Choosing a Cat Breed - Which Cat Breed is Right For You?

There are so many cat breeds to choose from that it can be difficult to decide which one is best for you. The best cat breed for you will depend on what you are looking for in your new companion.

One main consideration is whether you want a cat to have in your home as a pet or one that you let go outside. Furthermore, cat temperament differs from breed to breed. You'll need to ask yourself what personality and mannerism you are looking for in your new cat.

According to the international Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance, there are over 70 different cat breeds. However, the most popular cat breeds are: Siamese, Abyssinian, Burmese, Egyptian Mau, and Persian.

Siamese Cats

Siamese cats are without a doubt the most popular short haired cat and among the top 5 in the entire breed of cats. Siamese cats are generally believed to be highly intelligent cats.

The body of the Siamese is a light color and the face, tail, paws, and ears are darker. Siamese cats are short haired, so if you are looking for a feline companion that doesn't require an enormous amount of grooming, the Siamese might just be what you are looking for.

Abyssinian cats

Abyssinian cats are named as such because they were first imported into Europe from an African country known as Abyssinia which later became Ethiopia. Abyssinian cats are very extrovert in nature. If you want a lap cat that will lie quietly and that you can pamper at will, then the Abyssinian is probably not for you. Abyssinian cats are very quiet but playful, friendly, active and curious.

Burmese cats

If you are looking for more of an affectionate cat, a Burmese might be just what you are looking for. The Burmese is of medium size with quite a muscular body.

Burmese cats are generally inside cats as they don't seem to have any instincts to protect themselves from predators. Burmese cat are great with kids due to their quiet and easy going nature.

Egyptian Mau cats

If you are looking for a spotted cat, the Egyptian Mau cat is the way to go. They are the only natural breed that has spots. Egyptian Mau cats are very beautiful and graceful felines that are also extremely muscular. They have beautiful coats that are of medium length and can be found in various beautiful colors. The Egyptian Mau is a very smart cat that is quite active, and extremely loyal to their owners. They are a medium-sized short-haired type of cat.

Persian cats

Persian cats love to sit around and laze away the day with their owner. They are gentle, sweet tempered, and trusting. They need the attention of their owner, but they aren't obsessive about it. Persian Cats are tremendously responsive and a joy to have them around.

So which cat breed is right for me? It all depends on what you expect from your new pet. Choosing a cat breed can be a difficult task unless you know what to expect with each breed. Before picking your new kitten, make sure you know what you are looking for in your new pet.

How To Go About Choosing A Cat Breed That Suits You

Domestic cats make great pets for most homes because they are very easy to care for and generally bond easily with humans. Most of the societies and cultures around the world have made it a practice to adopt cats into their family structures. However, domestic cats do vary quite a bit in their physical design and personalities from one breed to the next. Choosing a cat breed that suits you and your family is not a task that should be taken lightly. Nor should choosing a cat breed that suits you seem like a difficult task.

The first consideration when choosing a cat breed is the size of your living area. You may always think of cats as being leisurely lounge lizards, but many breeds spend as much time playing as lounging. Playful cat breeds need plenty of room to play. Also, the larger the play area and the more there is to do, such as another cat to interact with, the less likely the cat is to go mad if it doesn't see you much for a few days.

That leads to the second consideration when choosing a cat breed. You need to think about how much time your family is going to be able to spend with the cat. If your new little friend doesn't at least get a couple of gentle touches and a cuddle every other day, it will go mad. Although how much attention is necessary has a lot to do with the breed. The other part of the time consideration is that some cats require more grooming maintenance such as bathing and brushing. A busy family should get a cat with short fur.

The third consideration when choosing a cat breed is allergies to cats. These allergies are not uncommon, but there is much variance in the degree in which they manifest themselves. Someone with a very heavy cat allergy probably should not own a cat. Someone with a light allergy that results in a few sneezes or coughs a day can have a cat, but should be careful in choosing a cat breed that will minimize allergen exposure. For example, you will want to choose a cat breed that has short fur and rarely sheds its fur to reduce your exposure.

The fourth, and probably most often forgotten, consideration when choosing a cat breed is the cost of taking care of that breed. Some breeds are hardier than others. Many breeds have common ailments, such as deafness or fur balls, that may get costly in veterinarian visits. Also, a cat that weighs half as much and has a lazy temperament will eat less than half as much as the cat that weighs twice as much and is packed full of energy.

The fifth, and final, consideration when choosing a cat breed is how the personality of the kitty matches up with the other personalities of your family. Cats come in different temperaments. There are lap, child-friendly, indoors, independent hunter, and jealous, one-person cats.

Brigit Hulsing is a cat behaviour researcher and helps cat owners with practical tips and advice on cat toilet training and cat training

Cat Breeding - Choosing Your Breed and Mating

Cat breeding might be something you think you could do either as a hobby or a business. You love your cat, you love kittens, cats get pregnant easily and you can sell those kittens for some serious dollars. What could be easier.

