How To Choose A Cat Or Kitten For Your Lifestyle

Cats are terrific – affectionate, playful, fastidious, and best of all, they purr! They come already housebroken (most of the time) and they don’t need the extensive training and acclimation period that dogs require. They don’t bark, they’re great in almost any living arrangement, and they’re especially good for people who have more erratic schedules or long workdays.

Although not as wildly varied as dogs, cats do have a variety of personalities, body styles and coat lengths. Most people have ordinary non-pedigreed varieties, while others prefer a pedigreed cat. So how do you choose the cat that’s right for you?

Before you start: Make sure that your living arrangements will accommodate a cat. Do you move often or live in apartments where cats may not be welcome? Do you have a roommate or spouse that dislikes cats or is allergic to them? Do you know someone who can care for your cat when you are out of town?

Can you afford a cat? Do you have money left over after your bills are paid and your basic necessities purchased? Are you willing to make sure your cat has proper health care, which can vary from $200-$1000 (or more) per year? Can you afford $400 a year in food, litter and other supplies? Can you afford to board her or provide a pet sitter when you are out of town?

Do you have time? This is much less of an issue for cats than for dogs, but cats still require attention and love. Coat care may also be a time-related item that needs to be done regularly. Longhair cats need to be combed out often, especially those with dense undercoats that can mat easily. You’ll need to train your cat early to accept brushing and combing.

Do you have other pets or children? How will your other pets react to a newcomer? Do you have an old cat that would be piteously harassed by a kitten? Do you have a dog that has never been exposed to cats and could injure it? Do you have very young children that may be too young to understand gentle cat handling? If you’re considering an adult cat, is this an outgoing cat that has been with dogs or cats before, and is therefore more likely to adapt to your other animals?

A Cat or a Kitten? There are advantages to both. Kittens are hilarious, playful, full of delightful high-jinx. They are also full of mischief and can get into everything you own. They can shred drapes and furniture rapidly and they knock items off of mantles, tables and shelves. They can destroy plants, and they love to play during the night. As with any babies, they take more time than adults.

That said, they really are charming and fun. Simply put your breakables out of the way during the first year. Cats quickly become very graceful, and can learn to avoid sending things flying. However, some cats develop habits of knocking things over for entertainment. It is important to provide our kitten with enjoyable and appropriate activities. If you plan to get a kitten, consider getting two. They keep each other great company and provide themselves and you with a lot of entertainment. They’re actually less trouble in pairs, as they take out their wild kitten energy on each other rather than on your hands and clothing.

Adult cats are a very good idea for many people. They’re still playful, but not as wild as kittens. You know their personality and appearance, and there are so many good adult cats that need homes. Many people are overwhelmed by the exuberance of kittens, but are delighted with adding adult cats to their lives. If you do get an adult, find out everything you can about his background. Make sure he doesn’t have any major health or litter box issues.

Mixed or Purebred? Either is fine. Most people have standard "alley cats" or mixed breed cats, also known as domestic shorthairs or domestic longhairs. These can be obtained from private homes, shelters, pounds, veterinary clinics and even pet shops. You likely won’t be able to see the parents or siblings of such cats or kittens, but that’s less of problem with cats than with dogs, and less of a concern with mixed breeds than with purebred cats. Most mixed breed cats are terrific pets with few problems.

Watch out for respiratory disease! This is the number one problem in cats that are maintained in groups together, and is common in shelters, pet shops and purebred catteries. Because respiratory diseases are so contagious, it’s nearly impossible to keep them out even with excellent sanitation. Respiratory diseases can become quite severe in kittens, and can even be fatal. In adults, they can become chronic and difficult or impossible to cure.

Never get a cat or kitten that is sneezing or has runny nose or eyes. Avoid places that have obviously sick kittens or cats. Even if the cat you’re considering seems healthy, she has been exposed and could become quite sick a week or so later. Sometimes respiratory diseases will sweep through a place for several weeks, and then be gone again for a long while. Don’t obtain animals from such a place when it’s going through a "hot" virus phase. The same place could be fine weeks or months later.

