Cats are very popular house pets. They each have distinct personalities and provide their owners with love, companionship and loyalty. Cats are known for their intelligence and for their hunting ability. Although far removed from the wild, domestic cats retain their hunting instincts and are very useful to control vermin, such as rats and mice. This ability may be what led them to be domesticated in the first place. By protecting the stores against rodents, cats proved their practical worth. By being loving companions, cats proved their emotional value.

There are many varieties and breeds of cats. They range from long hair to short hair and even hairless. They vary greatly in color, markings and size. Many breeds, such as the common domestic, come in a various colors, hair lengths and sizes within the same breed. The African wild cat is believed to be the closest pre-domesticated ancestor of cats. Modern cats retain many of the characteristics of the African wild cat, such as being carnivorous and their hunting instincts. Humans have lived in close association with cats for centuries.

The domestication of cats started from the ancient Egyptians and Chinese, who respected and revered the cat. Common male cats are referred to as toms, while female cats are queens; pedigreed, purebred or show cats, on the other hand, are referred to as sires and dams for male and female cats respectively. Purebred and pedigreed cats both have recorded ancestries; purebred, however, have a long-lineage of only one cat variety or breed, while pedigreed cats may have ancestors of different, mostly new breeds.

Domestic longhairs, shorthairs, random-bred and mongrels are some terms that refer to cats with mixed ancestry that vary from one country to the next. Most of the cat population the world over is comprised of random-bred felines, with purebreds only totaling to less than ten percent of the feline population. Domestic cats, in general, have been classified by Carolus Linnaeus as Felis catus back in the 17th century as the domestic sub-species of the wild cat family.

Dogs are favorite domestic pets along with cats. Although both are great pets, cats have characteristics which make them better pets for some people. For example, cats can happily spend their entire lives indoors. Even as young kittens, they can very easily be trained to use a litter box. Dogs, on the other hand, must be taken outside and walked many times a day. Also, cats are quiet and small, making them more adaptable to urban living than most breeds of dogs.

Whether you have owned cats previously or are considering adopting your first, you may be surprised to find that there is a wide variety of breeds from which to choose. Some organizations recognize over 70 different breeds of cats! So how can you decide which breed would be best for you and your family? There are several factors to take into consideration as you make your choice.

Vocal or Not?
One thing to think about is how much cat vocalization will be acceptable in your household. We all know that cats meow, but some meow louder and more often than others. If you live in an apartment building where frequent and loud cat vocalizations may disturb the neighbors, you may want to avoid the more vocal breeds. Also, consider your temperament and the temperaments of those in your home.

Will loud and frequent meowing be something that is considered delightful and charming, or will it be an annoyance? Some people like the fact that their cat vocalizes and may actually carry on a conversation with the cat. If you feel that a vocal cat will fit in well with the lifestyle of you and your family, you may want to look into adopting a Siamese, Korat or Burmese cat. On the other hand, if you prefer a quieter cat, consider the Scottish Fold, Somali or the American Curl. Friendly or Standoffish? Cats have a reputation as being independent and distant, but in reality they exhibit a range of social behavior, just as humans do. Some are distant, some are affectionate and some fall somewhere in-between. You and your family may have a preference for a cat that behaves in a certain manner.

Perhaps no one is home much of the time and therefore people will not be able to spend much time with the cat. In that case, you may want to choose a fairly independent breed. But if people are often around the cat and long to hold, pet and cuddle it, you will want to select a more affectionate breed. Or, perhaps your preference lies somewhere in the middle.

Those looking for an independent cat should consider the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Nebelung and the Russian Shorthair. For a more cuddly, affectionate variety, the Snowshoes, Abyssinian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Tonkinese and the Himalayan Persian are all breeds that you may like. And for those who want a cat that enjoys cuddling when you are in the mood but that can also entertain itself, you may want to consider the Sphynx, Siamese, Rex, Balinese and British Angora.

