Before Getting a Persian Cat
Where to Get a Cat?
- Animal shelters - While many shelters are no-kill, most are not. Getting your cat or kitten from an animal shelter may well save it from being put to death. Typically, you should look for a cat that looks clean, healthy, with a shiny coat, and clear eyes. Ask to visit with the kitten or cat in a private area to see how it will interact with you. How friendly is it? If the kitten or cat appears lethargic, it may be best to look at another one as this one may be sick. Ask the actual caregivers of the cat or kitten for any information they may have on it. Ask why the cat was surrendered to the shelter. Keep in mind that many people do not always tell the truth to shelter personnel when they surrender their pet. So, sometimes the shelter may not be aware that this cat or kitten may have undesirable behavioral traits (i.e., not using its litter box) or have some type of major health concern. Do not overlook the adult cats. Persian cat rescue organizations.
- Many shelters will have already spay or neutered the cat or kitten prior to its going to a new home. If not, they will generally require that you do so.
- Reputable Breeders - To find a purebred kitten or cat, I think it is best to locate a reputable breeder. To find such a person, you can go to a cat show, or nowadays, there are many show breeders as well as hobby breeders that have web sites. To locate a breeder in your area via the internet, use a search engine (i.e., yahoo, google, etc.) and type in Persian cat Colorado (if you were looking for Persian cats located in Colorado). Some breeders advertise in Cat Fancy or other such publications. Cat shows are a great way to see the different breeds of cats, meet breeders, and ask questions. There is an excellent article on this web site for a more in depth explanation on finding a reputable breeder. Listen to your intuition; if you feel anything is "not right" about this breeder, go to another breeder.
- Pet Stores - Do not buy a kitten or cat from a pet store. Pet stores obtain their kittens from "kitten mills" where the kittens and cats are treated poorly, are oftentimes in ill health, and since the cats are bred strictly for profit, they are oftentimes bred and bred and bred with no break. By "saving" (buying) a kitten from a pet store, you are in effect telling that pet store that they need to keep getting more kittens. If people would stop frequenting pet stores for kittens and puppies, the kitten and puppy mills would go out of business. Oftentimes, pet stores claim they obtain their animals from local breeders or that they are "home raised". No reputable breeder would allow their kittens to be sold in a pet store or other re-sale outlet where they could not personally interview the buyer to make sure they are aware of the responsibility of caring for an animal. Most reputable breeders belong to breed clubs and sign a breeders code of ethics which prohibits them from selling to retail outlets (pet stores).
Personally, I never frequent pet stores that sell kittens and puppies. I only buy supplies from either an on-line pet supply place or from stores that do not sell puppies and kittens. If enough people would stop frequenting stores that sell animals, they would get the idea that people were not going to tolerate the re-sale of puppies and kittens and either go out of business or only sell pet supplies. Some of stores (i.e., Petco, etc.) do have cats for adoption through a local animal shelter. Make sure that the adoption procedures comply with that shelter's normal adoption process.
- Private Sources - Sometimes, if their owner can no longer keep an adult cat, you can locate an adult cat through your local newspaper or grocery store bulletin board. As long as you can meet the person, observe the cat in its home environment, and make sure the cat is healthy I do not see any reason not to get a cat this way. Many people advertise kittens for sale in the newspaper. As stated above, make sure the kitten is at least 12 weeks of age, is properly litter box trained, and healthy. Most reputable breeders do not advertise in the newspaper.
Getting a cat is a lifelong commitment of not only your time, but your money in order to keep them in food, toys, and proper health. If you cannot afford, not only the initial cost of the cat, but the veterinarian expenses, vaccinations, the cost of spay/neuter, etc., then you should not get a cat until you can afford one.
