The very first choice you need to ponder is should you or shouldn’t you adopt a mixed-breed cat, such as one from a shelter or someone you know, or adopt one that is purebred. There are about 40 or so cat breeds that are recognized by the national and international cat associations now. Some people, maybe you, believe they want to buy a purebred kitten or cat. They have set aside the money (about $100 to $1000 for the rarer breeds), and feel that one or two cats have the characteristics that they are looking for.
Take a peaceful home; you may want a calmer cat. Persian or Himalayan cats are a great choice. Someone else might want a more feisty cat. One that may play with the solar patio lights. Then the Abysinnian or Siamese would be the cat of choice. It’s wonderful that you can just about predict how the temperament the cat will have when you decide on a purebred.
The majority simply go down to the closest animal shelter and choose a cat, and take it home, not really concerned about its temperament, it’s build or nature. It’s a fact that most cats in America and yes across the planet are obtained with little or no money like that. So guess what? Globally, purebred cats are in the minority. Not all pets are like this. It is totally different from dogs. Over one half of all dogs are purebred. One more interesting thing to note is that dogs vary dramatically in size from breed to breed, but cats are all about the same size in any of breeds.
If you want a cat, and it’s OK if you get a mixed-breed or a purebred, what criteria should you note to choose them? Ethically, let’s ponder this question through.
You probably already know that cats are put to sleep by animal shelters each week because there are many more of them than there are new owners willing to give the cat new homes. It’s really a tragedy, caused by the ignorance and irresponsibility of today’s cat owners who don’t neuter their pet. You know that there are many cats and kittens in shelters at this moment who will be put to sleep this week if they aren’t adopted. They are not less intelligent that their purebred counterparts, and probably just as healthy - if not more so. Look the other way and they mess with your solar powered garden lights, too! Yes, they’ll be just as cuddly and fun to own.
So can you just choose a purebred cat knowing that so many mixed breeds are really needing a home? It’s a fact that the number of purebred cats bought each year is a thimble of the amount of mixed breeds euthanized during the same time period. Purebreds will find a home easily and probably won’t lose their lives simply because of supply and demand.
Yep, the decision that’s hard to make. But the thoughtful new kitty owner shouldn’t be so concerned about this problem. It goes back to the cat owner who if they are responsible the over population problem would soon be resolved. OK, then, apart from the ethical problems of purebred and mixed breeds, you probably want to know what are their differences?
Cost is huge, know that the cost of the cat can affect which one you get. The common mixed breeds are almost always free most of the time. The owner is probably thankful you took the kitten off of their hands. But if you go to a shelter, know that there is a $25 to $50 fee to cover the neutering and vaccines. Better yet, they will give you a lot of advice on the cat. Overall it is a pretty good deal.
And if your heart is set, purebreds are different. Yes, they’ll still snag your solar landscape lights, but you get what you pay for with them and the more unique, the higher the price. As with dogs, registered cats are even higher. Take the American shorthaired kitten, which might go for $200, and then the Sphynx could be as much as $2000. Don’t forget checkups and annual vaccines. You’ll need food and litter as well. And the trip to the Vet to neuter, that can run around $75. Just remember that there are certain unavoidable costs involved with owning your new cat.