How to choose a kitten: a bully from the street or an aristocrat from the nursery?

Domestic cats are the most popular furry pets for modern families and single people. These affectionate creatures decorate life, create a cozy and comfortable home environment, teach children kindness and compassion, instill responsibility and brighten up the evenings. Having decided to get a mustachioed companion, the future owner wants to know how to choose the right kitten. There are many factors to consider in this matter.

How to choose the right kitten?

Felines are more adapted to life in a city apartment than other animals. They don't need too much space and don't require much care. In addition, the graceful purr is so independent, self-sufficient and self-sufficient that it will not suffer from loneliness and lack of attention if you are at work all day and lead an active social life.

They have a great time on their own, needing only a small amount of food and minimal care. The very first thing you need to decide is which kitten to choose: a purebred aristocrat with a pedigree or a baby from

shelter.

Which kitten should you prefer?

You can choose a purebred or an ordinary baby, depending on personal preferences.

Let's look at the pros and cons of different choices.

Pedigree kittens:

1. Well socialized, not afraid of people, accustomed to handling. As a rule, breeders constantly communicate and have contact with cats, and the litter brought in is under human supervision from the first days, which has a positive effect on the further interaction of animals with people.
2. Conscientious breeders monitor the health of cats before breeding, which has a positive effect on the offspring. If an adult animal is diagnosed with a congenital disease or a disease transmitted by inheritance, then such an animal is excluded from mating.
3. Cats are attractive and unusual, depending on the breed, which you can choose by studying its characteristics. Before purchasing an animal of any breed, you must make sure that members of your household are not allergic. Unfortunately, children are susceptible to allergies not only to cats with hair, but also to cats with skin without hair.
4. It is necessary to study the characteristic behavior of cats of the chosen breed so that climbing on curtains or jumping on the owner from the height of the closet is not a surprise.
5. The presence of hereditary breed diseases in kittens due to the dishonesty of people offering them for purchase. As a rule, such animals are sold in markets.
6. The breed's tendency to be allergic to food or other external factors.

Regular kittens:

• have strong immunity;
• have a hunting instinct, useful in the fight against rodents;
• adapted to live both in an apartment and in a private house.

Abyss of goodness: change your unfortunate fate - adopt an animal from a shelter

The world will not be happy as long as there are homeless animals in it. By chance or by evil people, there are many helpless kittens on the street. And all would be fine, as a rule, they are fed and often given affection by friendly passers-by - the world is not without kind people.

But there are also plenty of moral defects in it. There are many dangers for a homeless child on the street: knackers, cars, merciless cold. Why would a healthy lout kick a cute kitten, breaking its jaw?

Why would a lonely old woman, instead of bringing warm milk to a harmless fluffy, raise her hand to him and kick him out of the entrance into the cold?

In a word, by adopting a kitten from a shelter or just from the street, you will do the greatest thing. In addition to saving at least one soul from misfortune, you will also get happiness back a hundredfold. After all, furry foundlings are much more affectionate and loyal than purebred cats.

Due to circumstances, they have a very flexible and responsive character. They can take phenomenal care of you, saving you from depression with their energy, curing you from illnesses and giving you true strong love. If you know the power of unconditional magical love, then you understand what we are talking about...

Where is the best place to choose?

The first question that arises after deciding that there will be a new tenant in the house is where to get a pet. There are many options for purchasing furry happiness.

On the street

Realizing that the house is empty and uncomfortable without a purring creature, you can take a kitten from the street. Often, animals find their owners themselves: a new owner can find them near his door, leaving the entrance or taking a helpless baby from the paws of dogs. If you are not afraid of the difficulties of adapting a street vagabond to a new home, then such a noble and responsible act deserves respect.

Often foundlings grow up to be the most loyal and affectionate. When taking an animal into your home from the street, you must have free time, desire and opportunity to improve its health, make repeated visits to the doctor for vaccination, treatment of chronic diseases, and subsequent sterilization.

It will take some effort to teach a new resident how to use the toilet and the rules of good manners in apartment living conditions. For a person with a busy work schedule, this option of purchasing a pet is unacceptable.

We recommend reading about how to tell a male cat apart. You will learn how to determine the sex of a newborn kitten at one month of age, gender differences in habits, and coloring. Here's more about how cats mate.