Well to begin with, you will need a pure bred kitten if you don't already own one. This will require researching the different breeds and choosing which type you want to breed from. Study the genetics of breeding by reading specialised magazines and/or talking to cat clubs. Then you will need to research the different breeders, choose one and book a female kitten from the next litter.

You should not select your kitten until it is at least three months old as you will need to assess its personality and the marking or colours of its coat. You will want a kitten that is calm, responsive and has an outgoing nature. Watch how she interacts with her siblings and the environment she is coming from. You will want detailed information about the pedigree and breeding records of the queen. If the queen has a history of miscarriages or stillborn kittens, your kitten will undoubtedly inherit some of those characteristics. The owner will also be assessing you as a possible owner for the kitten and may even want references from your vet. It is essential you have a good relationship with your vet as you may need to call him during an emergency.

You will need a room for breeding in, as well as an outdoor run so your cat can get enough exercise and fresh air.

Once all this has been achieved and you have brought your pedigree kitten home, you will need to make sure she is registered and micro-chipped. She will need to be exercised and played with to keep her in top physical condition, and she must develop a strong bond with you so she can be confident you will be there when needed.

It is best to wait until the kitten is around 12 months before putting her to stud to minimise the risk of problems at birth. You will need to investigate stud cats that you want your cat to mate with. The person you purchased your kitten from is a good person to contact about this as they will be aware of genetically compatible toms. You will also find that some breed clubs will publish a stud list of proven males. You will want to visit various breeders to check the conditions your cat will be kept in during the mating. Some breeders require the queen to be brought to the tom, others will do it the other way around. There is paperwork to be gone through including the pedigree, registration, certificates of up to date vaccinations and current health certificates to show there are no infectious diseases. You will probably have to have your cat's nails clipped before mating. Make sure that the conditions and fees are agreed upon before mating. This needs to include another free mating if the queen should not become pregnant.

If the tom is to be brought to you, you must thoroughly disinfect the stud run and queen's quarters. The queen's quarters will allow the stud to 'talk' to her without actual contact. This means they are able to get used to each other before mating.

Before you start to breed from her, you will need to feed her a specialised diet over a period of a few weeks as recommended by the breeder. This is to get the body into top condition. You must make sure there are no fleas or other parasites, internally or externally.

During the actual breeding process, you may be required to be present to ensure all is well with your cat. Breeding is a noisy and violent looking process. The penis of the tom has barbs on it and this causes the queen to scream as he withdraws. As soon as the male withdraws, the female turns on him, biting and clawing. All this can be very distressing for you, so you need to be prepared. For your cat's first mating, it is best to go with an experienced older tom.

I haven't kept a running total of costs yet but you will be running at around a thousand dollars or so. The costs haven't finished yet as there is still the pregnancy, birth and care of the kittens to be taken care of. Look for the next article in this series: Cat Breeding - Pregnancy and Birth.

Kathy Robinson has been writing articles on cat problems and the care of cats on her website http://www.CatProblemsResolved.com for a number of years. Why not download your free copy of The Joy of Owning and Caring for a Cat when you sign up for her free Cat Care Newsletter at http://www.catproblemsresolved.com/660.

Choosing A Cat Breed

Choosing a pet can be a momentous decision; there are space considerations, time commitments, and a general overall dedication to the daily love and care of another living thing. It is not a decision to take lightly. Of course, there is also the equally significant choice between varieties of pets. Pet owners are often split down the middle between dog lovers and cat lovers - with owners of both thrown in for spice. Cats may seem like the simpler of the animals from which to choose. But the truth is that there are a variety of cat breeds to explore - each of which has its own look and personality.

Each cat breed is something very different from the next. It is important, therefore, that you consider the personality of your family and what cat breed would best integrate into your lifestyle. The biggest difference between each cat breed is generally the level of human contact they need or tolerate. Some cats are perfectly content to stay to themselves and only emerge when they need to be fed. This may be a good choice of cat breed for a busy professional couple with no children. For an active family who wants a participatory pet, however, a cat breed with a more social personality may be a better fit.

When considering a cat breed it is also important to consider their hair length. Long-haired cats require an enormous amount of grooming because of the possibility of mangled, knotted hair - an uncomfortable prospect for the cat and an equally aggravating prospect for the owner. A short haired cat breed requires far less grooming and may be a better choice for those owners with minimal time to dedicate.

When researching a particular cat breed, you have a number of different resource options. Chat with other cat owners about their favorite cat breed and the pros and cons of ownership; consult a trusted veterinarian about the temperament of a particular cat breed and how it would fit within your family; and speak with knowledgeable pet store employees about their experiences with each cat breed. Lastly, the Internet holds a vast amount of information on whichever cat breed most interests you.

If you do proper research regarding your cat breed of choice, you will find that you soon have another family member that will bring you a lifetime of love and joy.

For easy to understand, in depth information about cat breeds visit our ezGuide 2 Cats.