| |
Mixed Breed or Purebred? :: Choosing a Cat Companion
by
Karen Leigh Davis
Tags
No tags are currently set for this article.
- Learn everything about Mixed Breed or Purebred?
- Read more when you buy the entire The Everything Cat Book 2nd Edition
- You can Click Here to buy the full book today
Mixed Breed or Purebred?Perhaps, after considering all issues carefully, you’ve decided that you definitely want to share your life with a cat. That’s great! But you still have some decisions to make about what kind of cat you want to be your companion.
The first thing you need to decide is whether to adopt a mixed-breed cat from a shelter or private owner, or purchase a purebred. Either one can make a fine companion, but there are some pros and cons to consider for each.
Because random-bred cats draw their genes from a much larger gene pool than purebred cats, they are somewhat less predisposed to developing anatomical, physiological, or behavioral abnormalities. Many breeders, however, do an admirable job of weeding out undesirable traits from their purebred stock, so the health concerns of breeding genetically similar cats aren’t nearly as serious as some might make them out to be. The trick is in finding the right breeder, someone more concerned with healthy, quality animals than profit. We’ll discuss that issue in greater detail in Chapter 4.
Obviously, a random-bred cat is less costly to acquire (sometimes free), whereas, a purebred can cost anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars (for some rarer breeds). Plus, you can only guess what a random-bred kitten will look like when it grows up, or what kind of personality it will have. By opting for a purebred, you can more closely predict just what kind of temperament and physical characteristics the adult will have.
If your heart is set on acquiring a purebred, you need to decide what breed suits you best. Perhaps you prefer a quiet, reserved cat. A Persian or Himalayan will meet this requirement nicely. But maybe you don’t want the daily grooming commitment that a longhaired cat demands. If that’s the case, consider the shorthaired version of the Persian, the Exotic Shorthair.
If you want a more active, feisty cat, purchasing a Siamese or Abyssinian will definitely ensure that this need is met. If you want a cat, but you really don’t care whether it’s a random-bred or a purebred, perhaps the following discussion of the ethics involved will help you make up your mind.
Every week in the United States, thousands of cats are euthanized (humanely destroyed) at animal shelters because there are simply many more of them than there are potential owners willing to give them homes.
It is a tragedy of epic proportions, caused by the ignorance and irresponsibility of current cat owners who neglect to have their pets neutered or spayed and allow them to roam freely and breed indiscriminately.
Knowing what’s at stake, the decision is a tough one. However, if every owner of a mixed-breed or purebred cat practiced responsible ownership, we could resolve the pet overpopulation problem. Whatever you decide, have your pet spayed or neutered. If your animal is intact (not altered), keep it indoors and do not permit indiscriminate breeding.
|