How to Choose the Right Cat Breed for You: Factors to Consider

Reviewed By Tom •  Updated: 06/17/22 •  4 min read
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How to Choose the Right Cat Breed

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If you have decided to get a cat, you might not have given much thought to the breed that you wish to own. While this is something that many dog owners will consider, cat owners don’t often consider the types of cats out there. However, there are some factors you should consider when choosing the right cat breed – whether you have a breed in mind or you are just adopting one by chance.

Underlying Health Conditions

As with dog breeds, every breed of cat comes with its own underlying health conditions. If you choose to adopt a purebred breed, you need to make sure that you are researching some of the many health concerns that might come with it to ensure that you are fully prepared as a pet owner.

Speaking to your vet can also be a great move to ensure that you have covered all bases when it comes to the care of your cat. After all, there might be something that you have not considered but could be key to keeping your cat healthy and well-cared-for. Make sure that you also have a good cat insurance policy. If your cat will be spending a lot of time at the vet, having the help of insurance can be very important.

Hair

Long-haired cats are very beautiful to look at, but they require a lot of care too. You need to make sure that you are regularly brushing your long-haired cat otherwise their coat could get matted and could cause major irritations and skin infections. If you have a cat with a flat face, they also might struggle to bathe themselves properly, so you might have to take them to a professional groomer to see that they are properly cleaned.

Even short-haired cats will need to be brushed every now and then – especially when they are shedding their coats! If you choose to get a hairless cat like Sphinx, this is another ballgame entirely, and you will have to learn how to wash and care for their skin. Cats have a reputation as being easy to care for as they can bathe themselves, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t brush and care for them too.

Noise

You might not consider cats to be that vocal, especially compared to other pets you could bring into your home, but there are definitely some breeds of cat that are louder than others. If you want a more peaceful and quieter cat, there are some breeds that definitely won’t be for you!

For example, Siamese cats are incredibly pretty, but they are also pretty loud! They are unafraid to vocalize many different things, and their noises can be different to a typical cat’s yowl too. If you want to get a cat like a Siamese, make sure that you are prepared for their noise! Of course, even a moggy can make a lot of noise in the right conditions. You might just end up with a chatty cat who greets you with their voice no matter what breed they might be!

These are three key factors to consider when choosing a cat, but they are also just some of the many things that you need to think about. Cat breeds all carry their own quirks and personality traits – just like dogs – and it is of paramount importance that you find the ones that you can be certain will work with your lifestyle. Even if there are some factors that you don’t really mind, knowing about some of these traits – such as potential health problems – will just help to make you more of a responsible pet owner.

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Tom

Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!