Cats can be great pets for people who are looking for an animal, but want one that is a little more independent. There are of course many other considerations to take into account before rushing out and buying your cat based on a picture or vague description. A good question that you need to consider is if you are looking to get a male or a female cat. There is a vast difference between the two species just as there is with humans or any other type of animal. Males tend to be a larger cat than females and also boast a more extrovert personality.

If you do decide to get a male you have to make the decision on whether or not the cat is going to be neutered. Just as a cautionary note, when a male cat is not neutered they tend to have a much different personality. You might find that they spray urine all over, will try to roam, and might just pick fights with other cats if there are any in the house or outside. When you choose to neuter them, you will be able to avoid a lot of these tendencies. Females have different traits than males do. They are a more careful and gentle than males are.

Once you have made a decision on whether the cat will be male or female you need to decide how much hair that you want to content with. That is, do you want to get a long hair cat or a short hair cat? Even though you may think that you want a particular breed, it might not match up with what you want in a cat. This is really a choice that depends on your personal taste.

Long haired cats might seem great to one person and a total nuisance to another. If you choose to go with a long haired cat, you need to understand that it will be up to you to keep you cat groomed and looking nice. Just think about your own hair, if you have long hair then you need to keep it brushed or combed on a daily basis, a long haired cat is no different. They need their owner to comb their lustrous locks on a regular basis so they don’t begin to look like a scraggly cat.

Now that you have the first two factors of choosing a cat decided, you next need to decide how much money you really want to spend. The reality when you go to buy a cat you can choose from mixed breeds or purebred cats. When you buy a mixed breed there isn’t quite as much to worry about because you don’t have to worry about all the pedigree issues and such, plus as you might have guessed they aren’t going to cost quite as much.

The last question again is one of preference; do you wish to buy a kitten or a cat? Many might jump to the answer of kitten, but as everything there is much to consider before making such a decision. You need to realize that a kitten is in essence a baby and as such requires a lot more time and attention than a grown cat does. It’s not to say that an older cat doesn’t require time and attention, but normally they are quite a bit easier to care for than a baby kitten.

Once you have all of the questions answered, you feel a little more informed about what type of cat that you want to buy. You can always go to different pet shops or breeders and ask whatever questions about the breed that you can think of. You can also talk to any friends or family members that own their own cats, they will have a wealth of information that they might be more than happy to share with you if you ask.

For the most part, the only basic things you need to do to keep your cat healthy is provide shelter, healthy and nutritious food, and plenty of water. Of course, like all living things, cats will get sick sometimes no matter what. To keep your cat healthy a majority of time, all you really need to do is give him good shelter, food, and plenty of water. Like other living things however, cats can get sick from time to time no matter what you do.

You also need to pay attention to your cat’s behavior, so you’ll recognize symptoms of sickness and can take her to the veterinarian immediately. Most of the more common ailments and sicknesses are minor, although there are some cases where a vet can be the determining factor between life and death for your cat. Your cat’s behavior will be one of the most critical factors when you are trying to determine whether or not she is feeling under the weather. Acting sluggish, laying around, lack of energy and refusing to eat are all signs that you must rush her to the vet immediately. Her coat is a good thing to keep an eye on also. If you notice that her coat is dull and patchy, or if you notice abnormal shedding, you need to contact your vet as soon as possible.

Diarrhea and vomiting are fairly common, even with basic sickness. On the other hand, if your cat seems to be doing either one of the two for more than a day, you should contact your veterinarian. Coughing is also pretty common, as most cats have hairballs from time to time. If your cat seems to be coughing for another reason, you should have her checked out as soon as you can. To ensure that your cat isn’t exposed to various diseases, you need to make sure that she stays up to date with her vaccinations. There are several diseases out there that require vaccinations, including rabies and feline distemper. Feline distemper is one of most devastating diseases a cat can get, yet it is also one of the easiest to prevent. The disease strikes cats very quickly, and leaves you as an owner very little time to find treatment.

Feline leukemia is another fatal disease, but can also prevented early on with the proper vaccinations. Although the disease isn’t possible for humans to contract, it can be spread very quickly among cats. There are vaccinations that can treat the disease these days, although you’ll still want to be careful to not expose other cats around a cat with feline leukemia.

Another problem, which is very common with cats that stay outdoors, is worms. Cats that have worms will normally have a lackluster coat and little to no appetite. There are several different types of worms, including ringworm and hookworm. Worms can come from fleas, lice, or even the organs of dead rodents that cats consume. Normally, the cat will digest the eggs which will later mature and attach themselves to the walls of the intestines. If you feed your cat garlic frequently during feedings, it can help to protect him against worms.