City Pets - Choosing a Cat

Potential cat owners should think carefully about what sort of cat they would like and whether they have suitable accommodation, time and finances. Kittens are cuddly but a mature cat that requires re-homing will have already developed a character that you can see and bond to immediately. The Pedigree cats have specific charms and characters and 'Moggies' are varied and fascinating in their individuality - the choice is yours.

Development of Pedigree Breeds

It was not until the middle of the 19th century that people in Britain and Europe started to selectively breed cats and record their pedigrees. The breeding programs started with ordinary moggies also known as domestic shorthaired cats (DSH). Breeders selected individuals for their breeding programs depending on their body shape and coat colour. From these ancestors through years of selective breeding the British and European Shorthair breeds have been created. In America the same process occurred with the descendants of cats taken over by settlers 200 years earlier. Selective breeding from this stock has resulted in the American Shorthair which has quite different characteristics to the British and European Shorthairs. During this period there were longhaired domestic cats around but the pedigree longhair breeds initially came from the Angora cat which originated in Turkey and later form longhaired breeds imported from Persia and Afghanistan. The breeds developed from cats from Persia and Afghanistan quickly became known as Persians and became very popular at the expense of the Angora which almost disappeared. By the end of the 19th century pedigree cats were being imported and exported and the Siamese, Russian Blue and Abyssinian had reached Britain. In the 20th century the spread of pedigree cats accelerated and new breeds and colour varieties were also developed.

Cat Shows as we know them today were the idea of an Englishman called Harrison Weir who held the first National Cat Show in 1871 at the Crystal Palace in London. As interest in showing cats grew in Britain the National Cat Club was formed in 1887 and Harrison Weir was its president. It established a stud book to register pedigree cats and record their pedigrees. Later the National Cat Club amalgamated with another club to become the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF). In 1983 a further registering body was established called the Cat Association of Britain (CAB). Now most countries have at least one governing body which in addition to registration of pedigree cats also oversee the standards for each recognised breed. These breed standards are regularly reviewed and provide guidelines for breeders and judges alike.

There are now seven basic groups of cat, eight if you include the most popular group of all cats , the non-pedigree domestic moggie.

1) Non-pedigree
2) Longhair Persian Type
3) Longhair Non-Persian Type
4) British and American Shorthairs
5) Other Shorthair Breeds
6) Oriental Shorthairs
7) Burmese
8) Siamese

The popularity of pedigree cat breeds changes from one year to the next but some of the most popular are the Persian, Siamese, British Shorthair, Burmese, Birman, Main Coon, Abyssinian, and recently the Bengal.

Popular Cat Breed Characteristics

Persian - In Britain Persians are known for the purposes of breeding and showing as Longhairs. This group also contains Chinchillas. Persians have a stocky build with thick legs, a rounded head with a short nose and large eyes. The coat is full and thick and coat and eye colours vary. They are not generally temperamental and make good family pets although they do need daily grooming of up to an hour a day.

Exotics - The Exotic Shorthair is a relatively recent hybrid created in the USA by crossing American Shorthairs with Persians. The original intention was improve the Persian breed by creating a more Persian looking Persian, not to create a new breed type. However some of the cats produced were short haired Persian types which had the obvious advantage of reduced grooming. In 1986 the breed of Exotic Shorthair was recognised by the GCCF. Exotics are cobby like Persians without the long coat. While the coat is short it is plush and dense not flat like of the British Shorthair.

Siamese - These are medium sized cats with dainty, long, bone structure but strong muscles. The hind legs are longer than the fore legs, the body is tubular and the tail is whip like. The head is wedge shaped with almond shaped, always blue eyes which point towards a long nose the ears are large and pointed. The coat is short and fine with colour varieties at the points (the mask, ears, lower legs, feet and tail, the cooler areas). The body colour is paler but compliments the points. Siamese cats have a boisterous and intelligent temperament which means they are a handful and owners must be prepared to devote them plenty of time. They have a highly developed variety of cries for all occasions to gain attention. Despite this vocal nature it is a breed which dislikes loud noises. Siamese cats often attach themselves to one person and can become jealous if they that person pays attention to others. They are distrustful of strangers. They do not like being ignored or left for long periods because of their sensitive nature which renders them liable to mood swings and unpredictable behaviour. They are easy to train and enjoy games including acrobatics and twice weekly coat grooming. They can be very territorial and can become accomplished fighters and hunters. Siamese are a long lived breed and will normally see their 15th birthday.

British Shorthair - British and European Shorthairs are one in the same, the North American equivalent is the American Shorthair. It is a solid, strong, majestic, hardy and adaptable breed. Its stocky or cobby appearance is due to its broad chest, level back, short strong legs and thick tail. Its head is broad and round with well developed cheeks, the head sits on a short neck. The eyes are large and round and have a wide-awake expression. British Shorthairs are laid back enjoying both play and solitude. It is intelligent and accommodates to family life well provided there is a predictable routine. Its coat needs twice weekly grooming.

