| Even the coldest heart melts when presented with | | | | having to part with it at a later date. |
| cute Kitten. A kitten is small and cuddly, full of | | | | There are thousands of unwanted cats in the UK; |
| mischief, and relatively easy to care for. However, a | | | | many are put to sleep by animal charities simply |
| kitten is a living creature which will grow into a full | | | | because there are not enough good homes available. |
| grown cat. Responsible pet lovers, would never | | | | Many of these cats are abandoned, simply because |
| acquire a kitten without very careful thought. | | | | the novelty of owning a kitten wore off when it was |
| Today cats are the UK's 'top pet', ahead of dogs in | | | | no longer quite so small and cute. |
| the popularity stakes. It is true that cats often fit | | | | Pedigree or Non-Pedigree |
| better into today's busy lifestyle. Even if you spend | | | | Most people will simply opt for a non-pedigree, |
| several hours a day away from home at work or | | | | sometimes called a 'moggy', these make great pets |
| school you can keep a cat as a pet. Cats will usually | | | | for millions of people. Non-pedigree kittens are |
| be content to be on their own for a large part of | | | | relatively easy to come by, and will be very |
| the day. | | | | inexpensive to buy, sometimes being offered as 'free |
| A Cat is relatively easy to care for, and has many | | | | to good homes'. |
| endearing qualities which make it a delightful pet. | | | | A great place, from which to obtain your |
| The cat is a rewarding companion for both young | | | | non-pedigree kitten is your local animal shelter, or |
| and old alike. Children who grow up with kittens in the | | | | Cats Protection League. The staff will be on hand to |
| home will learn to respect life and to be caring - | | | | help you to select a suitable kitten, and they can also |
| assuming that they are properly supervised, of | | | | give you advice regarding its care. Be prepared to |
| course. Caring for a kitten or a cat can teach a child | | | | answer several questions about yourself, they will |
| responsibility. | | | | want to ensure that you are a suitable cat owner. |
| There is a cat or kitten to suit everyone. There are | | | | The kittens at a shelter will have been checked over |
| many different breeds and colours, as well as the | | | | by a vet, so you can be reasonably certain that you |
| common, lovable pet cat or moggy that come in a | | | | will acquire a healthy kitten - something which is not |
| variety of shapes and colours. A cat will happily be | | | | always the case when you pick a kitten from the |
| kept purely as an indoor pet (if it is used to this from | | | | litter down the road. |
| kittenhood). | | | | Please bear in mind that there are many adult cats in |
| Chosen with care, your new kitten will easily adapt to | | | | shelters all over the country, waiting for new homes. |
| your lifestyle, with the added bonus that a cat can | | | | An adult cat can make just as good a pet as a |
| be inexpensive both to buy and to keep. A healthy | | | | Kitten. |
| cat will usually have a lifespan of 15 years or more. | | | | When looking for a pedigree kitten, then you should |
| Selection | | | | do some research before hand. A pedigree kitten has |
| Often cat owners tell me that they never actually | | | | an advantage over the non-pedigree: you should be |
| selected their cat: it selected them! You may find a | | | | better able to predict a cat's behavior and |
| stray cat in your garden and decide to give it a | | | | temperament as an adult, as most individuals within a |
| home. Please take reasonable care to ensure that | | | | particular breed follow the same basic behaviour |
| your new cat is a genuine stray and you aren't | | | | patterns. If you want a well-bred cat of a particular |
| leaving another household heartbroken over their | | | | appearance that will have a temperament to suit you |
| missing cherished pet. | | | | and your family, then opt for a pedigree kitten. A |
| You may find a friend or neighbour has a cat with | | | | pedigree kitten will cost considerably more (often |
| unplanned litter. | | | | several hundred pounds) but you are paying for the |
| An opportunist approach can work out very well, but | | | | knowledge that you have a carefully bred and reared |
| please never take on a kitten just because it is so | | | | kitten. It's parents should have been tested for |
| cute and appealing. Please ensure that you will be | | | | hereditary diseases and is likely grow up just as you |
| able to care properly for a cat for all of its natural life. | | | | want it. A pedigree kitten will also have had its |
| Rule out somebody in your household being allergic to | | | | inoculations by the time you buy it, which is seldom |
| cats? Be prepared for scratch marks on your | | | | the case with non-pedigrees. |
| furniture, is this going to be a disaster? Please involve | | | | A responsible breeder will ask your questions about |
| the whole family in the decision making before taking | | | | you and the environment that you intend to take |
| the step of getting a pet cat. Think carefully before | | | | your new cat home to. |
| you bring a kitten home, to avoid the heartbreak, 0f | | | | |