From hand

In the event that the future owner does not care that his pet will not be of noble blood, but an ordinary yard cat, you can look for a new friend from acquaintances, friends and relatives. In this case, there is a chance to have a healthy animal.

Many domestic outbred cats have a good disposition and are not inferior in their friendliness to their purebred relatives.

If you are puzzled about how to choose a kitten for your home, you should take into account that its character and manners will depend on the place of its former promise. Every child needs to be dealt with. However, if he is already socialized and grew up in a family, then upbringing becomes a little easier.

Shelters

In large cities you can visit shelters for homeless animals.

Often there you can meet a purebred cat that, for some reason, turned out to be unwanted by its previous owners or got lost on the street.

Our staff will help you choose an animal, knowing its character, disposition, and habits well. If the new owner decides to adopt a pet from a shelter, the first thing they should do is visit a veterinarian for an examination and determine the health condition.

Bird markets

Bird markets are popular places to purchase pets in big cities. A huge variety of kittens and adult animals of all colors and breeds can be found in such places.

You should be careful when purchasing, since often the sellers are resellers for whom animals are a commodity. In this regard, there is a chance to purchase an unhealthy kitten or one that does not correspond to the declared breed. Immediately after purchase, it is also worth visiting a veterinarian to identify “hidden” pathologies and begin their treatment in a timely manner.

In the nursery

If the owner does not want to have a yard animal, he is interested in how to choose a purebred kitten in the nursery. The best option is to contact directly the breeders involved in breeding cats of a particular breed. You can talk to them about the breed you want, about the temperament of the pet you like.

There is more than one such establishment in a large city. Having studied the nursery's website, you can find out about the direction of breeding work, planned matings, and see photographs and data of the parents of the future pet. Purchasing a kitten from nurseries eliminates the risk of purchasing an outbred animal passed off as a valuable and rare breed.

Cats from the Norwegian Forest Cat Cattery

Specialized institutions value their reputation and prepare kittens before sale: they carry out deworming, vaccination, and socialize young animals. Moreover, in this case, the chances of taking a healthy baby are much higher.

Before choosing a good kitten, you can visit a cat show. Such events are useful in terms of obtaining information about a particular breed. The future owner can see live cats of the breeds he is interested in, ask the price, learn about the characteristics of the breed line, talk with breeders and, possibly, buy the baby he likes.

You can decide where to adopt a kitten or an adult cat after a little analysis of the following factors:

• financial capabilities;

• availability of sufficient free time;

• aesthetic preferences;

• character and temperament;

• presence of children in the family.

How to choose a kitten: for the purity of the breed

Of course, you have the right to choose a purebred naughty dog ​​with a special coat, texture and disposition. Then you can proudly show him to your friends, praising his aristocratic features and the complexity of his nature.

Do you have a lot of free time? With the help of such a fluffy baby, you can meaningfully fill this time. Cat shows, battles in competitions for medals and a breeding mission. This is a great fun hobby.

In this case, it is best to buy a kitten from a special nursery. This is a guarantee of the purity of the pedigree and the health of the baby, which is confirmed by documents. Here they will give qualified advice on the care and maintenance of a kitten of the exact breed you purchased.

Each of them has its own feeding habits, character, etc. And in the future, you will be provided with support for participation in competitions and breeding. It should be noted that buying purebred kittens at exhibitions or from friends is a certain risk. It's better to contact real professionals.

The most unpretentious cats for an apartment

The category of unpretentious pets is usually classified as moderately active, independent, and not requiring special care:

1. Burmese cats are distinguished by their elegant appearance and easy-going character. They are easy to care for and obedient.
2. The Ragdoll is obedient and affectionate, allowing itself to be stroked. The cat’s disposition fully reflects the name of the breed (“rag doll” translated into Russian), and is suitable for keeping in a family with children.
3. Representatives of the American Shorthair breed are endowed with a light character. They get along well with other animals and are in good health.
4. Burmillas are short-haired, fluffy cats that are very calm and friendly. They get along easily with people and other four-legged household members.
5. The Cornish Rex just needs to be fed, trained and petted to your heart's content.

A kitten with character: choose by breed

Each cat breed has its own personality traits. Therefore, all purebred cats can be divided into three groups.

