Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Buying a Cat or Adopting A Shelter Cat? -Things To Consider

By Virginia Sutherland

When the time comes to welcome a cat into the family, the question of whether to purchase a cat from a breeder or pet store or to instead adopt a cat from another family or an animal shelter can come up.

If you are interested in showing your cat, buying a purebred cat may seem like the only option, but in fact the major cat organizations such as ACFA also have a household category where you can show off your pretty kitty regardless of origins.

Purchasing a cat from a breeder or pet store comes with some benefits. Many of these places offer guarantees and documentation which allows you to not submit your cat to shows and to use your cat for breeding purposes, but for some people it's a matter of status.

Some people are really attracted to certain breeds which have the looks they like and are more likely to display a breed characteristic temperament. For some, this is the only way they would consider getting a cat. Bringing a cat into your family is a long term affair. Getting a nice match with the cats personality is important.

Adopting a cat does not reduce the possibilities of getting the kind of cat you are wanting. All kinds of cats in just about all breeds are available for adoption. A plus to adopting a cat that has had a previous owner is that they are already litter box trained, and it is easier to get a feel for their personality when they are past the kitten stage.

Not only do cats at shelters come with a medical history, along with information about how they deal with young children or other pets or cats, adopting a cat, giving it a safe loving home is a particularly heartwarming thing to do, knowing that you just may have rescued this cat from death.

You can also find a cat that is looking for a new family by scouting the ads in the local papers. Or post a notice in your local grocery store. Many cats have to be relinquished due to a divorce, allergies, death of the owner, changed living conditions, etc.

The advantage of adopting a cat from the shelter is that the cat will have had it's health evaluated. Adopting a cat from a family mean you have no idea if there are underlying health problems.

Some struggle with the decision of whether to rescue a cat at the shelter, or to purchase one from a breeder. Rest assured that once you do decide to get a cat, one will find you. Cats are just like that. You can start your search, investigating your options, and before you know it "your" cat will appear.

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