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Which cat breed is right for me?
First, make sure that you and all other members of your
household are not allergic to cats before you adopt.
Learning about different breeds of cats and their traits will help
you pick the kind of cat that will make the right pet for you. To
decide what kind of cat will be the best pet for you, consider the
questions in the following quiz:
Which cat breed is right for me quiz:
1. Do you want a purebred cat or a mixed breed cat?
2. Do you prefer short-haired or long-haired cats?
3. Are you interested in a cat with unique characteristics?
4. Do you want a kitten or an adult cat?
5. Do you prefer a quiet pet or one that will talk to you?
6. Are you looking for a loveable, cuddly pet, or would you prefer
a more independent animal?
7. Do you want a pet who is inquisitive and energetic, or would
you prefer one who is more laid back?
While most household cats are mixed breed cats, there is an
amazing array of pedigreed cats to choose from, if you want to
spend the extra money. One advantage of choosing a pedigreed
cat is predictability. You know ahead of time what the cat will look
like when it has matured. You can also expect your cat to exhibit
personality traits consistent with his breed. The downside of
adopting a purebred cat is that genetic defects are often common
with pure breeds. Some genetic disorders can lead to
life-threatening medical conditions and can be expensive to treat.
To pick a breed, first consider whether would you prefer to have a
long-haired or short-haired cat. While the hair length will make no
difference in personality, it does make a considerable difference
in the amount of work you have to do in order to keep the cat
clean and tangle-free. If you love the beauty of a long silky coat,
prepare yourself for a little extra work.
First, make sure that you and all other members of your
household are not allergic to cats before you adopt.
Learning about different breeds of cats and their traits will help
you pick the kind of cat that will make the right pet for you. To
decide what kind of cat will be the best pet for you, consider the
questions in the following quiz:
Which cat breed is right for me quiz:
1. Do you want a purebred cat or a mixed breed cat?
2. Do you prefer short-haired or long-haired cats?
3. Are you interested in a cat with unique characteristics?
4. Do you want a kitten or an adult cat?
5. Do you prefer a quiet pet or one that will talk to you?
6. Are you looking for a loveable, cuddly pet, or would you prefer
a more independent animal?
7. Do you want a pet who is inquisitive and energetic, or would
you prefer one who is more laid back?
While most household cats are mixed breed cats, there is an
amazing array of pedigreed cats to choose from, if you want to
spend the extra money. One advantage of choosing a pedigreed
cat is predictability. You know ahead of time what the cat will look
like when it has matured. You can also expect your cat to exhibit
personality traits consistent with his breed. The downside of
adopting a purebred cat is that genetic defects are often common
with pure breeds. Some genetic disorders can lead to
life-threatening medical conditions and can be expensive to treat.
To pick a breed, first consider whether would you prefer to have a
long-haired or short-haired cat. While the hair length will make no
difference in personality, it does make a considerable difference
in the amount of work you have to do in order to keep the cat
clean and tangle-free. If you love the beauty of a long silky coat,
prepare yourself for a little extra work.
Although that fuzzy ball of fluff may look adorable, grooming adult long-haired cats can take up quite a lot
of time. If you neglect your cat’s coat, it can tangle and mat up at an alarmingly fast rate, right down to the
cat's skin. Besides being very unsightly, hair mats can then begin to pull on the cat’s skin and cause pain
and irritation. Once this happens, your only option is to have the matted area shaved, which can be quite
traumatic for your cat. Also, your cat will probably have to be sedated before he can be shaved, which
poses a health risk.
If you want a short-haired cat, consider one the following breeds: Abyssinian, American Shorthair,
American Wirehair, Bombay, British Shorthair, Burmese, Chartreux, European Burmese, Exotic, Havana
Brown, Korat, Ocicat, Oriental, Russian Blue, Siamese, Singapura or Tonkinese.
