So, in the first part, we considered the age of your future kitty. This time we are going to look at the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a breed or a stray. Let’s look at breeds first:

There are a ton of different breeds out there. Some of my favorites are the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Holy Birman, and the Burmese. The fact that there are that many out there, also kind of makes it hard to choose without first doing some serious research (try starting with this site, it might give you an idea of which breed would suit you: http://www.selectsmart.com/CAT/)

Every breed has their own characteristics. Good or bad with children, likes to vocalize or not, needs a lot of grooming attention or just once a week is fine, etc etc. They also come in an incredible variety of colors and every breed has their own pattern. So in essence, you can just about custom order your own kitty.

Most breeders also make sure they have been taken care of: de-worm the kittens regularly, getting them their first inoculations, placing a chip, regular checks at the vet, and a guarantee that if the kitty has any diseases or problems, you get your money back. Sounds good, right?

Well, in theory it is the perfect situation. Now, let’s look at this in practice. First off, for this kind of service, you pay about 400-500€ for some of the cheaper breeds and up to a 1000€ for the most expensive ones and then I am not even talking about the cats that come with a pedigree. Now, to be fair, this price does include all the trips to the vet and all, and those cost you a lot if you do it yourself as well.

Then you have to acknowledge that every breed has potential genetic flaws. Persians, lets say, because they have that flat nose, are going to be prone to breathing difficulties.
Inbreeding is another potential problem, especially if the breed has recently become popular. Less reputable breeders will then breed too close to their own bloodline, to be able to keep up with demand (this is for instance what happened with Dalmatians when the movie 101 Dalmatians came out).

FIP is a potential problem. It is a rare disease but the place where it is found most is in catteries, since the cats live in close proximity with each other there. And although you have that money-back guarantee, you do get attached to your little kitty and even though you may pick another kitty if yours turns out to be sick, it still hurts like hell and you will be more than reluctant to give your kitty back if you even consider it at all. Breeders know this. And some take advantage of it.

Another problem we often see at the clinic, with cats and dogs, is puppies and kittens that are not even 7 weeks old when they are handed over to their new owners. That has several consequences: the social etiquette a cat gets from its mom is not completed, the kitty will most likely keep suckling at blankets and such because it was not weaned properly, their immune system isn’t as strong yet so they have a higher risk of getting ill, the inoculations given are not valid since they were given too soon and therefore need to be given again. Ergo, you are paying twice for those shots (remember, they were included in the price you paid for the kitten). This often occurs with animals purchased from pet stores, we notice.

These stores often buy their animals from what we call puppy and kitty mills. Cats and dogs are kept in horrendous circumstances, forced to breed without a break to produce as many kittens and puppies as possible. They are yanked away from their mother as soon they are 5 weeks old, so they can be shipped (these ‘breeders’ are often from eastern Europe) in time to still be cute and fluffy when they arrive in the stores, if they survive the trip at all. There, they are sold as soon as possible. You have got to keep in mind that stores work with profit. That means that if an animal is too young, but someone is interested in it, they will sell it most likely. Why? Because today they have a buyer and next week they might not. So do not be that impulse buyer that goes ‘awwwwww’ at the pet store and just decides then and there to get a kitty.

How do you prevent most of these problems? Research. Not only what breed you would like, but which breeder has a good reputation. Yes, that might mean you have to wait a bit for your kitty, since he only lets his queens breed once a year, so they do not get worn out by the amount of pregnancies. And that might mean you have to be waitlisted, because he is popular. But at least you know that your kitty will have had a loving home, be well raised and gets to stay with his mommy for at least 8 weeks and preferably even 12 weeks. Are they less cute at that age? To some they are. But the manners they learn from mommy, no one can teach them afterwards. And at 12 weeks they are still as cuddly and playful and they still remain that way for a loooong time.

Now, what about stray cats?
No shortage of those in any case. There are thousands of kitties out there still waiting for a good home. And shelters will be very happy if you can provide one.

However, you have to like surprises. The personality, temperament, size, colours and all the rest of your kitty are a question mark. When you do go to the shelter or pet shop, you will find an incredible variety in kitties. Just take a look at my five kitties, all so very different, both in temperament and appearance. So make sure you pick one that suits you, especially temperament-wise. You have go-go kittens that never tire, lazy kittens that never lift a paw, cuddly kittens that are glued to your lap, and aloof kittens that just like to snooze in the window. Know what you want. When I worked in the shelter, we did not hand over a kitty until the new owner was absolutely sure and really felt a connection with said kitty. Trust your gut, and don’t be afraid to take your time.

Most shelters will ask you a small fee for the cat. Pet shops usually ask more because they will provide the first set of inoculations. Again, watch out with pet shops, coz friends of mine also got fooled that way. The kitties were too young when receiving the first set of inoculations, so they had to be redone in any case.

Then it is of to the vet. One thing that often does not get discussed is the possibility of disease. There are three feline ‘sleeper’ diseases which are all lethal. These are comparable with HIV in the sense that you can live with it for years before you get ill. We are talking about Feline leukemia, FIP and FIV. FIP is hard to test, but the rest can be tested via a simple blood test. It is costly, yes. Especially on top of all the rest you need to get for kitty. You know, inoculations, de-worming, second set of inoculations, scratching post, kitty-litter, food, etc etc.

The problem with stray cats is you do not always know their background. Kittens can even have these diseases from in the womb, if their mother had it. And often the kitties are not sick, but if you are unlucky… Shelters cannot help this, since testing every single cat that comes in would bankrupt them. Now, in the event that kitty is sick with say FIV (feline form of HIV) she can still have a very good life, you just have to know how to handle it, something your vet will explain to you. It is of course your choice to have kitty tested.

Another disease which is very contagious and incredibly common in shelters is Feline Influenza. Arwen, my youngest, has this disease. Now, as long as they get treated in time, it is no disaster. Feline Influenza is caused by amongst others Herpes and is comparable to human herpes in that it is incurable. It is however very much treatable and there is a standard vaccine that will protect your other cats. Once injected and if the cat has a strong immune system, the cat is protected from it. Most shelter/stray cats have this disease in some form. You can tell by the teary eyes which will sometimes infect and the stuffed runny nose. As long as you get them their shots every year, you have nothing to worry about.

Remember also that shelter cats come with emotional baggage. They have been through so much often that they will have some quirks. Respect what they have been through, and you will see that these quirks diminish in time. It is however likely they will never completely vanish. The gratitude you receive though for saving them from those horrific experiences will more than makes up for this though.

So why would you pick a shelter cat, now that I have scared you with all these diseases and problems? Simple: they are the most grateful kitties alive (I know, I am repeating myself here;)), you would be helping a stray kitty of the street by freeing another space at the shelter, and they are equally adorable and loveable as breeds. Inbreeding is not an issue here, they are often more hardy and less prone to genetic disorders, there is no waiting list to procure one (although I am not encouraging impulse-buyers to get a stray cat now!), and although not cheap, you don’t have to pay 500€ upfront either. If you aren’t planning on doing cat shows anyways, there really isn’t much of a difference between a breed and a stray.

So, this is step two in deciding what type of kitty is right for you. Hopefully you know now what suits you best and whom you would suit ;)
Next time we will discuss the difference between a male or female cat.