Burmese - The Burmese is described as a medium-sized, muscular breed. The legs are slender and the hind legs are slightly longer than the fore legs. The head tapers from high cheek bones in a medium-blunt wedge to a short well developed muzzle. The ears are medium sized with rounded points. There are a wide varity of colours but classically they are brown, the eyes are always yellow or gold. The Burmese is a sweet natured cat equally happy in a flat, town or country house. It is an athletic breed which enjoys games with is owner or other companion cats. They are intensely sociable and dislike being left alone and can have a tendency to jealousy.

Photo by kind permission of Chiaro Burmese

Birman - Are large cats but less cobby than the Persian with long silky hair that tends to get wavy on the stomach. There is a well developed thick, heavy ruff and a bushy, plume like tail. Classically the body colour should be even and the point colour should be confined to the points but there should be symmetrical white feet. The coat required regular grooming but does not tend to mat. The head is broad and round with a Roman nose and wide based, rounded tipped ears. They are generally a very placid breed which is playful but not boisterous. They do not enjoy going outside that much but do like open spaces and do not like being confined which make boarding catteries a potential problem. Breeders in America have developed short-haired varieties known as Snowshoes.

Main Coon - A large, solid, rugged, muscular cat with a long, smooth, shaggy coat with a silky texture which is short on the face and shoulders but longer on the undercarriage and hind legs. The body is long with a level back and a broad chest and a medium length tail, the strong legs are set well apart. The head is large with a square chin and high cheek bones, the nose is broad and of a medium length. The ears are large and well tufted tapering to a point. The eyes are large, set well apart and slightly slant. There are many different coat colours. They make excellent household pets and often adopt one particular member of the family as a favourite. They have some semi-wild characteristics, they are good hunters and choose good hiding places to sleep and use as bolt-holes when startled and are impervious to the cold.

Abyssinian - The Abyssinian is a medium sized cat with a slender but muscular appearance. The tail has a thick base that tapers to a point. The head is medium with large pointed ears with tufts, the eyes are almond shaped and slightly slanted. The coat is short but long enough for each hair to have two or three bands of ticking. The Abyssinian is a good companion but is wary of strangers. They respond well to training and enjoy games.

Barijka Oloroso - Photograph courtesy of Beausancy Bengals

Bengal - The Bengal is a wild cat hybrid resulting from crosses between domestic cats often the Egyptian Mau and the Asian Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis or Prionailurus bengalensis). In the first generation of hybrid the F1 kitten has an Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) parent (usually the sire) and a domestic parent (usually the queen). An F1 kitten is one generation removed from the ALC. Male kittens of these early crosses are usually infertile so females are usually used as foundation sock. For this reason the F2 usually has an F1 mother and a domestic sire and is two generations removed form the ALC. The F3 usually has an F2 mother and a domestic sire and is three generations removed from the ALC. The ALC is protected under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) and the early hybrids F1, F2, and F3 are often the subject of permits depending on the local authorities. These "close to the wild" hybrids require special care, handling and housing because their habits and temperament is unpredictable. Their feral, wild beauty makes them striking animals but their temperament is determined by each individuals inheritance. If an individual did not inherit the domestic gene from its domestic mother it will display a wild temperament. Careful selection of hybrids displaying a domestic disposition ensures that further generations meet the requirements of domesticity. The Domestic Bengal must be an F4 which is four generations removed from the ALC or a greater number of generations removed from the ALC. Bengal cats still tend to display a strong wild streak and are often described as having a feral expression. There are several colours (brown and the snows) and patterns (spotted and marble).

Benefits of Cat Ownership

Numerous studies have confirmed that there are psychological and medical benefits of cat ownership. For these reasons pets are being used in therapeutic programs for people with psychological for physical problems because they assist or facilitate recovery. For ordinary people cats provide:

    * Companionship - this is the most important factor for most owners.
    * Comfort and support - cats can provide apparent emotional support.
    * Help to establish new friendships - cat owners are more socially interactive.
    * Increased self-esteem - ownership and responsibility of care improve self-worth.
    * An aid to leisure and relaxation - cat care and playing games.
    * Increased hygiene - families with pets are more hygiene conscious.
    * Benefits to children - improved social skills and the understanding the cycle of life.
    * Benefits to elderly - companionship and a daily purpose.
    * Therapeutic benefits - If you own a cat you are likely to:- live longer, have lower blood pressure, have a reduced risk of heart attacks, suffer less stress and gain more relief from tension, have increased emotional strength, reduced risk of depression, have improved motivation and purpose, be less aggressive, be less self-centred, more supportive of others and less judgmental.