If you prefer a long-haired breed and are willing to spend the additional time and effort, consider one of
these breeds: Balinese, Birman, Exotic Longhair, Javanese, Norwegian Forest Cat, Oriental Longhair,
Persian, Ragamuffin, Ragdoll, Siberian, Somali, Turkish Angora or Turkish Van. If hair length is not a
deciding factor for you, think about other traits you’d like your cat to have.
Certain breeds of cats have unique characteristics that stand out from the rest. For example, the American
Bobtail and Manx are tailless cats, and the Sphynx is hairless. Munchkins have very short legs. The short-
haired American Curl has ears that have a backward curl, and the long-haired Scottish Fold has ears that
have a forward curl. Cats with kinky or curly coats include the short-haired Cornish Rex and Devon Rex,
and the long-haired LaPerm and Selkierk Rex. The Egyptian Mau is well known for its incredible speed; it
can run at an astounding 30 mph.
You should also consider whether you will be able to handle living with a vocal cat. Some breeds can
actually be quite noisy. While many cat owners do not have a problem with a lot of meowing, as they
realize their cats are just communicating with them, a loud cat can be a problem in an apartment situation.
Breeds that are very vocal are the Siamese, the Korat, and the Burmese. The Scottish Fold, Somali, and
the American Curl are usually very quiet breeds.
Next, do you want a cat who is cuddly or one who is more independent? If you do not have a lot of free
time, a cuddly cat who loves attention may be the wrong choice. However, affectionate cats are usually
better with children than more reserved breeds. Some of the friendliest cat breeds are the Snowshoe,
Abyssinian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Tonkinese, and the Himalayan Persian. Less sociable breeds are the
Norwegian Forest Cat, the Nebelung, and the Russian Shorthair.
If you are looking for a cat who can amuse himself and will not get into constant mischief, then the Sphynx,
Siamese, Rex, Balinese, and British Angora breeds may not be the cat for you. These cats are very
inquisitive and energetic. However, for someone who is homebound or has a lot of free time, these cats
are a wonderful source of entertainment.
If you're thinking about getting a purebred cat, go to some cat shows in your area. Talk to the judges.
Talk to the cat owners. Tell them that you are doing your homework because you plan to have this cat in a
loving home for its entire life, and they're going to be more open to helping you out. Go to legitimate,
reputable websites, such as The American Association of Feline Practitioners or the Winn Feline
Foundation. They have experts that study the different cat breeds, and you can get accurate information
from them. However, do realize that as with everything in life, there are exceptions to the rule with every
breed of cat. The information you find will be accurate but not absolute.
If breed is not an issue for you, consider a adopting a mixed breed cat. Mixed breed cats can be found in
all different coats, colors and sizes, so you can get one that look just about any way you please. Because
mixed breed cats have a genetic make-up that is a result of mixing stock, this type of cat will be at a low risk
for serious health problems that are specific to certain purebreds. Of course when getting a mixed breed
cat you are gaining good health, but loosing the predictability factor. If you get a kitten, you have no way
of knowing how long its coat will be, what type of temperament it will have, or how large it will be. If you
adopt an adult cat, its coat, size and personality traits should be apparent.
Once you consider all of the different features and traits for the breeds you are interested in, you will finally
be ready to start searching for your new pet. Kittens can be irresistible, but they also require a lot of care
and attention. If you don’t have the time, energy and patience to work with a kitten, maybe an adult cat is a
better option for you. If you are looking for a certain breed of kitten, check out your local cat show, since
some exhibitors may have a few cats and/or kittens for sale. Also, check out your local animal shelters or
go online to www.petfinders.com, which lists animals available for adoption all over the country. Shelters in
every city are full of wonderful cats and kittens that need a forever home.
of time. If you neglect your cat’s coat, it can tangle and mat up at an alarmingly fast rate, right down to the
cat's skin. Besides being very unsightly, hair mats can then begin to pull on the cat’s skin and cause pain
and irritation. Once this happens, your only option is to have the matted area shaved, which can be quite
traumatic for your cat. Also, your cat will probably have to be sedated before he can be shaved, which
poses a health risk.