Some people prefer a particular look or personality type in a cat. If you want a more predictable style, consider getting a purebred cat (see our section on cat breeds). If you do decide that you want a purebred, buy only from a cattery where you can see the queen and possibly the tom, as well as other cats and kittens that may be related. You’ll be able to assess the health and personality of the cat you are interested in as well as his immediate relatives (these traits are inheritable to a certain degree). Carefully note the cleanliness of the place; the health of all the other animals there; how well the cats are using their litter boxes; whether the breeder aims for good health and disposition; and how well they have socialized their animals.

If you buy a purebred from a pet store, you’ll likely pay a lot more, and you won’t know the source or quality of the kitten.

If any place you’re looking at appears unclean, the cats don’t use their litter boxes, or seem unhealthy, don’t buy! Never buy a kitten to "save it" from a lousy place. You will only be encouraging the wrong kind of breeder or dealer, and you could cause problems with your existing pets. There are plenty of healthy, good-natured cats from good places that deserve your business.

Male or Female? Other things to look for? The gender is entirely up to your preference. Some folks claim that males are a bit calmer and friendlier than females, but that’s a rough generalization, and depends on the individual cat. Males are also a bit more likely to spray urine or have urinary tract problems than females, but that is still a minority of cats. There are plenty of good males and females; the personality of the individual cat is the most important.

Hair coat is another factor. Longhaired cats are gorgeous, but they can be a lot more work, especially if they have a dense undercoat that mats easily. They must be trained from day one to accept brushing and combing. Plus cats with dense undercoats tend to shed a lot.

One color quirk to be aware of: Many veterinarians and owners of calicos and torties (a type of calico) report that calico cats are more likely to be quirky, high strung, and difficult to handle outside their home environment, especially the torties. They may be fine with their owners at home, but they can be suspicious of strangers, and can become insecure and often aggressive outside the home. This makes them quite difficult to handle for even routine veterinary care.

Not all calicos and torties are like this; many are quite calm and easy-going. But there are unusually high numbers of nervous-aggressive calicos. An interesting note about calicos – the calico gene is on the X chromosome, and it requires two X’s to be expressed. So only female cats are calicos. It’s a beautiful color combination, but seems to have some personality quirks tied with it.

Which Cat Should I Choose? A good, calm affectionate cat will readily come to you and seek attention from you. When looking for a cat, handle several cats all over. See if they allow you to open their mouths, rub their ears, handle their legs and paws, and even hold them on their backs. See if they enjoy being held, or being on your lap. If they will accept all that, and even enjoy it, then you have a good cat.

Do these same things when trying to assess kittens. Note that kittens will spend more time trying to play with you than adults will. See which kittens are calm about being held, which seek out attention, and most of all, which ones seem to like you. Pay attention to the cats or kittens that choose you; they often know best.

Before You Bring the Cat Home: Make sure you and your family are ready. Take a few days off work or use a long weekend so that you have time to help your new cat adjust. Have a litter box prepared (no perfumed litter!), food and water dishes (no plastic, these can cause chin acne), a good quality cat food (check with your vet on this) and a few toys such as catnip stuffed toys or feathery items that bounce on stretchy lines. Make sure there is nothing on the toys the cat could easily ingest; especially avoid strings and yarn. Get breakables out of the way, same with electric cords (especially if you’re getting kittens). Place food and water dishes away from the litter box area.

The First Few Days with the New Cat: Once you bring the cat or kitten home, start him out in a smaller part of the house until he adjusts (this is especially true for kittens, who may get lost and use an inappropriate area for a litter box). Show your kitten or cat the litter box often from different parts of the house so he knows where it is. Keep taking him to it for the first few days until you see that he knows where it is and readily uses it. It may take kittens a few weeks to get used to the whole house, depending on the size of the house.

When your cat is new, confine him to a small area near his litter box when you’re away from the house. And never leave your cat outside unattended! As for meals, feed your kitten 3 times a day, decreasing to twice a day at around 4 months and once a day at 8-9 months. Avoid feeding free choice, that’s a good way to induce obesity!

Otherwise, cats are quite simple to care for and a lot of fun. Enjoy your new family member!