What breed of cat to get?

Question

I'm looking to purchase a house cat, but I've always been a dog person, so I have no idea what to get. I want a breed that tolerates children well, doesn't shed excessively and is easily trainable. (I want to be able to train it not to walk on kitchen counters, tables, etc.) Also, do scratching posts really keep them from scratching the furniture? Do you recommend de-clawing? It seems so cruel.
Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

typically mixed breed cats are better for all your concerns - purebreds are bred for looks only so other things (like bathroom habits or temperment) are often overlooked.

shedding - is partially food related, if you feed a lower quality food you will get more shedding - all foods from grocery store contain lots of fillers, like corn, and by products(beaks feet feathers) which cats (true carnivours) cannot digest well - and these result in more shedding - - select a food from a pet supply store with good quality ingredients - dont be fooled - read the lables, shedding can be reduced by proper grooming of the cat

children- select an adult cat, kittens are very claw agressive and can be easily hurt by young kids which will turn them off kids, adults are less squirmy and you can see exactly what their temperment is - with kittens you dont know what they will grow up like

training - most cats are easily trained not to walk on counters.. simply push them off if you catch them or spray with a water gun when they are on the counter...

where to get a cat? NEVER NEVER get from a pet store - the best place to get is from your local SPCA or humane society - they will have lots of selection, good guarantees, and because they are non-profit you wont get ripped off by a greedy pet store who exploits animals for profit - you can pick up and hold the cats to see who is better with kids and who isnt

declawing - it is cruel and has many side effects/risks including becoming more aggressive (biting) more nervous, refusal to use litter... adults are less claw agressive than kittens - if you are concerned select on who has already been declawed OR get soft claws, claw protectors... - some breeds do claw less than others - persians and himalayans are less claw agressive (typically they are lazy cats, but purebreds often pee where they are not suppose to)

scratch post - they do help BUT you also have to keep the cat intersted in it.. this can be done easily by moving the cat furniture around or laying it down occassionally (cats prefer things they think are new and can be easily tricked)

Answer 2

Unless you plan to breed or show your cat, any breed should be acceptable, or any mix. At an animal shelter, you can talk to the people who care for them and get a pretty goog idea about their disposition. If shedding is an issue, avoid longer haired cats. If you want to have it for a long time (grow up with your children) then get a younger one, but not too young. Kids sometimes mistreat animals out of ignorance, and a really young kitty could pick up some bad habits. Declawing is cruel and causes aggressiveness. Cats get nervous and defensive without their claws. Most cats that still have their claws don't even use them for defense. Get a scratching post AND one of those 3" thick corregated cardboard things that you rub catnip into. This will keep your cat interested in scratching ONLY designated places. Remember to clip your cat's claws as they start to grow out and 'hook', especially if it is an indoor cat. A squirt bottle does well for training only (not for fun!). I do recommend spaying or neutering (especially if a child forgets to close the door and it gets out). There is a website that teaches you how to train your cat to crap in the toilet, and some cats even flush! I recommend getting a kitty that is about 6 months to one year old from an animal shelter. If you have kids, this is a great age to start out with.

Answer 3

If you want one that doesn't shed, you could try a Devon Rex. They only have the undercoat and do not shed. They are also supposed to be very smart cats and very easy to train. I recommend not declawing cats. All of the cats that I have ever seen declawed acted as if their feet hurt and wer very sinsitive to being rubbed on their paws. If they ever accidentally get outside, they have no way to protect themselves. I have clipped their nails with fingernail clippers. That works great. Pet stores also sale soft paws, which you can put on the claws to keep them from scratching. Here is a web page about the Devon Rex:
http://www.breedlist.com/devon-rex-breeders.html

Answer 4

Would you consider going to a shelter or cat rescue group and checking out the cats there, before deciding on a particular breed? There are many regular ol' cats who need good homes that will fit your criteria. You can also find purebred cats at rescue groups if you have your heart set on one.

Your concerns seem to be mostly personality, rather than breed, issues. I'm sure you'll find a kitty who meets your needs at a shelter, there's plenty to choose from.

p.s. Don't declaw (i.e. amputate!), you're right, it is cruel. All you need to do is get the cat used to a once in a while nail trimming and you will be fine!

