Selecting a cat - Which Cat Type

Once you have made the decision to bring a cat into your home, the next step is to decide what type of cat is the best match for you and your family. Many people fail to realise that various breeds of cats have different needs and traits, especially when it comes to energy levels, ability to be left alone, and their ability to interact with strangers, children and other pets. While cats are often far more adaptable to various living condition such as time spent alone and interacting with other animals than other pets such as dogs, they also have their own unique differences base on their breed. In addition within breeds there are also individual differences, some which will be addressed in the article on "Male or Female". However, regardless of the gender of the kitten he or she will still develop their own unique personality as they mature. Socialisation and interaction with people as well as lots of love and attention can help in shaping a kitten's personality, but the disposition of the breed will also have an equally important influence on the personality. By understanding the traits and characteristics of the various breeds including their physical size, shedding, health and socialisation tendencies owners are more likely to find a kitten or cat that matches their requirements.

Kittens of any breed are far more energetic and potentially damaging to household items than mature cats of the same breed. Kittens have a seemingly unending amount of energy until they reach approximately one year to eighteen months of age, depending on the breed. This energy is often spent in running madly through the house, jumping up on furniture, drapes or even people and other pets, as well as managing to crawl and hide in an amazing variety of spaces and places. Kittens are learning their athletic abilities and will constantly try new activities such as jumping from one piece of furniture to the other, or attempting to crawl up various items in the house. If you are looking for a calmer pet or have a lot of very valuable items in the home you may wish to either establishing a pet room that is free of any breakable or valuable items or consider adopting or purchasing a mature cat that is less active and energetic.

Typically some breeds tend to be more energetic than others. American Wirehair, Bombay, Siamese, Singapura, Cornish Rex and Abyssinian, and American Bobtail cats all tend to be very active cats that enjoy playing, running and jumping, and even being outside in the garden with owners. Some cats such as the Maine Coon and the British Shorthair make excellent indoor/outdoor cats and will exercise themselves while outside hunting and exploring. Highly active cats greatly benefit from having an equally active housemate, either a dog or cat that they can interact with when the owner is away. Typically high-energy cats will need fairly frequent interaction with owners to prevent their energy from being used in destructive behaviours such as shredding, clawing and even chewing. Some breeds, such as the Manx, are known for their jumping ability. Owners of Manx cats are never surprised to find them perching high on a bookcase or on the top shelf of the closet. Ocicats, Turkish Van and Sphynx breeds are also very active cats that enjoy playing with owners and having lots to do during the day. In addition Turkish Van's are one breed that enjoys water, so they will naturally be attracted to ponds or streams in your garden and will enjoy being outside on nice days.

Lower energy cats tend to be the larger cats that are more sedate. The British Shorthair, Persians, Himalayans and Exotic Shorthairs tend to be more sedate and calm cats. Often the more sedate cats are recognized by the body shape, which is described as cobby or semi-cobby. This is roughly defined as round and solid, as opposed to the lithe and slender body shape of the more high-energy types of cats. The advantage to a lower energy cat is that they tend to make better companion cats, as they love to sit for extended periods of time with their owners, just enjoying the relaxation. Some cats, such as the Manx, are both high energy in play but yet very accepting of long periods of just relaxing on either owners laps or on a chair back or pillow beside their owners.

Different breeds of cats will have higher or lower needs for attention or independence or aloofness. Typically the breed tendencies are more predominant than the way that the cat or kitten has been handled, and a cross between an affectionate breed and an aloof breed more typically leads to aloof offspring, rather than affectionate kittens. The level of attention that the cat or kitten requires is very important as a consideration for new owners. If you would like to have a cat that basically stays with you all the time, following you from room to room and needing to be held and petting frequently, there are several breeds to choose from. Siamese, Manx, Sphynx, Birman, Korats, Maine Coons, and Exotic Shorthairs tend to be cats that enjoy constant attention. They love to be in close contact with owners at all times, often rubbing up and down against the owners legs or even, in the case of Siamese, vocalising their displeasure at not being attended to. These cats tend to need someone around more often than not, and do not enjoy being left alone for long periods of time. They would prefer to be with people rather than a companion cat or pet and are typically best suited for households where there is at least one person home most of the time. Some breeds, such as the Maine Coon, Chartreux and Ocicat are consider to be almost "dog-like" in that they will enjoy being with the whole family but will definitely have their favourite person that they enjoy being around.