1. Unusually sociable. There are free cats, but there are sociable ones and even, you will be surprised, clingy ones. These include Siamese, Bengal and Oriental cats, the German Rex and the Canadian Sphynx.
2. Calm breeds are affectionate, gentle, but without an obsessive need for attention, cats are not aggressive and neutral in their expression of emotions. These include Curl, Siberian, Burmilla, Russian Blue and Norwegian forest breeds.
3. Dictator cats. They are particularly proud and commanding felines that have much in common with wild cats, without ever becoming pliable and unconditionally tame. An example is the Persian and British breeds, as well as the Bobtail and Maine Coon.

Calm cat breeds in the apartment

Breeders try to choose a calmer breed of cat for an apartment in order to save themselves from problems.

Take a closer look at these calm cat breeds:

1. The Neva Masquerade breed attracts with its gentle disposition, goodwill and moderate activity. The cat loves communicating with people and understands them perfectly.
2. Siberian cat. Representatives of this breed have a calm, friendly character and get used to those who feed them. The pet needs to be combed periodically to prevent tangles from forming in the long fur.
3. The exotic has a calm disposition and is very trusting of its owner, loves to cuddle and play, but prefers to hide from strangers.
4. The Singaporean breed is quite rare. Such a cat will get along with everyone and will surprise everyone with mutual understanding.
5. Persian cats are calm and intelligent. The pet develops a devoted attachment to its owner, for which Persians are known as monogamous people. A cat's fluffy fur requires special care.

How to choose a kitten: male or female?

Do not consider it discriminatory, but the gender of the kitten is also an important choice. After all, the behavioral characteristics of cats strongly depend on gender. There are many cat lovers who prefer only one of the sexes.

Kitties are more domestic, sedate and “cozy”. Of course, you may be intimidated by fiddling with her offspring. But your favorite purring dog can be sterilized or its “spring moods” can be treated with tablets. True, this is somewhat harmful to the baby’s health. But approach the issue wisely, and everything will be fine.

As for the cat: if you don’t want to deal with breeding, castrate him. Then you will be protected from “seasonal serenades” and marked corners. By nature, cats are more freedom-loving and lax.

The smartest cat breed in the house

Many purebred cats have a well-developed understanding with humans.

You will find an almost ideal intellectual cat among the following suggested options:

1. Siamese cats are inquisitive and smart. The Siamese is sensitive to changes in the owner’s mood, is easy to train, and is able to express a wide range of emotions with sounds and intonation.
2. The Canadian Sphynx is able to understand the emotional component of human speech. This pet is friendly to all household members and is able to make friends with other cats and dogs. Loves to play and is trainable.
3. The Turkish Angora is a long-haired white cat. He understands his owner well and becomes very attached to him, amenable to training. The Angora is an excellent companion for a lonely person.
4. The Oriental cat is endowed with the mental ability to subtly and clearly capture a person’s mood, feel his malaise, and relieve pain with the warmth of his body. Oriental is playful and talkative.
5. British cat. The British cat is emotionally restrained, calm and well trained. He can be taught to open the door and turn on the light.

How to choose a kitten: love at first sight

Finding your exact kitten is like finding love. There are many wonderful kittens, but only one will truly appeal to you and be spiritually close to you. Therefore, before purchasing, first communicate with the animal in its usual conditions of detention.

Be sure to observe his behavior in the company of his brothers. This way you can understand the individual character of kittens and figure out whose habits are closer to you.

A leader kitten or a hermit kitten, an easygoing baby or a bully? Choose with your heart! In addition, some of the kittens may take a special liking to you and immediately go into your arms to cuddle, while others will shy away and run away. You shouldn’t choose only based on beauty – be sure to pay attention to such important points...

Optimal age for a new family member

After the choice of the breed of the future family member has been made, the potential owner should inquire at what age is optimal to take the kitten to a new home. If an animal is taken from the street, then it is better to give preference to the baby. It will be easier to accustom him to life in an apartment than a mature adult street cat.

It is easier to adapt and train a young animal to suit your individual living conditions and rhythm of life. Little kittens do not yet have formed habits, including those undesirable for the new owner.

However, you should not take a 6-8 week old baby into your home. Kittens must also be with their mother, who not only feeds them, but also teaches them all the intricacies of a cat’s life. The immune system at this age is not yet formed and is supported by antibodies from mother's milk.

