| Cats are wonderful, loving creatures. It's not | | | | and age. There are many different breeds of cats, |
| uncommon to see a cat in every other home, | | | | each different in their own way. Here are some tips |
| sleeping cozily on the laps and furniture of their | | | | to follow when looking for a purebred kitten. |
| owners. It wasn't always this way. It is said that the | | | | Look for a kitten in your area. You'll want to visit and |
| cat wasn't domesticated until about 5000 years ago, | | | | inspect the cattery of your choice before you make |
| in the valley of the Nile, but where did they come | | | | any decisions to purchase, so finding a breeder in |
| from? | | | | your area will make this more feasible. The cattery |
| The people of Upper Egypt had learned to grow and | | | | should be clean and in good order. There shouldn't be |
| harvest their own crops. The wellbeing of the people | | | | an overcrowding of kittens and their habitat should |
| depended on these crops. A means of storage had | | | | be open and clean. The litter boxes should be kept |
| to be used. At first, these people just kept their | | | | up nicely and the food and water dishes full and |
| grain in baskets, which they soon found was a | | | | clean. The kittens should never be caged. If there are |
| mistake. Mice, rats and other vermin were eating the | | | | breeding males present, their cages should be large |
| grain. This, in turn, attracted the African Wildcat. | | | | and clean. The cats should look healthy, having full, |
| These cats ate the vermin that was destroying the | | | | shiny coats and no ribs showing. |
| crops. | | | | The kittens should be used to being handled |
| The people were grateful to the cats and | | | | everyday. They should be sweet and outgoing, not |
| encouraged them to stay by feeding them fish heads | | | | timid and afraid. Cats that are handled regularly have |
| and other scraps. The cats, being abundantly fed and | | | | a better temperament. Ask to see the parents of |
| seeing the men as no threat to them, moved in | | | | the kittens. Both parents should have good |
| permanently. The African Wildcat was naturally calm | | | | temperament and be very healthy. This will also help |
| and adapted well to living with humans. With time, | | | | determine the personality of your kitten. Ask the |
| the cats allowed the humans to approach them, even | | | | breeder how soon after birth they sell the kittens. A |
| touch and hold them. | | | | good breeder doesn't allow the kittens to be taken |
| Cats proved to be loyal and endearing companions. | | | | home until they are at least twelve weeks of age. |
| They made for excellent hunters, since they sleep in | | | | Some even wait until they are sixteen weeks of age. |
| a series of short periods and wake much easier than | | | | This is to ensure the health of the kitten is good and |
| dogs do. This made their work possible night and day. | | | | that the immune system has developed properly. |
| Cats can also see better than dogs at night and their | | | | Also, ask if there is a waiting list. Good breeders don't |
| hearing surpasses a dog's. Cats would even wake the | | | | have an overabundance of cats and many have |
| dogs in the house if they heard something suspicious | | | | waiting lists you can be placed on to ensure you get |
| that the dogs managed to sleep through. They got | | | | the kitten of your choice. If the waiting list is too |
| along greatly with the dogs and humans loved them. | | | | long, or there are no kittens available at the time you |
| Today, cats are used for show and companionship. | | | | want one, the breeder might refer you to another |
| Most people don't keep cats for hunting vermin | | | | cattery. |
| anymore, as this is generally unnecessary in this day | | | | |