How Do Domestic Cats Make Great Pets

Domestic cats make great pets for most homes because they are very easy to care for and generally bond easily with humans. Most of the societies and cultures around the world have made it a practice to adopt cats into their family structures. However, domestic cats do vary quite a bit in their physical design and personalities from one breed to the next. Choosing a cat breed that suits you and your family is not a task that should be taken lightly. Nor should choosing a cat breed that suits you seem like a difficult task.

The first consideration when choosing a cat breed is the size of your living area. You may always think of cats as being leisurely lounge lizards, but many breeds spend as much time playing as lounging. Playful cat breeds need plenty of room to play. Also, the larger the play area and the more there is to do, such as another cat to interact with, the less likely the cat is to go mad if it doesn't
see you much for a few days.

That leads to the second consideration when choosing a cat breed.
You need to think about how much time your family is going to be able to spend with the cat. If your new little friend doesn't at least get a couple of gentle touches and a cuddle every other day, it will go mad. Although how much attention is necessary has a lot to do with the breed. The other part of the time consideration is that some cats require more grooming maintenance such as bathing and brushing. A busy family should get a cat with short fur.

The third consideration when choosing a cat breed is allergies to cats. These allergies are not uncommon, but there is much variance in the degree in which they manifest themselves. Someone with a very heavy cat allergy probably should not own a cat. Someone with a light allergy that results in a few sneezes or coughs a day can have a cat, but should be careful in choosing a cat breed that will minimize allergen exposure. For example, you will want to choose a cat breed that has short fur and rarely sheds its fur to reduce your
exposure.

The fourth, and probably most often forgotten, consideration when choosing a cat breed is the cost of taking care of that breed. Some breeds are hardier than others. Many breeds have common ailments, such as deafness or fur balls, that may get costly in veterinarian visits. Also, a cat that weighs half as much and has a lazy temperament will eat less than half as much as the cat that weighs twice as much and is packed full of energy.

The fifth, and final, consideration when choosing a cat breed is how the personality of the kitty matches up with the other personalities of your family. Cats come in different temperaments. There are lap, child-friendly, indoors, independent hunter, and jealous, one-person cats.

Brigit Hulsing is a cat behaviour researcher and helps cat owners with practical tips and advice on cat toilet training and cat training