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