DOG - American Kennel Club

Finding
the Purrfect
Pedigreed Kitten
Over the last 4,000
years, cats have
shared our hearths
and homes, our food and
beds. Historically, their job
was rodent control and
they were rarely regarded
as companions or pets.
In the late 1800s, people
became interested in the various
traits and colors of the cats that
they saw. They began to record
pedigrees and regulate the
breeding of cats.
As a result, here we are today, with a wealth of
“pedigreed” cats. Many breeds are the result
of the crossbreeding of known breeds to
create another, such as the Ocicat.
Decisions, Decisions
You will need to decide if a pedigreed cat is
right for you. Do you want a kitten or an adult
cat? Kittens are cute, playful, and fun, fun, fun.
But they require care and monitoring as they
grow, they are full of energy and
mischievousness, and they
make mistakes— like
getting up on the
dining room
table during
your dinner party
or climbing up
your pants leg to get
your attention. A
kitten will require a
fair amount of
attention and
training. On the
other hand, an
adult cat has already been
through all of that—at
someone else’s house.
Altered males and females
make equally good pets in
the long run. Most pet
owners find that there is very
little difference in
personality and that neither
gender is more affectionate
or playful than the other.
Do you want a
longhaired cat or a
shorthaired one?
Longhaired cats are lovely
but require daily combing or
brushing, so you must promise yourself to
commit to daily grooming. All cats shed, but
longhaired cats shed a longer hair that
accumulates more apparently than a
shorthaired cat’s.
Which characteristics are you most
interested in? Pedigreed cats have a wealth
of the characteristics that you may have a
special desire for. If you like a curly-coated
cat, then the Cornish Rex or Devon Rex may
be what you want. If you think a cat with
curled-back ears fits your tastes, take a
look at the American Curl.
Whatever you may be interested
in, there is most likely a breed of
pedigreed cat that will catch
your fancy.
What kind of personality do you
want or are willing to put up
with?
There is a vast range of
personality, and each breed
is unique in personality.
MAINE COON/©CHANAN; AMERICAN WIREHAIR/©TETSU;
AMERICAN SHORTHAIR/©CHANAN; ORIENTAL/©LARRY JOHNSON
Meet the Breeds 2010
6
www.meetthebreeds.com