Kittens 6 - 8 weeks of age, taken away from their mother and siblings and placed in a new environment, get sick more often, become nervous and unbalanced.

Experienced breeders and veterinarians consider 14-16 weeks to be the most optimal age when a pet can be taken to a new home. By this period, babies are capable of independent life, they develop immunity after vaccination and the risk of developing infectious diseases is reduced. Kittens at this age differ from their smaller counterparts in their resistance to stress; they are socialized and prepared for life with humans.

However, not all future owners want to tinker with babies. Many potential owners are not against taking an adult animal into their home. The advantage in this situation is that the grown-up pet’s character has been formed. If the cat is sociable or, conversely, savage, this can be seen immediately.

When deciding to adopt an adult purebred animal, you should contact specialized nurseries. In them you can select individuals bred from the breeding process. In this case, there is a guarantee that the cat will be socialized, balanced, and educated. It is quite difficult to accustom an adult animal from the street to life in a family.

To find out at what age you should adopt a kitten, watch this video:

External signs of a healthy animal

To choose a healthy kitten, you should listen to the recommendations

veterinary specialists and experienced breeders:

• eyes and nose should be free of discharge and clean;

• the ears are clean, without wax discharge and scratch marks;

• the tummy should not be sunken, but not swollen, and painless when palpated;

• the anus is clean and dry, without signs of dried feces;

• the coat is shiny, soft, clean;

• The baby should not shake his head or itch;

• the future pet should not sneeze or cough;

• activity, mobility, curiosity are signs of a healthy animal.

When choosing a kitten, you need to pay attention to the living conditions of the litter and the condition of the mother cat. You should especially carefully observe the baby’s behavior and his attitude towards people.

When purchasing a kitten from a nursery, the breeder will provide a veterinary passport, which will contain not only basic information about the animal, but also deworming and vaccination records. In this case, you should pay attention not only to the presence of stickers about the drugs used, but also to the signature of the veterinarian and the seal of the clinic.

Personal qualities of the baby

Whatever breed the future owner chooses, he first of all wants to see a well-mannered, friendly, affable pet in his home. Therefore, it is important to know how to choose an affectionate kitten and not bring an aggressor and an uncontrollable animal into your home.

When choosing a baby, you should pay attention to his attitude towards the person. The kitten should not be afraid of a stranger, hiss, or back away. The animal should show a healthy curiosity towards the person and be happy to participate in the proposed game. You definitely need to take your future pet in your arms and see how he reacts. A friendly and affectionate cat will calmly treat a person without aggression.

You should observe the baby’s relationships with his brothers and sisters. They should be playful, but not aggressive or cowardly. You should not choose an obvious quiet one, but a cocky pet is also not an option.

The fluffiest cats for an apartment

The following furry pets are suitable for keeping in an apartment:

1. Angora is a graceful cat with a peaceful disposition.
2. Ragamuffin is the owner of a surprisingly luxurious fur coat that requires special care. The cat needs to be bathed and brushed.
3. The Persian cat is fluffy and imposing. Requires care.
4. The Siberian cat is beautiful and proud of its luxurious tail. The fur is moderately fluffy and does not tangle too much.
5. The fur coat of a Kimra cat is comparable to that of a rabbit to the touch. The cat is not a timid cat and is capable of protecting its owner.

Cost of keeping a kitten per month

Before purchasing, it is advisable to plan your expenses as much as possible.

Periodic expenses involve the purchase of anthelmintics and vitamins (200-500 rubles). Also, trips to the veterinarian for vaccinations and examinations will require costs, which depend on the price list of a particular clinic.

Thus, it is advisable to have 4,000 rubles available initially, and then allocate 2,000-2,500 each month for the maintenance of the animal - this is the minimum expense. The upper limit depends on whether the owner chooses branded products for the animal or buys regular carriers and scratching posts, what vitamins he purchases, and how often he takes the animal to the veterinarian. In any case, with proper care, the pet will respond to its owner with love and give a good mood.
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How to determine if the baby is healthy?

