| Cats are wonderful, loving creatures. It's | | | | There are many different breeds of cats, each |
| not uncommon to see a cat in every other | | | | different in their own way. Here are some |
| home, sleeping cozily on the laps and | | | | tips to follow when looking for a purebred |
| furniture of their owners. It wasn't always | | | | kitten.Look for a kitten in your area. |
| this way. It is said that the cat wasn't | | | | You'll want to visit and inspect the cattery |
| domesticated until about 5000 years ago, in | | | | of your choice before you make any decisions |
| the valley of the Nile, but where did they | | | | to purchase, so finding a breeder in your |
| come from?The people of Upper Egypt had | | | | area will make this more feasible. The |
| learned to grow and harvest their own crops. | | | | cattery should be clean and in good order. |
| The wellbeing of the people depended on these | | | | There shouldn't be an overcrowding of kittens |
| crops. A means of storage had to be used. | | | | and their habitat should be open and clean. |
| At first, these people just kept their grain | | | | The litter boxes should be kept up nicely and |
| in baskets, which they soon found was a | | | | the food and water dishes full and clean. |
| mistake. Mice, rats and other vermin were | | | | The kittens should never be caged. If there |
| eating the grain. This, in turn, attracted | | | | are breeding males present, their cages |
| the African Wildcat. These cats ate the | | | | should be large and clean. The cats should |
| vermin that was destroying the crops.The | | | | look healthy, having full, shiny coats and no |
| people were grateful to the cats and | | | | ribs showing.The kittens should be used to |
| encouraged them to stay by feeding them fish | | | | being handled everyday. They should be sweet |
| heads and other scraps. The cats, being | | | | and outgoing, not timid and afraid. Cats |
| abundantly fed and seeing the men as no | | | | that are handled regularly have a better |
| threat to them, moved in permanently. The | | | | temperament. Ask to see the parents of the |
| African Wildcat was naturally calm and | | | | kittens. Both parents should have good |
| adapted well to living with humans. With | | | | temperament and be very healthy. This will |
| time, the cats allowed the humans to approach | | | | also help determine the personality of your |
| them, even touch and hold them.Cats proved to | | | | kitten. Ask the breeder how soon after birth |
| be loyal and endearing companions. They made | | | | they sell the kittens. A good breeder |
| for excellent hunters, since they sleep in a | | | | doesn't allow the kittens to be taken home |
| series of short periods and wake much easier | | | | until they are at least twelve weeks of age. |
| than dogs do. This made their work possible | | | | Some even wait until they are sixteen weeks |
| night and day. Cats can also see better than | | | | of age. This is to ensure the health of the |
| dogs at night and their hearing surpasses a | | | | kitten is good and that the immune system has |
| dog's. Cats would even wake the dogs in the | | | | developed properly.Also, ask if there is a |
| house if they heard something suspicious that | | | | waiting list. Good breeders don't have an |
| the dogs managed to sleep through. They got | | | | overabundance of cats and many have waiting |
| along greatly with the dogs and humans loved | | | | lists you can be placed on to ensure you get |
| them.Today, cats are used for show and | | | | the kitten of your choice. If the waiting |
| companionship. Most people don't keep cats | | | | list is too long, or there are no kittens |
| for hunting vermin anymore, as this is | | | | available at the time you want one, the |
| generally unnecessary in this day and age. | | | | breeder might refer you to another cattery. |