Blogson Andrew of Custos Honor is considering getting a kitten, and is looking for advice on the selection process.

Well, there are plenty of sites that give advice on doing some quick physical checks, but I'm going to discuss personality.

I'm going to assume here that you want a cat for purposes of phyical interaction, and not one that'll just be a skittish blur that zips away from you at light speed whenever it sees you coming.

My personal preference is to get a cat from a shelter, since - after going through a few days/weeks of living in a smelly wire cage - they tend to really appreciate being given a real home. That, and it's usually cheaper.

The discussion below assumes a shelter setting, so adjust it accordingly if you go to a breeder, pet store, or private owner.

I'm also going to use the word "cat", since feline quality is not necessarily related to age. Sometimes good animals get put up for adoption through no fault of their own. Don't discount the possibility of finding a perfectly suited older animal.

1) Pick a cat that shows an interest in you - Stand in front of the cage and put your finger on the bars. Does the cat come up to you, sniff, rub, and continue to do so? This is a sign of a "people cat" - one that finds humans more interesting than their food bowl. That's a GOOD thing.

2) Dangle a bit of string - Does the cat pounce & play? If so, you'll never be bored again. Another good sign. Cats that ignore string are a drag and not worth having.

3) Pick the cat up and hold it supportively in your arms - It will either squirm and try to get away (some cats don't like being held), or it will be content to enjoy the view. If it snuggles in, lays in your arms like a lump, and starts purring, you probably have a keeper.

4) OPTIONAL - Hold the cat up near other cat cages. Some cats will hiss & spit, others will be indifferent to the presence of other cats. Having an asocial feline isn't a deal breaker, but it will make things a little rougher should you get an additional cat in the future. NOTE: This test is mandatory if you're planning to bring this critter home to a house that already has another cat in it.

That pretty much covers it from my end. Please feel free to leave further advice in the comments.

Posted by: Harvey at 10:27 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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