Great Cats For First-Time Cat Owners
Published November 4, 2011
Here's a classic cats vs. dogs statistic for you: nearly 86 million cats are owned by feline lovers around the USA, according to the 2011-2012 American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey. The number of dogs owned by Americans was reported to lag behind at an estimated 78.2 million.
What most likely accounts for why people consider felines the “cat’s meow” of house pets (and why more people are becoming first-time cat owners) is that these furry companions are much more adaptable to indoor living and the come-and-go busy lifestyle of their "pawrents"; you don't have to worry about taking your cat out late at night for a walk, or worry about other things you may need to with dogs.
With this said, within the feline species, some breeds make superior “fur-mates” than others.
City dwellers thinking about sharing your home and heart with a kitty need to think about a few things: is your preference a quieter, docile cat, or one that is active and chatty? Would you enjoy having two kitties? Do you work at home, or are you away for extended hours?
It is very helpful to research about the different cat breeds and the personality traits for which they are famous. However, while some of these traits may be attractive to new owners, in reality every cat is different and "purrsonalities" can often be affected by their environment.
If you're considering adopting a cat, consider adopting an older cat from a shelter. There are many beautiful, laid-back cats waiting for a permanent home. Another option is adopting a purebred from a rescue group.
My personal pick for an ideal breed in the shorthair department is the American Shorthair. Intelligent, self-sufficient and highly adaptable, American Shorthairs make delightful companions. While not overly chatty, they will let you know when they want attention, and are eager to play with their humans. The moderately active Russian Blue, while shy in nature with strangers, is known for fierce loyalty and strong devotion to their people. Both breeds flourish with a minimal amount of grooming. On the other hand, the beautiful Oriental breeds (while they are talented conversationalists) tend to be quite demanding of their owners.
If longhairs suit your fancy, the Ragdoll or Ragamuffin make for incredible pets. It is easy to fall in love with their sweet dispositions and affectionate personalities. They tend to be lap cats, and enjoy playing but are not overly demanding. Persians are relatively quiet, very affectionate, and require a considerable amount of attention. These kitties do not enjoy being alone for extended periods of time. Daily grooming is essential to prevent their long coats from matting.
While choosing a kitty or two for your life-long companion can be time consuming, the rewards received are worth their weight in gold!
For you folks out there already owned by a cat or two, please offer other suggestions that helped you arrive at your decisions.
Shortly after retiring as a social worker and psychotherapist, I discovered my "writer's voice"…
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Comments (18)
All 7 of my kitties are rescues. And 2 of my 3 dogs are, too. Most of them have special needs as well. I agree that there are just too many that are euthanized due to lack of homes and lack of speuter education. Like Sharon, I understand the reasoning behind breeding and I have nothing against RESPONSIBLE breeders of dogs or cats. I have purchased dogs from breeders in the past because I had an interest in showing a particular breed or working a particular breed as is the case with my German Shepherd puppy who is now just 5 months old. But I have no desire to show cats, so I will leave the purebreds to the professionals and I will keep rescuing. All the better if I find a purebred cat to rescue. :)
Several years ago we had a cat my son found down by the railroad tracks. We decided she needed a companion, so we looked in the newspaper for one. We went to a couple's home that had just had kittens ready for new homes. We picked out our Tigger and he has been with us ever since.
My kitties have always been rescues and always will be...there are too many cats in need of homes. I understand why people breed cats (and dogs too) and I have no real argument with responsible breeders but I always think that while there are so many beautiful animals who are killed every day at shelters and who suffer and die from being on the street.... well.... maybe breeders could breed a little less or encourage their customers to also adopt a shelter kitty or dog.... just my opinion.....
I'm glad you mentioned Ragdolls and Ragamuffins, although you didn't mention why they are a great breed for the new cat-owner. First, many longhaired cats require grooming and have a tendency to mats, tangles and hairballs. Rags have fur that feels more like a rabbit than a cat and they rarely get mats or tangles. Yes, they shed, but due to its unusual texture, grooming is less work that other longhairs, such as Persians.
As for temperament, my first Ragamuffin so captured my heart that I don't think I'll ever have another cat who isn't a Rag. They're described as "a cat that's more like a dawg" (a line from the movie, Fievel Goes West). They are very sweet and affectionate, meet you at the door, escort you to the bathroom, and follow your from room-to-room, curling up and catnapping wherever you settle, and many play "fetch." They stay kittenish till age 4 yrs and many stay playful all their lives. Besides the usual reasons for keeping cats indoors, there's a higher risk of them being cat-knapped because they are so open and amenable to strangers.