Most cats have a life expectancy of 12–18 years and you should choose your new companion with care. Not all cats are alike. They have many different personalities and you should do your homework prior to deciding on which type of cat would best fit into your lifestyle.
 The Friendly cat – gets along very well with everyone and is easily socialized.
The Timid cat – is reserved by nature and keeps its distance for a long time, will eventually bond closely to his people.
The Serene cat – even tempered and tolerant both with other cats, dogs, family members and strangers, is not easily affected by stressful situations.
The Capricious Cat – touchy and sensitive and may pout for hours – fearful and nervous and not suitable for loud people.
How to find a cat:
- Neighborhood “litter accidents”
- Purebred cats from a breeder
- Cats from an Animal Shelter (link over to our rescue groups information)
- Cats from a newspaper advertisement
- Stray Cats
Are two cats better than one?
Some cats are typically loners and prefer to bond to their owners and not share their love and affection. Others on the other hand prefer the company of a playmate. If considering two cats, the best scenario is to get two from the same litter making sure they get along well together, they may not get along even though from the same litter. If you work long hours, two cats are good company for one another.
Female or male?
If spayed or neutered early before they completely mature (no later than six months of age) there really is no difference in a male or female. Males may be a bit more affectionate. If not spayed or neutered, females become sexually mature at about six months and will mate two or three times a year. Males are sexually mature at about nine months of age and will spray urine everywhere to mark their territory. All these problems are avoided if spayed or neutered early. Females should be spayed prior to the sixth month and males at about six months.
Diet
The cat’s diet is the most important thing you will provide for the longevity of the cat.
There are many options in choosing the right diet for your cat. Many diets readily and conveniently available at your local grocery store are not good choices and this is because of their lack of nutritional quality. Cats need a quality diet consisting of mostly real meat and vegetables with very little grain. Learn to read your labels. Cats should be fed a variety early in life so as not to become “spoiled” to a particular food choice. By nature they would eat one of the nutritionally complete raw meat diets available at Canine Commissary.
Equipment needed for a cat
Essentials include food, litter, a litter box, litter scoop, food and water bowl, entertaining toys, a scratching post. The taller the better as they like to be up high; they like to hide in the cubbies provided in most scratching posts, and they like to climb the post. A cat harness (special made harness they cannot slip out of – not a dog harness), and a lead for short trips outside. Cat collar and ID tag (breakaway type collars). Grooming tools to keep the cat’s coat healthy and free of shedding hair. Cats like to eat grass and many household plants are poisonous so provide them with a store bought version for inside your home. See the New Cat Check List. The first few nights
Although cats do not need to be crate trained, it is still a good idea to put the cat into a small area of the home for the first few days and weeks in your home. You may put the new cat in a bathroom or utility room and give limited amounts of time in other areas of the home when you are near and watching. This gets the cat used to where his feeding area and litter area are in your home. Once the cat is familiar with this he will be free to roam your entire house. Also, care should be taken that the cat does not get outside in unfamiliar territory. Cats have fewer problems if they are kept inside, away from the dangers of the outside world.
What Your Cat Should Learn
The cat should learn its name. Call the cat by its name when you are feeding it, petting it or giving it a treat, or other pleasant things; soon it will come when you call.
Teach your cat not to jump on the counter or table – (You can teach them not to do this) a simple “NO” “OFF” and possibly a spritz from a nearby water gun to frighten and catch them off guard – to make the experience unpleasant. They should not realize where this uncomfortable dampness came from. A sticky paper on areas you want them to stay away from can be purchased which are called “Sticky Paws”. There are also pads available which give a slight “static” once touched by the cat’s paw which deters the cat from that area. Another inexpensive helpful hint is to place large pieces of aluminum foil on furniture you do not want the cat to occupy. When the cat jumps up to the restricted spot, the sound of the foil makes this an unpleasant choice for the cat. The foil may be used over and over again in different parts of the home.
Do not allow your cat to “beg” – be consistent in your training – do not allow behavior one time and ignore it another.
Teach the cat to scratch in the right place. Provide a scratching post, many options are available. Trim the cat’s nails with a nail trimmer from the pet store specifically designed for this purpose. Do this regularly to keep the nails short.
Provide a small bed or cushion in two or three places in the home, this will keep the cat from lounging on your favorite chair, sofa or bed.
By reading, researching and learning about what type of cat you would enjoy and studying about cats in general, you will establish the best possible home for your new best friend.
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