Moderately affectionate cats are those that enjoy being petted, held, or even picked up frequently but do not require constant attention. They are often cats that will choose to sit with people sometime but also be content to perch on the window ledge or back of the chesterfield rather than directly on top of the owner. Most of the British Shorthairs, Persians and Norwegian Forest Cats are moderately affectionate cats. Handling these breeds as kittens as well as constantly spending time with the kittens and adult cats will keep them very affectionate while still being able to tolerate time left alone.

Some cats, such as the Russian Blue tend to be more timid and shy than other breeds. These cats may almost disappear when strangers are in the house or when there are sudden noises or lots of activity. Some cats may also just naturally be more aloof. Some Siamese can be very independent, as can the American Wirehair breeds. These independent breeds still can be very affectionate at times, but are also very happy to be by themselves when owners are at work. These are ideal breeds for people that wish to have a pet but don't have a great deal of time to commit exclusively to attending to the cat. Breeds such as the Abyssinian, Exotic Shorthairs and even the domestic cat that is randomly bred can also have streak of independence that will appeal to certain cat owners and will be less attractive to others.

Typically if children are taught how to interact with cats and kittens there are few breeds of cats than will not adjust well to families with children. Typically children tend to like the more affectionate breeds indicated above because they are more likely to interact with children than the aloof breeds. In addition some of the more "dog-like" cats such as the Manx, Ocicat, Shorthair (American and Exotic) and Maine Coon are idea for children because they are more people oriented and can be taught some simple tricks like fetch. They are also less timid and likely to become afraid when children yell or play with kid's toys that make sounds. In addition these cats will also enjoy being handled much more than some of the other breeds.

Usually children must be taught to understand when a cat has had enough. Generally if a cat walks away from being petted or playing, they are politely indicating to the person that they are through with attention. Kids often don't read this cue and choose to follow the cat, trying to pick him or her up or chase after the pet. This often results in the cat either running to hide, or simply swatting at the child with his or her front feet. Cats may or may not use their claws in this manoeuvre, which can result in painful scratches. Teaching children to understand the cat's communication as well as supervising children interacting with the cat or kitten can usually prevent these unfortunate events from happening.

Breeds that are not generally advised for homes with small children include the Siamese, Scottish Fold, Sphynx, Korat, Bengal and American Wirehair. Typically these breeds are the more quiet and aloof or aggressive breeds of cats that do not adjust well to changes in routines and sudden movements and sounds.

The breed of cat that you choose will also be important depending on if you wish to have an indoor, outdoor or combination of indoor and outdoor cat. Some cats, such as the Persian, Ragdoll, Himalayan, Sphynx and Singapura should only be considered indoor cats, each for its own reason. Persian and Himalayan cats have a long, flowing coat that requires daily care even when the cat is kept in the controlled environment in a house, and their coat will become hopelessly tangled and matted if they are allowed to go outdoors on a regular basis. The Ragdoll cat is a very gentle breed that is not known for its ability to defend itself, so will need to be kept indoors to protect it from other cats, dogs and predators. Sphynx cats, due to their absence or minimal amounts of hair must be sheltered from both the cold and the heat as they have more difficulty in regulating their body temperatures in these two conditions. In addition the Sphynx lacks the hair coat to protect the skin from branches, brambles and other hazards in the outdoor environment. The Singapura, being the smallest breed of cat, will have difficulty in defending itself against other cats and animals so will require indoor housing.

Some cat owners build contained kennels and play areas for their cats that are safe, fenced and protected. This is an ideal idea to allow even indoor cats to safely have some outdoor time. The outside cat kennels must have a roof to prevent cats from simply climbing out the top, but can be a great way to give your cats exercise in a safe location.

Some breeds such as the Maine Coon, British Shorthair and Norwegian Forest Cat were bred for their ability to tolerate outdoor weather conditions. These are also some of the larger cats, well able to defend themselves against other cats. Typically cats that can survive easily outdoors will have double coats for both warmth and protection from the sun, but will not be the longhaired varieties that need constant grooming. Most of the domestic shorthair crosses that are found in local rescues and RSPCA adoption centres can be indoor or outdoor cats.

