don't rush to conclusions. Look at the kitten's behavior. It should be:

mobile
nimble
curious
playful

In a word, the baby should be active, and not sit in a lethargic lump.

If possible, check the conditions of detention. Not for the sake of curiosity, but for benefit. Even if you have already chosen a baby and are not going to give up on him, then at least you will know what to prepare for if something happens.

Be sure to find out from the owner what the kitten was fed. Because a sudden change in diet threatens the baby with intestinal upset. And you will remember the owners with an unkind word.

By the way, some sources recommend that you always find out how well the kitten knows the litter box. We believe that there is no need to be interested in such a question. Because many owners often make mistakes with the answer. And then you will be surprised to clean up piles in the most unexpected places. If you have already chosen a kitten, then be sure to show your baby the litter box at home. It is likely that even an untrained baby will quickly understand what is wanted from him.

how to determine the age of a kitten