So, you've weighed up all the pros and cons and have decided that you definately want a cat. You have found a suitable place with cats or kittens available. So, how do you go about picking the right cat for you?
It is important to choose a kitten that you feel happy with. If you get the chance, watch the kittens interacting with one another and with humans and pick out the one that seems the friendliest for a closer look. If you are wanting an indoor cat, choosing the most inquisitive kitten may not be the best option though!
When you have a kitten in mind, do a brief health check. The eyes should be clear and bright with no discharge or tears. The nose should be clean, again with no discharge. The coat should be smooth and shiny. The ears should be clean and odourless. There should be no broken teeth in the mouth and the gums should be nice and pink. The kitten's bottom should be clean and dry.
Watch how the kitten moves. It should not be limping at all and should be eager to play. You should not be able to hear it breathing. Test the kitten's hearing by clapping behind its ears.
Do not feel tempted to buy the sickly kitten that is the runt of the litter. It will only bring you heart-ache and a big hole in your wallet!
If you are intending rehoming an adult cat from a rescue centre, you need to choose one who will fit in with your lifestyle. Some rescue centres will allow you to walk around the available cats and read more information about them by yourselves. Others will want to make sure that you are a suitable person to rehome one of their cats first and may then make suggestions as to suitable cats.
Talk to the rescue centre staff about what you are hoping for. They know the cats well and will be able to pick out a suitable one for you to have a closer look at. Spend some time with the cat to make sure that you get along. As with kittens, you can do your own brief health check, but any reputable rescue centre will have their animals regularly checked by a vet anyway.
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