White Cat Rescue

White Cat Rescue

Why a Kitten Rather than A Cat?

Kittens are adorable, hard work, entertaining, often destructive, and usually delightful. It is a joy to own one at least once in your life. Many people take on older cats, often because there are many more of them needing a good home than kittens, find homes more easily because of their appeal. It is hard work - they keep you on your toes like any baby or toddler. Indeed, many people taking on a kitten for the first time after many years of owning adult cats comment that they had forgotten what hard work it is!

Some aspects of your personality may also affect the type of kitten you choose, or should choose, and the lifestyle you will have with it, such as whether it goes outside or stays indoors.

Are you patient?

Kittens do require patience, and if you are taking on a long-haired cat you may have to spend a great deal of time grooming - Persians especially will not be able to look after their coats on their own.

Are you house-proud - do you mind accidents, scratched furniture or wallpaper, hair on the furniture, litter boxes, etc.?

Tales of kittens climbing up curtains are based on truth -they may well shin up anything they can and in the process knock off ornaments or pull down curtains that are not securely fixed! Remember when you had children or friends visiting with children and put all the valuables away? Time to do it again. Cats do shed hair, and long­haired cats shed a lot of it.

Are you overprotective?

Some people could not bear to take on a cat and then let it face the risks of going outside. They may want to keep it indoors - but there are things to consider if taking this option, both at the outset and as it grows.

What sort of owner will you be? What do you want from your cat? Do you want a close relationship, or are you happy to live with it and respect it for its independence? Owners can be dissatisfied with their cat because they have unrealistic expectations of how it might live with them or because the cat does not fit what they want. One such story was told to me recently by a member of a rescue organization. A very nice lady came in and adopted a beautiful tortoiseshell-and-white cat. She brought it back the next day because, as an artist, she could not cope with the fact that the markings on its legs were not symmetrical - she had even considered coloring it in! Suggestions by staff that she could use artistic license when she was painting it fell on deaf ears!

OK, self-analysis finished - you have thought it through and are ready to choose your kitten. It may have seemed a little labored but, if a dog is for life, then a cat is for even longer! Many cats live for fourteen years and upward, so they are potentially with you for a long time, sometimes longer than children. What are the choices available to you?

 

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White Cat Rescue

Choosing a Pet Cat

This article is from My Family UK.

If you want a pet brimming with personality, then a cat is the right choice for you. These long-living felines (many live over 20 years) are at once loving and independent, and can be the perfect addition to a family.

Here are some questions to ask yourself, and your family, if you are thinking about adding a cat to your life.

Kitten or Cat?

The first choice to make when deciding between cats is whether you want a young cat or an older one. Kittens are an undeniably attractive option, but will soon grow out of their tiny, cute phase and require a lot of attention and expense – including housetraining, and medical expenses such as vaccinations and neutering. Kittens are also more delicate than older cats, meaning that young children might treat them too roughly, leading to distress or accidental injury for the animal. For these reasons an older cat may be easier to slot into your family life, and because older cats in rescue centres are harder to re-home than their younger fellows, you will also be doing a service to the cat.

Moggy or pedigree?

The vast majority of cats in the UK fall into the “mixed breed” category – that is non-pedigree moggies. As they are a mixed bag, if you get a moggy as a kitten, you won’t know in advance their eventual size or temperament. However, many owners enjoy this element of surprise and because cats vary less than dogs, choosing a breed is less important. Pedigree cats can also be more prone to genetic problems and ill health related to a particular breed. If you do want to go down the pedigree route, here are a few popular breeds to choose from.

1) Siamese

• Originated in Thailand and imported into Britain in the 1880s
• Medium-sized slender cats that are graceful but muscular
• Pale short coat with dark face, ears, legs and tail, minimal grooming required
• Life expectancy of up to 20 or more years
• Outgoing and extroverted, can be extremely noisy

2) Persian Longhair

• Originated in Persia (Iran) and Turkey
• A solid long-haired cat with a broad, round head, a flat face and eyes set wide apart
• Long fur requiring extensive grooming
• Shorter life expectancy of 10 to 12 years
• Not very active, ideal as indoor cats

3) Russian Blue

• Probably originated in Russia
• Medium to large cat with a pointed face and short fur
• Short grey-blue fur (rare black and white cats do appear), minimal grooming required
• Often live well into their late teens
• Loyal to their owner but perhaps shy of strangers, playful when relaxed

Other tips:

• At times, cats shower you with affection, but at others they can treat you with withering disdain. You need to be ready to experience both ends of the spectrum, and not react to the cat's varying attentions.
• Although they can be playful, cats are sometimes downright aggressive, so be sure to warn your children so that they don't get hurt.
• Be prepared for their claws to get into everything, including your skin

Further Information

For further information, and for more great ways to have fun with your family, log on to www.myfamilyuk.com. With a huge collection of articles covering everything from child safety to rainy day activities, you'll find all the help, guidance and entertainment you need to be a great parent. Go to My Family UK now!

About the Author

My Family UK is a brand new website that is turning the online focus back onto families. We're dedicated to supporting you and your family live the life you choose to the full, with games, tips, offers and articles on all aspects of parenting. If your family means the world to you, check out www.myfamilyuk.com.