Choosing is the most difficult task to consider is whether or not to adopt a mixed-breed cat, like one from an animal shelter or someone you know, or adopt one that is purebred. In today’s world forty cat breeds are official by the national and international feline associations now. Some people, maybe you, believe they just have to have a purebred kitten or cat. They have set aside the money (typically $100 to $1000 for the rarer breeds), and feel that one or two cats have the characteristics that they are looking for.
Take a peaceful home; you may want a calmer cat. Good choices here would be Himalayan or Persian cats. Someone else might want a more spunky cat. On the lawn where they may play on your solar patio lights. In this case the Siamese or Abysinnian is the cat of choice. So what this means is that you can just about predict how the temperament the cat will have when you decide on a purebred.
Many people just go down to the closest shelter and choose a kitten, and take it home, not really worried about how it’s going to act, physique or nature. Most of the cats in America and yes across the planet are obtained with little or no money like that. This means that globally, purebred cats are in the minority. Not all pets are like this. It is totally different from dogs. One third to one half of all dogs are purebred. One more interesting thing to note is that dogs are different dramatically in size from breed to breed, whereas cats are all about the same size across the breeds.
If you want a cat, and it’s OK if you get a mixed-breed or a purebred, what criteria should you note to choose them? Realistically, let’s ponder this question through.
You probably already know that cats are put to sleep by animal shelters weekly because there are many more of them than there are potential owners willing to give them new homes. Think about this tragedy, caused by the ignorance and careless attitude of today’s cat owners who don’t neuter their pet. The point here is that there are many cats and kittens in shelters at this moment who will be euthanized this week if they aren’t adopted. They are not less intelligent that their purebred counterparts, and probably just as healthy – if not more so. Look the other way and they touch the solar powered garden lights, too! And above all, they’ll be just as affectionate and fun to own.
So can you just choose a purebred cat knowing that so many common breeds are badly needing a home? The number of purebred cats bought each year is a fraction of the amount of mixed breeds put to sleep in the same time period. Purebreds will find a home easily and aren’t in jeopardy of losing their lives just because there are less of them.
Yep, the decision that’s hard to make. But the thoughtful potential owner should not be overly worried about this dilemma. Responsibility goes back to the cat owner who if they are responsible the population explosion problem would soon be solved. OK, then, apart from the ethical problems of purebred and mixed breeds, you probably want to know what sets them apart?
Cost is huge, know that the price of the cat can affect your choice. Mixed breeds are practically free most of the time. The owner is probably thankful you took the baby off of their hands. But if you go to a shelter, know that there is a $25 to $50 fee to cover the neutering and vaccines. Better yet, they will give you a lot of free tips on the cat. Overall it is a pretty good deal.
And if your heart is set, purebreds are different. Yes, they’ll still pull at your solar landscape lights, but you get the price you put into them and the rarer, the cost is more. Registered cats are even higher. One prime example is the American shorthaired kitten, which might go for $200, and then the Sphynx could be as much as $2000. More costs are with checkups and annual vaccines. Food and litter as well. If you neuter your cat, which you should unless you intend to breed them, that can run around $75. A few of the many certain unavoidable costs involved with owning your new cat.