Long Fur or Short?
The length of the cat’s fur is an extremely important consideration as well. While longhaired cats are often adorable and appear cuddly, their coats do require some care to keep them looking nice. Without proper grooming, their fur can become matted and tangled. Shorthaired cats do not require the same level of maintenance. So, when selecting your cat’s breed, you may not want to consider cats with longer hair if you do not have the time or inclination to keep up with the grooming. Longhaired breeds include the Turkish Angora, Himalayan and Persian while shorthaired breeds that you may want to consider include the Abyssinian, Burmese and Russian Blue.

Once you have decided on the characteristics that you prefer in your cat, you are ready to embark on your search for the perfect feline companion. Choosing a kitty of a breed that suits your lifestyle will help ensure that your cat becomes a source of joy and comfort in your life and that of your family.

If you are getting a new kitten, you will probably already have a checklist of things you need to buy before the cat even gets to the house. Let’s have a look through what should be on the checklist:

1. Cat food is obviously essential. It might sound obvious but we’ve all run out of cat food at one time or another. If you are bringing home a young kitten rather than an adult cat, you might like to choose a special variety of kitten food. There are many types of cat food available on the market – biscuit types, wet food in a can and more. Different cats have different preferences and the most expensive cat food you can find is not necessarily the one your cat will enjoy the most.

2. A litter box and cat litter. The best litter is the scoopable kind. If you have a “pooper scooper”, you can clean the box yourself every day by scooping out any dirty litter. This means you won’t have to change the whole boxful every couple of days. You should change the whole boxful every week or 10 days. Some cats are fussier than others about litter. They might not like scented litter or litter with extra large granules. Experiment and see what works.

3. Many people overestimate how many toys their kitten will need. Cats are like children in some ways and might end up ignoring the toy and playing with the box. Cats will be pleased with just about anything if they are in a playful mood and cat toys make great gifts for cat owners. If you don’t have cat toys or you are on a tight budget, you can make toys which will entertain your cat just as much as store-bought toys. Try scrunching some tinfoil into a ball. Your kitten will have hours of fun with that, especially if you hide a prawn or piece of tuna in the center! Empty cotton reels, pen tops, bits of string and just about everything else can make a satisfactory toy for your kitty.

4. You need to find a good veterinarian, preferably one whose surgery is not too far away. You might not be thinking about this now but if you have the number and address of a good veterinarian, this ensures you can act immediately if you ever require immediate attention from him. If you have never used a veterinarian before, ask your friends with pets for recommendations. They will tell you about veterinarians they are happy with and those they did not like for some reason. You can also ask at local animal shelters, who will be able to tell you the best and the least expensive ones. You might want to check your local phone book for more veterinary listings. Some vets treat all kinds of animals and others are feline only. Check around and see what you have in your neighborhood.

5. If you have a cat, you are going to need a cat brush for grooming. This not only helps both of you to bond but also helps to control shedding. You will be happy about less fur ending up on your furniture and clothes and if you groom your cat daily, you will reduce the risk of hairballs. There are a lot of different brushes on the market and a good idea is to buy one from your veterinarian which suits the kind of hair your cat has. Or you might want to get a wide-tooth comb for tangles and a finer-tooth comb for everything else.

6. You will need patience with your new cat. He will be brought to unfamiliar territory when he comes to your home. Let him investigate his new terrain and sniff out strange new smells. Cats do this to learn about their environment. You will need to be patient with her as she tries to learn the rules. Disciplining a dog is nothing like how you discipline a cat. Cats are very determined. You can tell them to get off the kitchen counter, watch her get down, turn around and she is back up there again, grinning at you!

7. Perhaps the most important thing any new cat owner needs is love. Look into that cute feline face and it should be immediate. Love is what makes a true cat-lover.

If you have enough love and patience with your new fluffy friend, everything else will work itself out just fine.

Once you have made the decision to bring a kitten home, you next have to set her up with everything she needs. You will probably already have the basics, such as cat food, a food bowl and water bowl, a litter box and some kitty litter. Now you have some of the more puzzling aspects of cat care to think about. You are worried about shedding. You are thinking about declawing. And there are many more things to think about too.

First of all, don’t worry. They key to cat ownership is to love your cat. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know everything about cat care yet. You will definitely learn more along the way. Here is some information to get you started.

