| When you are ready to include a magnificent feline | | | | information about their behavior will most likely be |
| into your family and life the question arises whether | | | | available. |
| to purchase a cat, or to adopt one who is looking for | | | | Some cats at shelters come with a full history, such |
| a safe loving home. You can purchase a kitten or a | | | | as if they deal well with young children or with other |
| retired breeder for a reputable breeder, or you can | | | | pets. There is also a great feeling that can come with |
| adopt a cat from the shelter or from a family who | | | | adopting a cat since some cats that are never |
| for whatever reason needs to relinquish their cat. | | | | adopted wind up euthanized by the shelter. There |
| If you are interested in showing your cat, buying a | | | | simply isn't always enough room for all the cats in the |
| purebred cat may seem like the only option, but in | | | | shelter, so sometimes there is no other choice. By |
| fact the major cat organizations such as ACFA also | | | | adopting a cat, you're saving the cats life. |
| have a household category where you can show off | | | | Not all adopted cats come from shelters. Some |
| your pretty kitty regardless of origins. | | | | people have to give their cats away for whatever |
| Purchasing a cat from a breeder or pet store comes | | | | reason - allergies develop, moving to another city, |
| with some benefits. Many of these places offer | | | | financial problems - so if you peruse the pet ads |
| guarantees and documentation which allows you to | | | | within a local newspaper you'll probably find an |
| not submit your cat to shows and to use your cat | | | | impressive selection of cats looking for new homes. |
| for breeding purposes, but for some people it's a | | | | The advantage of adopting a cat from another |
| matter of status. | | | | family is that there usually isn't any charge involved |
| Some cat owners swear by certain breeds with | | | | unless the cat is a purebred with documentation. The |
| regards to a good temperament or healthy | | | | disadvantage is that unless you take the cat to a |
| constitution, and the only way these folks can be | | | | veterinarian beforehand, you can't ever be quite sure |
| guaranteed that they are getting exactly the breed | | | | if the cat has some underlying health issues that may |
| of cat they want is by purchasing one that has | | | | wind up costing you quite a bit of money. |
| accompanying documentation. For some people, this | | | | Some struggle with the decision of whether to |
| is the only way they would consider bringing a cat | | | | rescue a cat at the shelter, or to purchase one from |
| into their home. | | | | a breeder. Rest assured that once you do decide to |
| Choosing to adopt a cat means that your options are | | | | get a cat, one will find you. Cats are just like that. |
| wide open. An added advantage is also that cats | | | | You can start your search, investigating your options, |
| waiting for a home will already have lived in one and | | | | and before you know it "your" cat will appear. |