time. Your finances. A cat is in your future, beyond a doubt, but what kind?
Just a second: You have more to consider. Before you get to imagine Your Perfect Cat, you must determine whether a grown cat would work better for the life you lead than would a kitten, no matter how adorable. Before you consider whether a random-bred or pedigreed cat will suit you best, you must consider the issue of fur: long or short? And what about gender? Do females make better pets, or do males?
As serious as that thought is, remember that choosing a feline companion is also a great deal of fun. You get to see oodles of beautiful cats, play with adorable kittens, and consider the incredible variety of the world’s most easygoing, adaptable, and ever-more-popular companion.
Random-bred or pedigreed, grown cat or kitten, whatever gender, fur length, color, markings, or variety you choose, we want you to be in love with your cat for years to come. So read on.
Kitten or Cat: Which Is a Better Choice for You?
When people think about adding a cat to their lives, many seem to automatically think “kitten.” And why not? A kitten seems to make perfect sense, a little fluffball who’ll grow into your household and your heart. For some people, though, an adult cat is a better option and more people are seeing it that way. Even if you’re perfectly set up for a kitten, you ought to consider an adult as well, for you’ll find many wonderful pets among the ranks of grown cats, and most will never get a second chance to show how perfect they can be. Don’t rule out either before you consider each fairly.
Everyone loves kittens!
Even people who profess to dislike cats can’t look at a kitten like the one in Figure 2-1 without saying “awwwwwww.” Baby animals are all adorable, but kittens seem to have something special going for them. Maybe it’s those large eyes, following every movement intently. The oversized ears, twitching to and fro. The playfulness, chasing and pouncing on everything that moves, be it your fingertip or a piece of kibble batted across the linoleum. The tousled fur a kitten can’t quite seem to groom into the sleekness every adult cat considers her duty to maintain. A kitten is all these things — and more.
What many people don’t think about as they’re falling in love is that a kitten can be a lot of work and even aggravation. They can mean a lot of expense, too, because many a kitten seems to use nearly all a cat’s nine lives, which means you may end up seeing the nice people at the emergency veterinary clinic a time or two in the first few years. With a kitten, you also need to put more effort into training, from making sure the tiny baby understands what’s expected regarding the litter box to helping your kitten learn to stay off the counters. You also need to kitten-proof your home — or keep your baby confined in a safe part of the house whenever you’re not watching him — and then spend months during which, every day, you’re picking your little tiger off the drapes, off the kids, off the back of the couch, or off your slippers every time you walk down the hall.
A kitten may be a poor choice for families with very young children or for someone who’s struggling with advanced age or illness. For all their spunk, kittens are fragile and may accidentally be hurt by young children who don’t understand the concept of “gentle.” Similarly, a kitten isn’t the best choice for anyone who’s a little unsteady on his feet or isn’t able to chase or otherwise keep up with an energetic feline baby.
On the other hand, a kitten can be a dream come true to a family with older, more-responsible children, or a source of delightful amusement to an active older adult. You just need to look carefully at your living situation and consider the problems and pleasures a kitten will bring.
Finally, consider the matter of time. An adult cat does quite well on her own alone in the house while you work — most of the time she’s sleeping anyway. A kitten needs your time, for raising her and for watching over her to keep her out of trouble.
Clara/Photo by Gina Spadafori
FIGURE 2-1: The promise of a lifetime of companionship can be seen in the eyes of a kitten.
Adult cat considerations
Adult cats offer some compelling advantages and few disadvantages — the most serious disadvantage being simply that they aren’t as “baby cute” as kittens!
Kittens get away with all their endearing goofiness because they measure way off the adorability scale, but if you suspect you’re going to get tired of having your feet attacked, if you worry about your children not being gentle enough, or if you don’t want to be figuring out what your little baby is into every second of the day and night, an adult cat is a better option for you.
If you adopt an adult cat, you know exactly what you’re getting. Body type, coat, and eye color are set. Laid-back or active, quiet or vocal, cuddly or demanding, an adult cat has already settled into his own persona. These considerations may not be as important in a pedigreed cat, because you know, based on your kitten’s background and the breeder’s knowledge and reputation, what your kitten is likely to grow into in terms of body type and temperament. But in a nonpedigreed kitten, these qualities are really anybody’s guess. If you want to make sure that you’re getting, say, a mellow pet, choose a cat beyond the ants-in-his-pants kitten stage. (More on pedigreed cats later in this chapter.)
The easy care and generous affection of adult cats make them perfect pets for people for whom walking dogs would be difficult or impossible. And study after study confirms the importance of a cat in the lives of those who feel isolated by age or disabilities.
What age should you consider? Young adults of less than five years of age are often very kitten-like but without the teething, spaying, extra vaccines, and so on that come with new kittens. They are great cats for families with children. Older adult cats might be better for those looking for more laid-back and settled cats. And there's another real benefit to adopting one of these older cats: Some rescue groups wave adoption fees on older pets, and some even offering programs where all the veterinary care for these cats is covered, so a senior cat is truly a carefree companion!
The possible disadvantage of adopting an adult cat is that you may be choosing a pet with behavioral problems — not using a litter box, for example. A good shelter, rescue group, or breeder practices full disclosure of any known health or behavior problems with the animals up for rehoming. Remember, however, that many animals are given up for behavior problems that can be resolved or aren’t their fault — such as the cat who’s looking at a filthy litter box every day and decides to do his business elsewhere.
An adult cat’s personality may be set, but his affections aren’t — a grown cat bonds with you just as tightly as a kitten does. We think that adult