Shedding

All cats shed, although a long-haired cat is going to have more noticeable shedding than a shorter-haired variety. If you have dark-colored furniture, you will notice white cat hairs more easily than black ones, for example. You might expect that your cat will only shed when the seasons change but that is not the case. An indoor cat is exposed to artificial light and a constant temperature all year, meaning she will shed all year. This is not, however, as bad as it sounds.

Something important to be know is that cats take care of much of their shedding alone. They are extremely clean animals and clean themselves frequently with the rough, sandpaper-like tongues. This might help with the shedding but it does encourage hairballs, which is another potential problem.

Hairballs

Hairballs can threaten your cat’s digestion because they can block the digested food already traveling through the intestines, which will cause an impaction and might have to be surgically removed. In lesser cases, hairballs might lead to constipation, which no cat-lover would wish for their kitty.

How do you know whether your cat has hairballs? You will recognize a hairball if your cat coughs them up. A hairball resembles a cigar-shaped mass of matter. Sometimes cats eliminate hairballs with feces in the litter box, instead of coughing them up. If your cat’s droppings have hair on, this means she has hairballs. A hacking or coughing can also indicate that your cat has hairballs. This usually happens after eating. If your cat has a sudden loss of appetite, a hairball is likely to be the cause of it. Most cats will experience hairballs at some time or another.

How do you prevent hairballs? You need to take matters into your own hands and brush your cat often. Most cats love to be groomed and will enjoy the experience. It also builds a great bond between you and your kitty. Long-haired cats especially need daily grooming to remove loose hair which is about to shed. Cats swallow hairs when they groom themselves and this is what leads to hairballs.

If grooming does not seem to be enough to prevent hairballs, you might need to buy a hairball remedy. There are plenty to choose from, everything from gels to granules that you sprinkle on your cat’s food.

Declawing

Declawing your cat to stop him ruining the furniture or scratching people is actually a very controversial topic. A few decades ago, this was a routine operation, often performed at the same time as the cat being neutered or spayed.

People today are more knowledgeable about what declawing actually entails. It doesn’t just mean pulling the claws out. It actually means the veterinarian has to amputate the cat’s paws at the first joint. This is the equivalent to you getting your knuckles amputated just below your fingernails! Sounds painful, doesn’t it?

To perform this surgery, the veterinarian will anesthetize your cat and give her pain medication. He will cut the first section of the cat’s paw off, since the claws are intertwined within this first knuckle. After surgery, your cat’s paws will be bandaged and she will spend the night at the surgery. The next day you will be able to bring her home.

Your cat will be in a lot of pain for a few days after the surgery and will be distinctly uncomfortable and not want to move much. Considering what the surgery involves, your cat will heal quite quickly. She will walk gingerly around the house for about a week and then be back to her old self.

To prevent infection, you will need to replace her litter with shredded paper, so she doesn’t get litter granules in her already tender paws.

Declawing your cat does more than just get rid of the scratching problem. Her claws and top part of her toes which have been removed are vital to her in another way. Removing a cat’s claws can throw her whole natural balance off. Not only this, but your cat will be unable to protect herself from other animals if she gets outside.

A cat is what is known as a “digitigrade”. It might sound like a strange word but it just means she walks on her toes. The entire balance and form of a cat are based on her digits. The whole cat’s body, including her shoulders, back, leg joints, paws, muscles, tendons, ligaments and even nerves, are based on walking on her toes. Her weight is therefore distributed across her toes when she walks, climbs or runs.

This means that her claws are necessary for her balance as well as for effective exercise. Your cat’s toes, and especially her claws, are necessary for stretching. When a cat scratches at a post (or your couch!) you might think she is just sharpening her claws, but the truth is she is stretching her whole body. If you declaw her, you will throw off her entire body alignment.

Hairballs and declawing might be topics that don’t usually come up in everyday conversation but they are vital to know about in order to give your cat the very best care you can. Knowing about such topics, and giving her lots of love, will help to ensure that she has a long, healthy, enjoyable life.