There is far more to selecting a cat than many people realize. This is a member of the family and one that will be with you and your family for many years. Since this is the case you should take the time to learn about different breeds and pick one that will be best suited to your lifestyle.
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| Selecting a Cat |
Selecting a Cat
There are certain breeds which possess particular traits. These characteristics are not as pronounced as those in dogs but they do exist. It is important to note that just because a cat is a specific breed does not mean that they will have a certain trait, there are always exceptions to the rule.
Cats are very vocal creatures and are capable of making more than one hundred individual sounds. Compare that to a dog that can make less than twenty and you will have a very good idea as to the degree of vocal diversity individual cats may possess. There are some breeds which are known for taking advantage of this ability, constantly. For instance, some of the most vocal breeds are Burmese, Siamese, Egyptian Mau and the Oriental.
Selecting a Cat and The length of a cat’s coat
The length of a cat’s coat concerns many people. There are some that are concerned because they believe that a long coat will affect people’s allergies. This is not true. It is not the length of the coat which causes the problems but the amount of dander. A perfect example of this is the hairless Sphinx. This cat has virtually no fur and yet people are still allergic to it. This is because of the cat’s sebaceous glands. The sebaceous glands are responsible for dander and they are often the reason that so many people are allergic to cats.
If you are seeking an animal that is known to have a low dander rate you might want to obtain one of these breeds: the Siberian, the Russian Blue, the Devon Rex or the Cornish Rex. It should also be noted that there is no such thing as a cat that is completely hypoallergenic. The best that you can do, is obtain a breed where there is less chance of a person having a reaction.
Another concern posed by long coat cats, is the amount of grooming that may be required. Cats that do have longer fur often require significantly more brushing than cats with short fur. There are many people that prefer the long haired breeds. They love both the look and the feel of these wonderful animals. If you are one of these people, you must be prepared to take on the extra grooming responsibilities associated with breeds such as: the Persian, the Maine Coon or Norwegian Forest cat.
Some cat breeds are also known more for their intelligence than other breeds. If cat intelligence is important to you, you might want to consider getting an Ocicat, an Abyssinian, a Korat or a Bengal.
There are many other factors that you might want to take into account before obtaining a cat. For example, if you have other animals in the house or you have small children you should investigate quiet or laid back breeds. If you want an active cat there are a number of types of cats that are known for their energy and curiosity. Choosing a new member of the family is a big decision and one that should not be taken lightly. Before you adopt any cat make certain that you learn as much as you can about the breed first.