The Right Cat

Written by Mike    Friday, 27 February 2009

A cat in the house THE RIGHT OWNER When you think of adding a cat to your household, ask yourself honesty, “Is this a good home for a cat?” If a cat could make a survey of prospective homes, with a change to choose the one he liked best, he might ask such questions as these: Does the lady of the house like cats? How old are the children, if any? Will I have to sleep outdoors? Will my meals be regular and balanced? Will I have fresh water every day? What other animals live there? Will the owners take me to a veterinarian if I am sick? Will they have me altered, or will they abuse me if I spray the furniture or keep on Having kittens? Will they abandon me when they are tired of me or move away? Is anyone in the family allergic to cat hair? How you answer such question will have a bearing on whether you and your cat should set up housekeeping together. THE RIGHT CAT There are two basics breeds of cats, the longhair and the shorthair. The most common among shorthairs is the domestic shorthair. ( An alley cat is not a breed. It is just a homeless feral cat which must make his own way in alley, meadow and woodland.) . Historians often assume that our modern domestic shorthair is directly descended from the famouse Egyptian cats. Among the foreign shorthairs are the Siamese (brown-masked faces, and blue eyes), the Burmese (dark brown all over with yellows eyes), The Abyssinian (ruddy-brown, salt-and-pepperish coats with green or gold eyes), the Manx (the tail-less cats of any color, with extra-long hind legs), and the Russian Blue, Rex, and Korat. The longhaired cat is commonly called Persian (Angora) in honor of the land of its origin. Of the several kinds, the domestic shorthair, the Persian, and the Siamese are the most numerous. Which kind is the best for your home? If there are children under the age of eight, choose the domestic shorthair for they are not as sensitive or high-strung as the longhaired cats. The domestic shorthair can adjust to a little well-intentioned mauling by young children, while a longhair will run behind the davenport and stay there for days, starving himself and disappointing the family. A Siamese will defend himself promptly when mishandled, not in anger, but inspired by strong sense of justice and equality. Study your children and pick the cat to suit their temperaments Does an adult need close companionship?. If so, choose the Siamese or the domestic shorthair. They can give and take enormous amounts of affection. Or if an adult wants the quiet, unobtrusive companionship of a cat which won’t be incessantly on top of his books and papers-or himself, choose the Persian, as it refuses to be held for more than a few minutes at a time, but dotes on lying three feet from your table or chair. Whatever kind of cat you choose, remember that the important thing is to develop in the entire family a sense of responsibility for its welfare. It may work for its keep in your home for twenty years or more.

Last Updated ( Friday, 27 February 2009 )