Regardless of coat type it is always a good idea to keep your cats indoors, at least through the evening. This is the time when most predators are about, so having your cats indoors at these times will prevent your cat from being hurt. In addition any cat that has not been neutered or spayed should always be kept indoors or confined to the garden to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

It will make a great deal of difference where you live whether or not you can let your cat outside for part of the day. Generally cities are very dangerous places for outdoor cats with traffic concerns, cruel people, and even stray dogs posing huge safety concerns. There are electronic fences and special collars that can be used to provide an "invisible fence" that cats cannot get out of, but many times these systems are very cost prohibitive for owners. Cats in the country, while not having to deal with the high volume of vehicles, still have concerns with predators, some vehicles, and even farm dogs.

Since there are such a wide variety of cats it is important to do some research and understand exactly what aspects or traits you are looking for in your pet cat. If you are planning on breeding your cat and purchasing a purebred you will also have additional considerations as to the type of cat that is known for ease of care as well as health issues and concern throughout the pregnancy.

The beauty of cats is that you can find a breed that will meet almost any requirement list. If, for instance, you wish to have an adult cat, prefer the chocolate point or seal point colour, wish a short haired variety, and want a cat that is vocal and intelligent, the Siamese will likely be ideal, provided you have older children. A Birman, very similar in many features, would be ideal if you wanted the same general characteristics but wanted a quieter cat that was good with kids. Noisy cats can be a problem in flats and apartments, especially if the neighbours don't enjoy hearing the cat when you are not home to provide attention. This should be a very important consideration in choosing a vocal breed of cat.

Remember too that most cats are not of any particular lineage. In these cases it is a bit of guess as to how the kitten will actually mature and what size, final colouration and even temperament they will be. If you are concerned about the cat fitting very specific requirements, you may wish to consider going to an cat rescue or RSPCA shelter and choosing an adult cat that already has matured to its full size, colour and temperament. These cats will already be spayed or neutered, which will prevent the concern of unwanted pregnancies and health concerns that are associated with intact cats of any gender. These domestic cats of unknown origin are affectionately known as Moggies, and while they don't have the pedigree of a purebred cat them may look identical to any cat you will see in a show or in a breed picture collection.

Finally it is critical to decide, especially if you are adopting or purchasing one cat or kitten, if you should actually consider getting two. Cats do enjoy company, and will quickly adopt the family dog or other pet as a companion. It is important to remember that cats are hunters by nature and should never be left unsupervised with any other type of smaller pet including hamsters, birds, rabbits or even lizards or small snakes. Cats may be fine with these pets for several months, and then one day will decide to make a game out of hunting them as prey. Cats will need supervision with other pets, including small dogs that are naturally timid or afraid of cats.

Typically cats that are adopted as a pair will bond very closely with each other, although they will still enjoy attention from owners. Singular cats in homes are often more affectionate towards the humans, but this also depends on the specific breed tendency for affection. More information on cats that are housed with other cats and pets can be found in the article on "Socialisation".

Shedding and grooming is also an important factor in choosing a breed of cat, as is the allergies of the people in the house. There is no breed of cat that is totally non-allergenic, as people are allergic to the dander from the skin as opposed to the hair that is shed. Typically breeds such as the Cornish Rex, Sphynx and the Egyptian Mau are less problematic, even for people with mild to moderate allergies to cat dander.

Longer haired cats tend to need more grooming and will typically not shed more but the hair will be more visible on furniture and clothing. Since cats love to cuddle and sit own owners, this can be an issue for some people. Cats usually will lie down on the most comfortable item they can find, which may be your jacket, sweater, or the trousers you were going to wear that day. Cats with double coats will shed more than those breeds with single coats, but cats, unlike double coated dogs, do not have a seasonal shed in which they lose all of their undercoat. Generally the shedding tends to become heavier in the spring and somewhat in the fall, but typically is not as noticeable as that of canines.

Be sure to consider all these factors when making the decision in choosing between the various breeds of cats. Many cats are sent to rescues and shelters every year because they do not fit within the existing family unit or do not adapt to some aspect of the owner's life or expectations. As a responsible cat owner it is absolutely critical to ensure that the kitten or cat is best suited to the household and to avoid making emotional decisions on which cat or breed is the best for you. Deciding between a kitten and a cat is also important and for most people this decision is based on how much time they wish to spend with the kitten or cat as well as how prepared they are to have an energetic kitten in the household.

Finally, remember that cats are a unique type of pet. They will not necessarily run to greet you when you get home but they will make your life rewarding in their own ways.