Adapted by Karen Lease in 2003 for Australia in part from the original article

Getting A Cat written by Cindy Tittle Moore in 1991 & updated in 1997.

Your cat will depend on you throughout its life, and with proper care may live 15 years or more. Are you willing and able to care properly for it and provide a stable home for that long? An astonishingly high percentage of cats change owners at least once in their lifetimes.

Don't get a cat without prior budgeting for vet visits and other costs. Normal veterinary care includes yearly shots and boosters, tests for worms, and examination for typical diseases as needed. This will run about $A100-$A300 a year. This, of course, depends on your vet and on the health of your cat.

Preventive and consistent care is less expensive in the long run. If you cannot afford veterinary care for a cat, you should not get one. Do not think that you can get a cat and never see the vet. Annual shots and examinations are a must for keeping your cat healthy; certain vaccinations are required by law in different areas ie. in NSW, all cats must be immunised and microchip.

Other routine costs include cat food, cat litter, litter pans and scoops, and other cat paraphernalia such as scratching posts and cat trees. Most life changes shouldn't affect your ability to give a cat a good home. Some people think they must give up a cat when they move, but that's not true. It is relatively easy to move with a cat, even if you are moving cross-country or overseas especially as Australia is rabies free.

However, if you expect that you will soon be in a situation where you will have to give up your cat, consider spending time with friends' cats instead of getting your own. It can be very difficult or impossible to find a home for your adult cat if you ever have to give it up.

Many people are attracted to cats or kittens because of their looks. Consider their characteristics as well, since the kitten you choose today may be a member of your family for 15 years or more. Are you looking for a very active, playful cat? Do you need a cat that will be especially gentle with children or elderly people? One that won't be frightened by a barking dog? Or a calm, affectionate

cat that will sleep on your bed at night?

Consider adopting an adult cat. An adult cat already has a fully developed personality, so you know what you're getting. Adult cats generally adapt just fine to new homes, and "bond" just as strongly with new owners as kittens do. Also, adult cats are much less likely to be adopted -- most people want to adopt cute little kittens.

Kittens are terminally cute, but they can have many disadvantages. They require more care and watching over, they may not be litter box trained yet, and they go through a wild phase at around 6 months of age when they are unstoppable bundles of energy. Kittens need several trips to the veterinarian for vaccinations, checkups, and finally, neutering or spaying. Perhaps most important, it is difficult to predict what a kitten will turn out like when it grows up, in both looks and behaviour.

If you do decide to get a kitten, try not to get one that is too young. Kittens should not be separated from their mother and littermates until they are at least 10 to 16 weeks old. Many breeders do not sell kittens until they are 14 to 16 weeks old, when the immune system is fully developed.

From kittenhood, accustom your cat to being handled. Look into its ears (clean, white and light pink), eyes (clear, no runniness, inner eyelids may blink but should remain open), nose (clean and pink (or its normal colour) and mouth (clean, light pink gums) regularly. Hold it still and look at its anus; pick up its paws and look at the pads and claws. This will have the added benefit that you will notice any changes from normal quickly and be able to call up your vet if something is wrong. Do arrange for the kitten to meet plenty of people; this will socialise your cat and it will not hide from people when adult.

Neutered males and spayed females make equally good companions. Although some people insist on cats of one sex or the other, cats actually vary in personality depending on their sex. Boys are usually more gregarious, playful and love all the family as well as interact often with visitors; while females will be a bit quiet and more attached to the family as a whole but more reserve around strangers.

Unaltered cats of either sex, however, can be difficult to live with. Unneutered males "spray" a foul smelling urine on the walls and furniture. If allowed outdoors, they will roam and fight with other cats. Unspayed females may also spray, and usually "call" when they are in heat; this is an incessant yowling that will drive you and your neighbours to despair! Neutered and spayed cats make much more pleasant companions.

Many people recommend getting two cats instead of one. A single cat can get lonely and bored. Two cats keep each other company, especially during the day while you're away. They tend to get into less trouble and they're fun to watch together. According to feline studies, these are some combinations of animals that tend to work well:

• two kittens
• an older kitten and a puppy
• a pair of mature neutered animals – that is older cat and older dog
• two older cats

Most cats do not belong to any particular breed. These cats are often called "mixed breed" cats. They are also known as "domestic cats", "moggies", or "companion cats." Domestic cats vary tremendously in looks and personality. They come in a wide variety of colour patterns and may sometimes closely resemble specific breeds even when they are not. Each one has its own unique personality, regardless of what colour it is or how long its hair is. Domestic cats are easy to acquire. In fact, many cats and kittens are killed at animal shelters because there are more cats than there is demand.

Purebred cats are uncommon, estimated at between 6% and 10% of all cats in Australia. There are about 40 recognised cat breeds. Each breed consists of a closely related group of cats with similar looks and personality. For example, typical Siamese are slender, active, people-oriented cats that tend to vocalise a lot. Not all Siamese have these characteristics, but most do. A purebred kitten will probably grow up to be typical of its breed in looks and personality; a non-purebred kitten may turn out quite different from what you expect.

Many people are attracted to purebreds because they want a cat with a particular colour, size, or hair length. For example, you might be interested in Russian Blues because you like the blue-gray colour, or you might be interested in Maine Coons because you want a big shaggy cat. But it's not necessary to buy a purebred to get these physical characteristics. You can find blue-gray cats, or big shaggy cats, or cats of any other size and description, at your local animal shelter. If you're more interested in specific personalities, a purebred might be more predictable: while any personality type can be found among the non-purebred population, figuring out which one has which may not be as straightforward unless you are looking at adult cats.

Owning a cat is good for your health, the unconditionally love and affectionate that animals give is helpful in lowering your stress level and your blood pressure. They will love you for yourself and will provide friendship today, tomorrow and the future. Please ensure that they are equally treated for the whole of their life.