Answer 5

I don't believe that the personality of any one breed of cat is better than another. Cats are so individual. You can't very well train a cat. Most of the time they do what they please. Just keep kitchen spray disinfectant handy to clean your counter tops. Another spray bottle with water in it can be used for training purposes. If you see the cat doing something you don't like, give him a squirt. Litter training is very easy. I just show my new cats once and they use it without fail. I wish you the best with your new cat.

Answer 6

There are several cats that you could get.

In terms of trainability, all breeds can be trained to not walk on kitchen counters, tables and to use a scratching post. So, unless you are planning on making your cat do tricks or use your toilet instead of the litterbox, in that regard all cats breeds are open to you. If you want your cat to do impressive tricks, note that most trainers use British Shorthairs because they will do anything if you have a treat in your hand ;)

Most breeds of cats do okay with children, except for the very refined/sensitive breeds like Russian Blues, and there are exceptions even to that rule. On the other hand, I have seen child-reliable breeds like Maine Coons who attacked kids. The trick is to work with a breeder, who socializes her kittens with kids, so that the kitten is comfortable around loud and sudden sounds/movements. In any case, cats do best with kids who are atleast 5. If you have children below that age, give your cats plenty of hiding spots and start training your kids on how to "play nice"

Generally speaking, if you want a cat that will actively engage your child in play- think of Abyssianians, Siamese, Balinese, Bengals. If you have kids who are going to cuddle and love on a cat- Birmans, Ragdolls, and exotic shorthairs are gentle, `love on me' breeds. Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest Cats, British Shorthairs are good `all round' breeds that are usually child reliable- again the breeder, the breeding stock and socialization may change this, but by and large these generalities work.

Shedding is another issue already. All cats shed, as you already know. You can get a cat with short hair so that the volume of shedding is less (Siamese for example) or a cat that sheds seasonally (like Siberian), or minimize shedding using a shedding blade, omega 3 supplements and regular brushing, which opens all cats upto you. You could also get a bald cat like the spynx but though they are very affectionate cats, they can be easily startled by sudden movements and noises. But your kid's friends will be fascinated by the wierd appearance of the cat!

Or you can match the cat's fur to your furniture and carpet ;)

Declawing IS cruel. It is painful and psychologically traumatic for a cat. Especially if you have kids, because then it will make the cat more likely to *bite*. Trim your cats nails, train it to use a scratching post (it is easy, a lot of online sites will give free advise) or use nailcaps, available at fosters & smith or similar catalogs that prevent the cat's nails from damaging furniture without removing their nails. Kudos to you for believing it is cruel. A lot of people think it is acceptable.

Also, the only way to be sure you have a cat that is child reliable and reasonable well-behaved is to get one from a reputable shelter. An adult cat is less likely to display surprises, and has already demonstrated its temperament. If a shelter worker says he is good with kids, you know he is.

Good luck. I hope I have helped you. You could check individual breeds in the www.acfacats.com/ or take a cat breed selector for more ideas. (http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/catselectorindex.do)

Answer 7

I would recommend getting a main coon cat, preferrably a male. My sister has one and it is great with her daughter, even though she chases him around all the time. I have a siamese cat, but he bites sometimes so I dont think he would be good with kids. I used to be a big dog person, and I still love them, but I am not at home all of the time and cats dont chew up everything! I would still get their front paws declawed, it is the only way you know they wont scratch the furniture. Dont declaw the back claws though, and try to always keep him indoors.

Answer 8

Persians are wonderful with children. I have always had Persians and they are just precious. I have always had my cats declawed. It is a cat's nature to claw. My one male I have right now still "claws" even though his claws are gone. Contrary to what you may think, Persians don't shed a lot and when they do, their fur has a cottony texture, so it is easy to remove from furniture, clothing etc. Good luck!

Answer 9

A White Mischief (don't know how to spell it)! I had one for 9 years and he was the best, happy good lucky, well mannered cat I have ever owned! The are snow white very sparkly eyes!

Answer 10

siamese i have 3 and 2 little girls and there great together,easy to train...well mine were