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CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAT
put in by the breeder. Some breeders offer “pet quality” as
well as “show quality” kittens. Pet quality cats are just as
healthy as show cats but have minor physical defects for
the breed standard, and should be considerably cheaper
than show quality cats. The breeder may ask you to sign
an agreement not to enter pet quality cats in shows or to
breed from them in order to keep breeding lines “pure.”
It is important to meet the litter of kittens before you
decide to buy one of them. A good breeder will let you
observe the kittens and how they interact with their
littermates. You should also meet the mother and check
her health. She will give you an indication of your kitten’s
adult size, appearance, and temperament. The breeder
may also own the father—if so, ask to see him too. The
breeder can also give you an idea of the life span of
the particular breed.
The kitten you choose to take home with you should
appear healthy and alert, with a good muscle tone and
a clean coat free from pests such as fleas. His eyes should
be bright, there should be no discharge from the eyes or
nose, the ears should be free of wax, and the gums should
be pink. Make sure your kitten has been (or will be)
vaccinated, wormed, and screened for any genetic
disorders that are known to occur in the breed. Take any
certificates for these home with you if or when you buy a
kitten. Avoid buying a kitten if it appears ill, if it has been
kept in isolation away from the rest of its litter, if
you think the kittens are being reared in substandard
conditions, or if the breeder doesn’t seem to know
A CAT WITH HISTORY
Many different types of cats
end up in shelters. If you
decide to give a home to a
cat that is elderly or disabled,
the rescue center will
sometimes help you to pay
for its ongoing health care.
much about the breed or
cat health care. If you’re
not happy, you can visit
another breeder. If all
goes well, you should
pick up your inoculated,
housetrained, and
socialized kitten when it
is about 12 weeks old.
Rescue centers
If you would like to give a home to a purebred cat, one
place you may not have thought of looking is in a rescue
center, or shelter, for cats. Usually run on a nonprofit
basis, rescue centers are staffed mostly by volunteers
and funded by private donations and adoption fees.
They take in stray, unwanted, and feral cats and try to
find suitable homes for them.
Purebred cats can show up in rescue centers from time
to time. Generally, these will be the more common breeds
such as the Siamese, Maine Coon, or Persian—you are
less likely to find an unusual breed.
After visiting a rescue center and meeting all the
cats waiting for homes, you may decide to adopt
a mixed breed rather than a purebred cat. More than
95 percent of all domestic cats are mixed breed, and
there are a large number of them housed in rescue
shelters, each deserving of a loving home. Cat rescue
centers are definitely worth investigating, especially if
your preference is for a fully trained adult cat with an
established personality.
If you decide to adopt from a rescue shelter, a
member of staff will visit your home to check that it’s
safe and suitable for a cat, and to make sure that you
will make a good cat owner. You will be charged an
adoption fee, which helps cover vet costs for rescue
cats’ health care, such as inoculations, blood tests,
neutering, and microchipping.
RESCUE CATS
The staff at a rescue center will assess the character
of each cat and can help match you with your perfect
pet; you may even find a purebred cat in need of a home.
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