One of the main factors that you need to pay attention to when choosing a kitten is its health. How to choose a healthy cat:

• Feel his tail, limbs and spine. The presence of nodes and tubercles may indicate congenital diseases of the musculoskeletal system. This is a common problem among purebred cats that were born as a result of inbreeding.
• Move your finger in front of the kitten's eyes, scratch your nail behind its back. The animal must react to these stimuli - this way you can understand whether there are problems with vision and hearing.
• A healthy kitten is agile, playful and active. Lack of reaction to the game, unsteady, lame gait - all this may indicate the presence of diseases.
• Dirty eyes and nose, purulent discharge, bluish color of mucous membranes indicate not only a lack of hygiene, but also possible infectious pathologies. Even those kittens that look healthy should not be taken from this litter.

Popular hairless cat breeds

List of unusual hairless cats:

1. Petersburg Sphinx. This is a green-eyed or blue-eyed cat with a muscular body, proud posture and a long neck. The body of the Peterbald is covered with a soft, suede-like undercoat and 2 mm of hair.
2. The Kohana is a cat breed native to Hawaii. A cat's skin resembles a soft, waxy surface and is completely lint-free.
3. The Don Sphynx is a hairless cat with an almond-shaped, trusting gaze and extravagant ears. He is distinguished by his flexible character.
4. The Canadian Sphynx is characterized by an abundance of folds on its graceful, hairless body. The cat surprises with its huge eyes, reflecting the blue of the sky, and is distinguished by its friendliness and sociability.
5. The Bambino is a relatively new breed. Characteristic features are a smooth, hairless body with short legs, large ears and a long narrow tail. The cat's character is good-natured and sociable.

The most original cats for home

If you want to have a pet with an unusual appearance, check out these options:

1. The Minskin cat looks like a hobbit. Thick and dense hair covers certain areas of the cat's naked body - the head, ears, paws and tail.
2. Dwelf looks like an alien from another planet. A small head with large eyes and ears curved inward, a long, squat body, devoid of hair.
3. Mei-kun is a giant among cat breeds. He is good-natured, endowed with soft fluffy hair and cute tassels on his ears.
4. The Savannah cat has a leopard coloration. She is large in size, with a good-natured character. Willingly keeps the owner company on a walk.
5. The Japanese Bobtail is a cat with an unusual, rabbit-like tail. He is active and intelligent, receptive to training.

What age should a kitten be?

It is best to choose a kitten that is at least 9-12 weeks old before it can be removed from its mother and siblings. At this age, they no longer need breastfeeding and their immunity is formed. In addition, by three months the kittens have already been trained in normal behavior and are quite independent, it will be easier for them to get used to the new environment. Animals at this age also become relatively conscientious, so it will be easier to train them to the litter box and “explain” that scratching furniture and playing with curtains is not a good idea.

If you are choosing a kitten for an apartment, or it will mainly live in the house, it is better to take an animal that has also lived in an apartment before . In this case, the kitten will most likely quickly get used to the sounds of a vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, washing machine and other household appliances.

The smallest cat breeds

We present to the attention of lovers of small-sized cats the following dwarf breeds:

1. Skif-tay-don is a dwarf breed. An adult cat weighs no more than 1.5 kilograms. The pet has beautiful light-colored fur with black accents on its face, ears, paws and the tip of its tail, and its disposition is playful and inquisitive.
2. The Munchkin is a fidget on short legs, with a build similar to a dachshund. Loves to make hiding places with his favorite toys. A cat of this breed weighs no more than 3.5 kilograms.
3. Napoleon is a small cat with luxurious thick fur on short legs. Attracts with expressive, captivating eyes. The weight of a cat rarely reaches 4 kg.
4. The Lamkin is a breed of small cat with a curly and fluffy coat. The name in Russian translation means “lamb”.
5. Kinkaloo belongs to the weight category of 2-3 kilograms. The cat is active and playful, loves walks with her owner.

The most hypoallergenic cats in the apartment

People suffering from allergies should choose a cat with caution.

The following breeds are suitable for allergy sufferers:

1. The Oriental Shorthair cat practically does not shed, and its excreta contains minimal amounts of the animal allergy-causing protein Fel D1.
2. Cornish Rex. It also rarely causes problems with portability.
3. The Javanese breed is bred artificially. The Javanese has a fine, silky coat without undercoat. Due to these qualities, it is classified as a hypoallergenic cat.
4. The secretions of the Siberian cat are hypoallergenic. The character of the representative of this breed is flexible, the cat is not annoying and does not get underfoot.
5. The Ocicat has short hair that rarely sheds. Follows simple commands and can be trained to walk on a leash.