| Are you prepared to become a pet owner? | | | | They can have hard time getting used to their |
| Adopting a cat is a joyful event in every family. | | | | new environment, they often wander off or run |
| But cats bought at first glance can cause a big | | | | away. |
| surprise and unfortunately sometimes a great | | | | Would you prefer a female cat or a tomcat? |
| disappointment, too. Many unwanted cats end up | | | | You should make a decision about your |
| in the streets or animal shelters because of | | | | cat�s sex well in advance because a |
| people�s irresponsibility or inconsistent | | | | she-cat and a male cat can cause totally different |
| pledge. | | | | problems. |
| It is not only joy but also a great responsibility | | | | Keeping of a mature male cat involves many |
| It is important to know that if you buy a pet, you | | | | unpleasant things because by the time a tomcat |
| will have to take responsibility for it. You should | | | | becomes sexually mature he gets into the habit |
| never buy a cat as a result of a sudden | | | | of spraying. You can prevent this if you have |
| resolution. As a pet owner you are required to | | | | your cat neutered in time. Due to their instincts, |
| take responsibility for an adopted living creature, | | | | tomcats often wander off, fight with the other |
| you must take care of it not only when it is fit as | | | | male cats of the neighbourhood and by doing this |
| a fiddle but also when it is ill for the rest of its life. | | | | they get wounds, bruises and parasites easily. |
| The following guide is for those who are to | | | | They can acquire or pass on incurable diseases |
| become cat owners for the first time in their | | | | such as FIV or leucosis. If you forbid him to go |
| lives. | | | | out, he will meow desperately. Female cats are |
| Where should you get your kitten? | | | | smaller, gentler, they like petting and cuddling |
| It is very important where you get your cat | | | | much better than male cats but they can also |
| because it does matter what experiences your | | | | cause a lot of problems when they become |
| future cat has gained during the very first part of | | | | sexually mature. Around the time when they |
| its existence. If you would like a pedigree cat then | | | | become 5 or 6 months old, they become sexually |
| it is worth the trouble to look for a breeder who | | | | active, which recurs in 14-week periods. During |
| will kindly show you his or her animals and can | | | | this time, they run away and look for a partner if |
| provide you with information on the advantages | | | | they have a chance to do so. They give birth to |
| and disadvantages of the different varieties. | | | | 2 or 3 litters of kittens a year. To prevent the |
| You can buy cats in pet shops, too. You can buy | | | | inconveniences that are due to this frequent |
| healthy, well-bred, well-kept kittens in some of the | | | | labour and to avoid certain diseases it is |
| better pet shops. Kittens are catered for their | | | | recommended to neuter female cats, as well. |
| special needs in these specialised shops, for | | | | Animal protection associations also suggest that |
| example, they are provided with runways, toilet | | | | you should have both girl and boy cats neutered. |
| boxes, and things to climb on and to play with. | | | | Nowadays these operations are considered |
| But it is more common to adopt a cat from our | | | | routine procedures and they are absolutely |
| friends or to pick up a stray cat from the street. | | | | painless. |
| It is also worth visiting the nearest animal shelter | | | | Would you like to adopt a pedigree or an ordinary |
| for kittens, but enthusiastic animal rights activists | | | | domestic cat? |
| can pick up an abandoned kitten from the street. | | | | Rare, registered pedigree cats are sold for |
| In this latter case you should also take into | | | | hundred or thousands of dollars while you can put |
| account the different parasites such as vermin, | | | | your hands on mixed cats for free. There can |
| flees, ticks or the appearance of latent diseases. | | | | also be significant differences among the different |
| How old the cat should be that we intend to | | | | varieties concerning intelligence. For instance, there |
| adopt? | | | | can often be deaf cats among the white ones |
| It is not simple to place an animal in a | | | | and there are the so-called over-bred silly varieties |
| human�s habitat and it is also true for | | | | and those types that require special treatment. |
| cats. Kittens should stay with their mother and | | | | You are not recommended to keep such cats |
| siblings until they are 7 or 8 weeks old, because it | | | | even if they are award winning and you can |
| is essential for their sense of safety and it is | | | | afford them. Although crossbreeds are wilder and |
| essential for their healthy development. During this | | | | harder to domesticate than pedigree cats, they |
| time they can learn what things can be dangerous | | | | are better to keep as hobby pets since they are |
| for them such as dogs, strangers, cars, etc. The | | | | tougher and more resistant to diseases. And last |
| fact that they have accustomed way too much | | | | but not least their character is more similar to real |
| to their original surroundings can cause problems | | | | cats. |
| for those cats that are older than 9 or 10 weeks. | | | | |