Choosing a Cat

Not everyone chooses their cat, sometimes the cat chooses the owner. However if it is you doing the choosing then there are some important factors to first consider.

    * Is your cat to be a companion or for breeding and showing?
    * What other animals do you already have?
    * Is your property suitable? (high rise flats and busy roads)
    * Can you afford a cat?
    * Have you got the time to care for a cat?
    * Are there any asthmatics in the family?

Pedigree or Non-pedigree?

If you want to show and/or breed cats then your probably better off with a pedigree. The main advantage of pedigree cats is the ability to predict what sort of cat you are going to end up with. Good breeders will allow you to see the mother and father which is the best indicator of what your cat is likely to be like. Generally pedigree cats have predictable temperaments and physical characteristics and inherited faults. Responsible pedigree kitten breeders do not allow kittens to go to new homes before 12 weeks of age by which time they are likely to be house trained and vaccinated. Some breeders have adult cats that are surplus to requirements that are sometimes available as pets once they have been neutered. It is easier to determine the temperament of an adult cat compared to a kitten. Pedigree cats are available from some rescue centres.

Most pet cats are non-pedigree cats and you are unlikely to get much information about a kittens ancestry but if you're lucky you may get to meet the mother. Non-pedigree kittens are usually offered to homes between 6 and 8 weeks of age when they will be weaned, partly socialised but not house trained or vaccinated. Non-pedigree kittens and adult cats are often available from Animal Shelters. Kittens and cats that have been through Animal Shelters have an increased risk of exposure to and infections from contagious diseases. Kittens may be available form pet owners whose cats have had a litter and vets are often able to provide contact details in such cases.

Choosing the Sex

There is little to choose from between the sexes once they have been neutered. However if you want to breed then you probably want a female because male stud cats don't usually make good pets. Entire male stud cats are usually kept in separate out-door runs because of their antisocial scent-marking behaviour.

Choosing an Individual

If you are choosing a kitten from a litter firstly check the mother cat, check that she has no signs of illness and that she is of a mild temperament. Next check the kittens for the same criteria. You want to avoid kittens that are excessively fearful or aggressive as these are traits that may persist into adulthood. Look for bright, playful kittens not dull or lethargic kittens which have runny eyes and noses. Many diseases have incubation periods where an individual may be infected but shows no symptoms. Most disease incubation periods are less than a fortnight. Occasionally a family will take on what initially looked like a healthy cat or kitten but shortly after arrival at its new home it may start to show symptoms of disease. Any new arrival should receive an independent health check from your vet.

Many people, me included, believe it is better to get two kittens at once. This not only provides companionship for the cats but also allows an owner to realise that cats have very individual characters.

New cats should be kept in for at least a month before being let outside during the day and brought in at night, most road traffic accidents (RTA's) occur at night. Kittens should be kept in until they are immune to the major cat diseases, that is two weeks after their final vaccination, and until there are of a sufficient size to deal with neighbourhood cats. They can go outside if they are supervised but are best kept in until they are 5-6 months of age.

Integrating New Cats

One serious potential problem of introducing cats together is the spread of disease. These risks can be minimised by taking the following precautions. Ideally both newcomers and existing cats should be vaccinated and immune to the major cat diseases before introduction. The newcomer should be tested for any diseases that cannot be vaccinated against to prevent it introducing them to existing cats. The newcomer should be isolated from the existing cats for a fortnight before the introduction process begins to allow any incubating diseases to show themselves.

Generally speaking most cats are territorial and the one thing which really stresses them out is another cat moving into their territory. Cats are more likely to accept a kitten than another cat moving in on their territory because they consider it less of a threat. The introduction process should be slow, keep the newcomer separated in one room, allow its confidence to build and allow existing cats to become accustomed to its smell. Ideally a complete isolation period of 14 days should elapse before the introduction process begins. Cats are very smell oriented and this is an important factor in introducing cats. After the 14 days feed the cats separately but interchange feeding and grooming equipment to mix the cats scents up. After a week or two prepare to introduce the cats, cut both cats front claws to reduce the risks of injury and to reduce confidence levels slightly in both cats. Continue to feed them separately and ensure that there is plenty of food to avoid any competition.

Introducing new cats or kittens to existing dogs is much the same as for existing cats.

Cats have basic instincts to hunt small mammals, birds and fish so any of these are existing pets then precautions must be taken to protect them.

Children need to be taught how to hold and carry a cat early on to avoid injury to themselves or the cat. Young babies in their cots or pushchairs should be protected from cats jumping onto them or sleeping on them. This is best achieved with cat nets that go over the top of cots.

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