A Domestic House Cat for the Family
How to Choose the Perfect Type of Kitten for Any Household
Oct 12, 2009
Cats are the most popular pets in America. With their huge eyes, soft fur and whispering purr children are often immediately drawn to greet them. It is not surprising that cats have kept humans company for thousands of years.
A cat can make a wonderful family pet. With a simple ball of yarn or cardboard tube small children and cats can easily spend many hours together in happy play. Cats don’t need to be walked. They don’t need a cage or frequent baths or exotic foods or a backyard to romp in.
Local Shelter
A very good place to start any kitty search is with a local shelter. Local shelters are a great resource. Here visitors will often find many healthy animals that have been socialized and given basic vet care. Shelters are often open on weekends and even have late hours on a weekday. Volunteers let people hold and play with any cat they wish. Shelters also offer low cost spaying and neutering services. Visitors may also find purebred animals such as Persians and Siamese kitties as well.
The internet can be a very valuable tool when searching for a kitten. Pet Finder is an online resource that showcases animals that are available for adoption from various shelters. Input preferences and a zip code into their database to learn some of the animals that may be living in the shelters.
Once the decision has been made the decision to adopt an animal from a shelter prepare children in advance.
Kittens or Cats?
Decide whether to adopt a kitten or grown up cat.
Kittens are often wonderful with children. Their playfulness is a joy to watch. A kitty that’s cared for by a family member from an early age may become attached to the caregiver. Having an animal that voluntarily seeks out the child’s company can be a fabulous experience for a child.
However, kittens are not socialized yet. A kitten may scratch and even bite. A child may unknowingly accidentally hurt the animal. A kitten that is traumatized at an early age may become a very wary adult pet.
Older cats can also make great pets. An older cat is less easily adopted. By adopting a cat one is not only adding a great addition to your household, you are also probably saving a life.
Older cats can be just as playful as their younger brethren. They don’t need to be trained to use a litter box. They are often already spayed or neutered. They can often adapt readily to the presence of other pets in the family.
Purebred Cats
While a shelter can be a wonderful place to seek out a cat another great option is a purebred animal adopted from a reputable breeder. Adopting an animal from a responsible breeder can allow you to select the qualities you want in a kitten. If a long-haired cat is desired consider the native American Maine Coon or the Persian. If the family likes cats that are easy to maintain consider the short coated Siamese or Russian Blue.
A good place to find a breeder is online or via a local chapter of the national cat fancier’s association. Responsible breeders can show someone the cat’s parents and even let people meet them. Cat shows are also another great place to seek out breeders. Many breeders often have kittens for sale that they will bring to a show.
A cat can curl up in a lap when feeling lonely, turn into a roly-poly puffball that makes a child grin with glee or simply be around to admire. Choose the right kitty for the family and enjoy the result for decades to come.
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