So now that you have decided to adopt a kitty cat, you will be a cat mom/cat dad soon. Congratulations on that. But still, there remains a question: what kitty or cat should I bring home? There are around 50 different cat breeds all over the world with different personalities. And there are also a lot of varieties regarding size, color, age, looks, and many more. So you are in a great dilemma about who should be your perfect companion. Okay, enough of your worries, we’ve got you covered. I will share some of the key points that you should keep in mind while selecting your first pet cat. Just go through the points, and at the end, congratulations, you know your type.
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- Kitten or Adult Cat
Before deciding on selecting a kitten or a cat, you should first know your needs and requirements. When I was adopting my first cat, Leo, I was looking for a pet with whom I would share all of his growing process. And for the same reason, most people are interested in adopting a kitten rather than an adult cat. But both age groups have their perks. For starters, kittens are more active, enthusiastic, and playful, and require more care and attention. They have to be hand-fed sometimes and also need potty training. They are very sensitive and also very small in size. So if there are babies or other pets in your house already, you should think twice about taking this decision. On the other hand, adult cats are comparatively more stoical and easier to deal with. They can adapt to the environment and also already know a lot of things. Though some adult cats have trouble going to a new place, most of them easily fit into a new place. So if you have enough time and passion to help your kitty grow up with you, you can go for the kitten. But for those who will not be able to manage enough time, should go for the adult ones.
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- Choosing the Right Breed
Just like individuals have different personalities, cats also show variable behaviors based on their breed. Some breeds are more affectionate, social, and quiet in nature, while some breeds are shy, vocal, and best fitted alone. So you have to take some points into your consideration.
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- If you live in an apartment alone, you should go for the Russian blue, American shorthair, Abyssinian cats, etc. These breeds are affectionate but still perfectly happy to lounge around at home alone without becoming depressed.
- If you are a family person and have babies in your home, then you should go for breeds who are socially active, playful, and keen to learn different tricks. Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Exotic Shorthair, and American Shorthair can be pretty great options for you if you are fitted in the above category.
- “Look” is also a prime category for choosing your cat. There are lots of different-looking cats depending on their breeds; some are fluffy as clouds, some are tiny, some are big house kitties and the list goes on…
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- Long Hair or Short Hair
For choosing cats with long or short hair, you should take some points into account such as whether any family members are allergic to cat fur, or if you have enough time to groom your cats. Because the long-haired breeds need frequent grooming sessions, otherwise, their hair gets matted. So you should be able to have a grooming session for your cats 2/3 times weekly. And usually, long-haired cats shed more than the short-haired cats. So if you or any members of your family have got fur allergy, go for the breeds with short hair, or you can even go for the Sphynx.
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- Male or Female
There are actually no grave differences between male or female cats. But male cats tend to be a bit bigger in size than the females. Also, female cats reach their sexual maturity at around 4/5 months of their age when they go through a periodical heat cycle once every month. During their heat cycle, they can be extra sensitive, more rubbing, and very vocal. But if you are planning to be a breeder or have grand kittens of your own, lady cats should be your first priority. On the other hand, male cats reach their sexual maturity at around 8/9 months, and they also can show some signs during their sexually active periods if unneutered. These include having the tendency to go outside to find their mates, spraying urines to attract partners, humping with inanimate objects, etc. Moreover, among all the cats I owned, my male cats are a bit more active and playful than my female ones. But then again, it might vary with each individual kitty. So it hardly matters whether you adopt a male or female kitty. Just go for the one you feel connected with.
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- Healthy or Special Needs Cats
Not all people adopt healthy cats. Some people show humanitarian instincts to help kitties with special needs. It would be a great idea if you have enough time and resources to maintain the costs as they will need extra care and medical attention. Sometimes psychiatrists suggest having sick cats, and taking care of them helps to combat depression. Also, people who pick sick cats grow a special bond with their furry angels too. And from my personal experience, trust me, This is comforting and rewarding to be able to help them. So if you think you are eligible to help kitties with special needs, just go for it.
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- One or Multiple
If you are planning to adopt more kitties in the future, it would be a better idea to adopt them together. If two cats are together, they can learn social interaction skills more quickly and also they will be able to adapt to the new environment soon. They can keep each other’s company and be playmates for each other. So experts sometimes suggest adopting two kitties together. Because, as cats are territorial creatures, your old cat might not be okay with having a new cat in his/her territory. But then again if you think it would be a burden to have more than one cat at a go, one cat would be just fine as well. Research showed if there is only one cat in your house, they tend to be more involved with their humans. So either one or two, it’s a win-win situation for you.
So I think now you know your requirements. So just go through the adoption process or contact the breeder right away to welcome your new baby home. We are also eagerly waiting to see your new feline angel.