If you want a short-haired cat, consider one the following breeds: Abyssinian, American Shorthair,
American Wirehair, Bombay, British Shorthair, Burmese, Chartreux, European Burmese, Exotic, Havana
Brown, Korat, Ocicat, Oriental, Russian Blue, Siamese, Singapura or Tonkinese.
If you prefer a long-haired breed and are willing to spend the additional time and effort, consider one of
these breeds: Balinese, Birman, Exotic Longhair, Javanese, Norwegian Forest Cat, Oriental Longhair,
Persian, Ragamuffin, Ragdoll, Siberian, Somali, Turkish Angora or Turkish Van. If hair length is not a
deciding factor for you, think about other traits you’d like your cat to have.
Certain breeds of cats have unique characteristics that stand out from the rest. For example, the American
Bobtail and Manx are tailless cats, and the Sphynx is hairless. Munchkins have very short legs. The short-
haired American Curl has ears that have a backward curl, and the long-haired Scottish Fold has ears that
have a forward curl. Cats with kinky or curly coats include the short-haired Cornish Rex and Devon Rex,
and the long-haired LaPerm and Selkierk Rex. The Egyptian Mau is well known for its incredible speed; it
can run at an astounding 30 mph.
You should also consider whether you will be able to handle living with a vocal cat. Some breeds can
actually be quite noisy. While many cat owners do not have a problem with a lot of meowing, as they
realize their cats are just communicating with them, a loud cat can be a problem in an apartment situation.
Breeds that are very vocal are the Siamese, the Korat, and the Burmese. The Scottish Fold, Somali, and
the American Curl are usually very quiet breeds.
Next, do you want a cat who is cuddly or one who is more independent? If you do not have a lot of free
time, a cuddly cat who loves attention may be the wrong choice. However, affectionate cats are usually
better with children than more reserved breeds. Some of the friendliest cat breeds are the Snowshoe,
Abyssinian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Tonkinese, and the Himalayan Persian. Less sociable breeds are the
Norwegian Forest Cat, the Nebelung, and the Russian Shorthair.
If you are looking for a cat who can amuse himself and will not get into constant mischief, then the Sphynx,
Siamese, Rex, Balinese, and British Angora breeds may not be the cat for you. These cats are very
inquisitive and energetic. However, for someone who is homebound or has a lot of free time, these cats
are a wonderful source of entertainment.
If you're thinking about getting a purebred cat, go to some cat shows in your area. Talk to the judges.
Talk to the cat owners. Tell them that you are doing your homework because you plan to have this cat in a
loving home for its entire life, and they're going to be more open to helping you out. Go to legitimate,
reputable websites, such as The American Association of Feline Practitioners or the Winn Feline
Foundation. They have experts that study the different cat breeds, and you can get accurate information
from them. However, do realize that as with everything in life, there are exceptions to the rule with every
breed of cat. The information you find will be accurate but not absolute.
If breed is not an issue for you, consider a adopting a mixed breed cat. Mixed breed cats can be found in
all different coats, colors and sizes, so you can get one that look just about any way you please. Because
mixed breed cats have a genetic make-up that is a result of mixing stock, this type of cat will be at a low risk
for serious health problems that are specific to certain purebreds. Of course when getting a mixed breed
cat you are gaining good health, but loosing the predictability factor. If you get a kitten, you have no way
of knowing how long its coat will be, what type of temperament it will have, or how large it will be. If you
adopt an adult cat, its coat, size and personality traits should be apparent.
Once you consider all of the different features and traits for the breeds you are interested in, you will finally
be ready to start searching for your new pet. Kittens can be irresistible, but they also require a lot of care
and attention. If you don’t have the time, energy and patience to work with a kitten, maybe an adult cat is a
better option for you. If you are looking for a certain breed of kitten, check out your local cat show, since
some exhibitors may have a few cats and/or kittens for sale. Also, check out your local animal shelters or
go online to www.petfinders.com, which lists animals available for adoption all over the country. Shelters in
every city are full of wonderful cats and kittens that need a forever home.