How to Choose a Feline Breed
The very first choice you need to consider is should you or shouldn’t you adopt a mixed-breed cat, like one from a shelter or someone you know, or adopt one that is purebred. There are about 40 or so cat breeds that are recognized by the national and international cat associations now. A few potential owners believe they just have to have a purebred kitten or cat. They have set aside the money (about $100 to $1000 for the rarer breeds), and know that one or two cats have the characteristics that they are looking for.
Take a peaceful home; you may want a calmer cat. Good choices here would be Himalayan or Persian cats. Another person might want a more feisty cat. One that might play with your solar powered garden lights. Then the Abysinnian or Siamese would be the cat of choice. So what this means is that you can almost predict what sort of temperament the cat will have when you opt for a purebred.
Many people just go down to the nearest animal shelter and select a cat, and take it home, not really concerned about its temperament, it’s build or nature. Most of the cats in America and in the world are adopted with little or no money like that. So guess what? Globally, purebred cats are in the minority. Not all pets are like this. It is totally different from dogs. One third to one half of all dogs are purebred. One more interesting thing to notice is that dogs are different dramatically in size from breed to breed, whereas cats are all about the same size in any of breeds.
If you want a cat, and it’s OK if you get a mixed-breed or a purebred, what things should you use to choose them? Realistically, let’s ponder this question through.
You probably already know that cats are put to sleep by animal shelters each week because there are too many of them than there are new owners willing to give them new homes. It’s really a tragedy, caused by the ignorance and irresponsibility of today’s cat owners who don’t neuter their pet. The point here is that there are many cats and kittens in shelters at this moment who will be euthanized this week if someone doesn’t take them home. Shelter cats are not less intelligent that their purebred counterparts, and probably just as healthy – if not more so. They’ll get out there and play with those solar powered garden lights, too! Naturally, they’ll be just as cuddly and fun to own.
So can you just choose a purebred cat knowing that so many mixed breeds are badly needing adoption? It’s a fact that the number of purebred cats bought each year is a thimble of the amount of mixed breeds euthanized in the same time period. Purebreds will find a home easily and probably won’t lose their lives just because there are less of them.
OK, your turn…a decision that’s hard to make. But the thoughtful new kitty owner shouldn’t be overly worried about this dilemma. Responsibility goes back to the cat owner who if they are responsible the over population problem would soon be solved. OK, then, apart from the ethical problems of purebred and mixed breeds, you probably want to know what are their differences?
First with price, know that the price of the cat can affect your choice. Mixed breeds are practically free most of the time. If you’ve had a litter you know, the owner is probably thankful you took the baby off of their hands. However it’s different if you go to a shelter, know that there is a $25 to $50 fee to cover the neutering and vaccines. They’ll give you a lot of free tips on the cat. It’s a pretty good deal.
Purebreds are different. A bundle of energy, they’ll still pull at your solar landscape lights, but you get the price you put into them and the rarer, the higher the price. Registered cats cost even more. One prime example is the American shorthaired cat, which might sell for $200, whereas the Sphynx could be as much as $2000. Don’t forget checkups and annual vaccines. Food and litter as well. If you neuter your cat, which you should unless you intend to breed them, that can run around $75. Just remember that there are certain unavoidable costs involved with owning your new cat.
Related posts:
- Tell me about the Akita Dog
- English Springer Spaniels – Wonderful Dogs, Constant Companions
- Feline Questions and Answers on Cat Training and More
- How To Choose The Best Company To Install Residential Solar Power Systems For You?
- Older dog or puppy?
Tags: Abysinnian, Animal Shelter, Animal Shelters, Breed Cat, Cat Associations, Cat Breeds, Cat Owners, Feline Breed, First Choice, International Cat, Irresponsibility, Neuter, New Homes, Persian Cats, Purebred Cats, Purebred Kitten, Siamese, Solar Powered Garden Lights, Temperament, What This Means
