Kitten, grown cat or breeder?
Type your pet's name on the map and every guide uses it.
The best cat for your family is the one whose needs fit your days. Here's how to think it through before anyone says yes.
What to do
- Be honest about time.Cats need daily play and company. If your home is empty for long stretches, think twice about a young kitten.
- Consider a grown cat.A grown cat's personality is already there to see, and shelters often know it well, so a grown cat with the right personality is often easier and more predictable than a kitten.
- With young children, a calmer, slightly older cat is often the better match.Kittens are fragile, and young children can be loud and unpredictable.
- Look at senior cats too.They're usually litter-trained already and settle into quiet company.
- At a shelter or rescue, ask what they know.Good shelters check each cat's behavior and personality as well as health, so they can help you match. Ask about cats who came in as a pair; see One cat or two?.
- Know the usual age.Kittens generally go home somewhere between about 8 and 12 weeks old, and many vets and breeders prefer the later end. If a seller wants to send a kitten home much younger, ask why.
- At a breeder, meet the mother cat.She should look healthy and be confident with people. Anyone can call themselves a breeder, so look closely.
- Walk away if you seeNervous, poorly socialized kittens, a crowded home with many litters or many breeds, or kittens sold through dealers.
- Plan for an indoor cat.Keeping cats indoors protects birds and other wildlife. Fill indoor life with play, climbing and things to explore; for outdoor time, use a supervised catio or enclosure.
- Plan the budget before you choose.The first year usually costs more than people expect: adoption or purchase, vet visits and vaccines, spaying or neutering, food, litter and supplies. Costs vary a lot by area and by cat.
- Settle the five decisions firstA vet, a budget, who does what, a helper, and time off. See Before You Say Yes.
Your job
Help make your family's job list. Who helps the grown-up check the water bowl? Who plays with the wand toy, with a grown-up? Who keeps hair ties and small toys put away? (A grown-up feeds the cat and scoops the litter box.) Waiting until everyone is ready is a good answer, and "not yet" is a fine answer too.
Ask the shelter, rescue or breeder about any cat's health and history before you choose.
Book a vet visit for the first week at home. AAHA's checklist says so for kittens; it's a good habit for any new cat.
Two things we never repeat
Sources: San Francisco SPCA · Cats Protection · International Cat Care · ASPCA · AAFP · American Bird Conservancy · AAHA · Chewy. Full list