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