which type of cat should i get?

Question

i want a cat. something that is good around children. something for the inside of the house. something that will live a long time. something that can be held and picked up. something that is fat and has long hair.......

any suggestions?

Answer 1

Try a rescue shelter, or an adoption shelter.... many times people give up a great animal because of moving, health, or any other number of reasons....

Take the kids with you, interact with the ones you like and see how it behaves.

Good Luck

Answer 2

OKay... first, go to a shelter. Shelter kitties make the best pets, and don't generally have a lot of the health problems purebreds have. (Purebreds can also have a reputation for having issues with using a litterbox consistently--ick.)

There's no way to determine how long a cat will live-- I've had several cats in my life, and treated them all the same, yet they lived for very different periods of time. One died when it was 13; another died 3 months short of her 21st birthday.

Since you have kids, I beg you to consider an 'older' cat-- not necessarily elderly, but at least a year or two old rather than a kitten. Sure, kittens are cute, and sweet...and they're also hyper, get into everything, have tons of energy, and *can* be destructive. In short, they're just like human kids, only with claws. ;oP The best cat with kids I knew was one of my grandparents' farm cats-- a big old yellow tom called Morris. He was very... mellow. He loved affection, and wasn't picky about it. He also was very tolerant of being picked up and drug around, and even tolerated being dressed up in doll clothes. :o)

Also, having had both long hair and short hair cats, I really recommend short hairs. Loong hair cats are pretty, but they can't keep up with their own grooming. If you get a long hair cat, be prepared to spend some time at least every 3rd day brushing & grooming it. Also, be prepared for mass amounts of shedding in small clumps of hair come spring--every year.
Short hairs shed, and can certainly shed a lot, but the fur doesn't seem to stick to everything quite as badly.

Other than that, go to your local shelter and see who grabs you--- I think most cat owners would agree that they seem to pick you, rather than the other way around. Before you take any cat home, though, play with it a little & pick it up, etc.-- get to know its personality a bit before deciding. (Admittedly, I never got to do this, since mine were dumped at my front door--literally.)

Best of Luck, and enjoy your new Kitty!!!

Answer 3

Cats are cats. For the most part they have the same basic temper and lifespans. The best kind of cat you can get is any old cat that strikes your fancy at your local animal shelter. Considering how many of these cats desperately need homes, it is silly to spend time and money getting something specific that will only vary from the pound cat in subtle and useless ways.

Answer 4

Please locate some animal rescue organizations in your area & visit their adoption fairs. These animals are in desparate need of good homes. Our group shows at PetSmart. PetSmart doesn't sell animals themselves, they provide cage space for rescue groups to use at their stores. Check with rescue groups or petstores in your area for locations/times when rescue groups will be available. These animals live in foster homes until adopted, so the foster parent knows their temperament well. Because they want these pets to get a good permanent home they are usually quite honest in telling you about the cat. Some cats are shy, some are very social, some are good with children, some are not, some are accustomed to lots of activity, some are not, some get along well with other cats or with dogs, some do not. Talk with them & tell them about your family, your lifestyle, and what type of cat you need & let them suggest several for you to choose from. Don't just look at one & decide its right by its appearance, as its personality & needs may be different from yours - let them guide you. As you have children, I would ask for a very social, friendly adult cat, good w/kids, playful & with a laid-back personality. Kittens are cute & need homes too, but they are more readily adopted than older cats & with an older cat, you are more sure of its temperament & personality. An older cat is sturdier too if you have young children, as kittens are delicate & can be easily injured. Be aware, that even the best cat doesn't always show itself well at the pet fairs as being hauled around, caged & poked by strangers is about as fun as a trip to the vet! Most rescue groups will ask you lots of questions as they want to find suitable lifetime homes - they aren't prying, there are reasons for their questions - just answer honestly & they will help you. Many groups do not do same day adoptions - ours takes an application & check references, then home delivers the pet to you. Expect to pay a fee - ask about that. Most of these animals will have had inital vaccines & may even be spayed/neutered. If the pet isn't working out, tsome groups (like ours) takes the pet back & refunds your money - so ask about that as well. Good luck!

Answer 5

just go to a pound or pet store or to a house that is giving away kittens look for a fluffy one, feed it really well and it will get fat and before u adopt it pick it up and if it doesn't bite scratch too terribly much it will probably be okay just spend time with it and it will be calm and a good house cat

Answer 6

Go to an animal shelter. Ask them to let you interact with the cats so that you can see their personalities and choose one that you like.

Cats from the animal shelter already come fixed and with all of their shots, so you will be saving TONS on vet bills! You will also be helping a kitty get a nice home.

Answer 7

Another vote for the shelter. The kitties are old enough that you can see their personalities, and the shelters usually have good descriptions, like if they're lazy or active or like to be held or petted on the floor. Mixed breeds are best; they have the fewest health problems. Good luck and have fun!

Answer 8

any kind of Siamese cats are good. They are especially loyal and are the closets I can think that are close to any kind of doggish behaivor. The long haired ones are especially cute but shed alot. I have both long and short haired.

Answer 9

well my grandma has a siamese long hair and when i was small, i went out for a walk with my aunt. i entered the house called his name and he came running in a blink of an eye. so i think siamese long hair is good.

Answer 10

Go to the humane society-- they have lots of kitties that need homes! Big, fat, hairy lazy ones that would looooove attention!