Cats Breeds – What to Consider Before Getting One?

Individuals opt for felines to be their companions due to different reasons. Some adore cuddling with a cat and having one sit in their laps, while others are appealed by the independence of these intelligent creatures, which require little human interaction.In general, having such a pet means providing regular meals, freshwater supply, human companionship, clean bed, outdoor access, regular grooming, safe environment, etc. Therefore, every person planning to take this step should consider different factors before the adoption, like age, gender, space requirements, attitude, and other animals in the household.Read below about each of these factors in detail.

Age

A crucial factor of consideration when getting a feline is age, whether to choose a kitten or an adult cat. By adopting a kitten, individuals are provided with the opportunity to start caring for an animal from the beginning and gain insight into its personality. Nevertheless, kittens have to be showered with attention and prevented from constantly getting into trouble.Moreover, kittens have to be taught certain important things, such as avoiding clawing the furniture, using a litter box, staying off kitchen countertops, etc. Their energy levels and mischievousness are more prominent in comparison with adult cats. You need to ensure they are safe when leaving them alone in the house. Also, you will probably have to take care of neutering and initial vaccinations.Adult felines, however, have already acquired the basic habits, meaning they might settle down more quickly. There is a myriad of cat breeds for potential feline owners to consider.  Despite their basic knowledge, adult cats need some time to adjust themselves to their new home. Additionally, the habits that older felines have developed during their childhood are already embedded and more challenging to break. They usually come vaccinated and neutered and require less work.

Family members

Another factor to consider prior to getting a feline is your existing family members. Most families with children hesitate whether to welcome a feline member to their households. Cats and children can cohabit safely as long as parents teach their kids how to respect animals and be gentle with them. For instance, it’s common for toddlers to hurt kittens unintentionally by hugging them too tightly.
Therefore, parents must lay down some ground rules regarding the behavior of their kids towards feline pets. Also, supervision is a must in the case of toddlers, as cats might react in a negative manner when children make abrupt movements. Additionally, all family members should be prepared to have their personal space invaded, as felines tend to jump on beds and have a nap in the laps of their owners.

Gender

Many individuals have concerns about the gender of the kitten they are about to adopt. Nevertheless, gender isn’t necessarily important, as kittens can be neutered before reaching puberty when they become four months old. During their puberty, un-neutered cats exhibit certain unwanted behaviors, both males and females. Check out some important reasons for neutering your cat.For instance, unneutered males have a habit of marking their territory with urine that gives off a strong smell. Conversely, females come into season in a period of two weeks and become extremely vocal, assuming they don’t get pregnant. Anyhow, homeowners who already have a resident cat should consider getting a feline of the opposite gender to eliminate the competitive factor. In such scenarios, adopting a kitten is wiser than adopting an adult cat, as the immaturity of the former seems to remove the factor of competition.

Other animals

Another factor to bear in mind when getting a feline is the presence of other pets in the house. For example, individuals who already have a canine in their house shouldn’t refrain from adopting a cat, as they can get along nicely. You should introduce them properly by making sure the new pet isn’t chased around and injured by your dog.The best way to avoid trouble is by getting a sociable breed of feline, which doesn’t mind the presence of other pets. Nevertheless, there are some dog breeds that don’t cohabitate with felines in the right manner and show signs of hostility, such as Greyhound, Samoyed, Beagle, Siberian husky, American Pit Bull Terrier, Australian Cattle Dog, Scottish deerhound, etc. Some cat breeds that get along with dogs include the Abyssinian, Birman, Bombay, American Shorthair, Norwegian Forest, and others.

Space

Space requirements should also be considered when adopting such a pet. Unlike canines, felines aren’t very demanding regarding space. These small creatures need space for their water and food bowls, which are at a fair distance from their litter box.Some felines don’t even need a bed to rest, as they prefer sleeping on the couch. Consequently, the size of your home shouldn’t impede you from making these animals your pets. See this website, https://www.seniorcatwellness.com/how-much-space-does-a-pet-cat-need/, to learn how much space a pet cat needs.

Attitude

Felines have a range of personalities, but they have some characteristics in common. If socialized, they are playful, curious, and friendly towards people. Mature cats are less loud and have better behavior when compared to kittens. Shy cats aren’t very fond of physical contact and thrive in predictable environments, whereas interactive ones flourish in the company of humans and other pets.

The bottom line

All these factors are essential when making such a decision.Prepare for a long-term commitment, especially if adopting a cute kitten!

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