Page 25 - The Complete Cat Breed Book (DK)

CHOO SING THE RIGHT C A T 23

put in by the breeder. Some breeders offer “pet quality” as A CAT WITH HISTORY
well as “show quality” kittens. Pet quality cats are just as Many different types of cats
healthy as show cats but have minor physical defects for end up in shelters. If you
decide to give a home to a
the breed standard, and should be considerably cheaper
cat that is elderly or disabled,
than show quality cats. The breeder may ask you to sign the rescue center will
an agreement not to enter pet quality cats in shows or to sometimes help you to pay
for its ongoing health care.
breed from them in order to keep breeding lines “pure.”
It is important to meet the litter of kittens before you
decide to buy one of them. A good breeder will let you much about the breed or
observe the kittens and how they interact with their cat health care. If you’re
littermates. You should also meet the mother and check not happy, you can visit
her health. She will give you an indication of your kitten’s another breeder. If all
adult size, appearance, and temperament. The breeder goes well, you should
may also own the father—if so, ask to see him too. The pick up your inoculated,
breeder can also give you an idea of the life span of housetrained, and
the particular breed. socialized kitten when it
The kitten you choose to take home with you should is about 12 weeks old.
appear healthy and alert, with a good muscle tone and
a clean coat free from pests such as fleas. His eyes should Rescue centers
be bright, there should be no discharge from the eyes or If you would like to give a home to a purebred cat, one
nose, the ears should be free of wax, and the gums should place you may not have thought of looking is in a rescue
be pink. Make sure your kitten has been (or will be) center, or shelter, for cats. Usually run on a nonprofit
vaccinated, wormed, and screened for any genetic basis, rescue centers are staffed mostly by volunteers
disorders that are known to occur in the breed. Take any and funded by private donations and adoption fees.
certificates for these home with you if or when you buy a They take in stray, unwanted, and feral cats and try to
kitten. Avoid buying a kitten if it appears ill, if it has been find suitable homes for them.
kept in isolation away from the rest of its litter, if Purebred cats can show up in rescue centers from time
you think the kittens are being reared in substandard to time. Generally, these will be the more common breeds
conditions, or if the breeder doesn’t seem to know such as the Siamese, Maine Coon, or Persian—you are
less likely to find an unusual breed.
After visiting a rescue center and meeting all the
cats waiting for homes, you may decide to adopt
a crossbreed rather than a purebred cat. More than
95 percent of all domestic cats are crossbreeds, and
there are a large number of them housed in rescue
shelters, each deserving of a loving home. Cat rescue
centers are definitely worth investigating, especially if
your preference is for a fully trained adult cat with an
established personality.
If you decide to adopt from a rescue shelter, a
member of staff will visit your home to check that it’s
safe and suitable for a cat, and to make sure that you
will make a good cat owner. You will be charged an
adoption fee, which helps cover vet costs for rescue
cats’ health care, such as inoculations, blood tests,
neutering, and microchipping.

RESCUE CATS
The staff at a rescue center will assess the character
of each cat and can help match you with your perfect
pet; you may even find a purebred cat in need of a home.