Adding any new family member to your home can be a hard decision to make. Right now, you're probably thinking of adding a new member to your family, a cat! But you have yet to decide what breeds of cats you should be looking for, maybe at a local shelter or a reputable breeder. Here are a few things you should consider when adding a cat to your family.
1. Do you have young children or other animals in your home?
If you plan to adopt a pet from your local shelter, most will be able to tell you whether or not that specific pet would fit well in a family with young children and other pets or not. Some basic breeds of cats that are good with young children and pets are the American shorthair (The most common cat at your local shelter probably), Birman (They like to help with chores), Ragdoll (These love to be handled much like a doll) and a Maine Coon (Good therapy cats).
2. Are you able to handle a cat that could have high-cost medical bills?
This is something to think of; most don't! When adopting from a shelter, they may have signs letting you know this animal has a special need or could need frequent vet visits. If you're looking for low-maintenance, only yearly vet visit kinds of cats, here are a couple we think would work well for that! An American Shorthair, Ragamuffin, Balinese, savannah cat, and a Russian blue. All these cat breeds typically live to be around 13-20 years old.
3. Will this cat be ONLY indoor or an indoor/outdoor cat?
Some prefer to let their cats out to wander around the house outside, while others prefer for their cat's to stay 100% inside.
3 Breeds that love to stay indoors :
1. Sphynx
2. Ragdoll
3. Scottish Fold
3 Breeds that enjoy indoors and outdoors:
1. Abyssinian
2. American Bobtail
3. Bengal
4. Do you prefer to groom your cat or have your cat do most of the work?
Some cats will only necessarily need a proper bath in their lifetime if they have fleas, roll in something nasty, etc. In contrast, others need grooming every week or more.
Low Maintenance Grooming Breeds:
1. European and American Short Hair Cat
2. Russian Blue Cat
3. Burmese
High Maintenance Grooming Breeds:
1. Persian Cats (Daily brushing)
2. Sphynx (Weekly Baths)
3. LaPerm (Brushed Weekly and Bathed Monthly)
5. What age cat do you want?
Kittens are cute and cuddly but require training and lots of attention. Adult cats usually come trained, but you could miss out on that cute, playful, fun kitten phase if the cat you get prefers to sleep most of the day! Senior cats can usually be relatively calm and sleepy but could require more medical care.
6. Do you want an interactive cat or a sleepy cat?
When deciding what cat breed to get, you should consider their desired energy level. Some of the most playful breeds of cats are the Abyssinian, Japanese bobtail, Thai Siamese, Bengal, and Maine Coone. These cats may need more time with their owners to get their energy out. Some of the most low-energy cats are American Shorthairs, Persian, Exotic Shorthairs, and Ragdolls. These cats are suitable for busy families, apartment living, Seniors, and people who just enjoy the peace and quiet most of the time.
We hope this article helps you to consider some of the top things to think of before welcoming a new cat into your home. We hope as well, you find the perfect kitty for your family!
We are a pet supply shop that carries supplies for a variety of animals, big or small, including cats! We would love to help you make sure you have everything you need to be the best cat parent you can be!
-Piccard Pets