Your first cat

Worzel

This was Worzel. I'd finally bought my first flat and couldn't wait to have cat company.

He was 2 years old when I rescued him from our local rescue centre. He was so noisy when I went in that I had to go to his pen to say hello. They opened his pen and he jumped up at me. He put his paws on my shoulder and nuzzled my neck. That was it. He chose me.

I loved him to the moon and back. He died at age eight from a serious health condition.

This blog is about choosing your first cat.

There are many different cat breeds to choose from, but when choosing your first cat, the selection falls into five categories.

1: A rescue cat from a rescue centre

This is how I chose my first cat. The advantage being that they are affordable and often very grateful for a home and can therefore be quite docile. They are also already neutered in the UK, wormed and microchipped. They are usually outdoor cats due to most being rescued strays.

Nemo. 2 yrs to 19 yrs

2: Rescuing a stray off the street

Very similar to a rescue cat from a rescue centre. The difference is that they may need neutering and will need all their vaccines. That is cat flu, cat enteritis and cat leukemia. Vet's prices vary a lot so it is worth shopping around. All cats need worming on a regular basis and outdoor cats need regular flea treatment or you will get bitten when they start defending their territory outdoors.

3: Take on a cat whose owner can no longer look after it.

Again, very similar to a rescue cat from rescue centre. You would need to make sure you have a vet's vaccination record card and proof that a female cat has been neutered. Without this it will be a nasty surprise if she suddenly goes into heat.

Loki and Luna-Freya

4: Choose a breed and find a breeder

This is the most expensive way of getting a cat and I would not advise it for a first cat unless you are prepared to do a huge amount of research. They are usually indoor cats and some of them have certain ways of behaviour, such as high energy (Maine coons and Bengals.) Talkative (Siamese, Burmese.) Breeders must be registered, and the cats often come with a contract so you can't breed them yourself. The cats all come fully vaccinated and identity chipped. You just need to change the details on the cat chip website from the breeders address to your address.

5: Buy a kitten from an unregistered advertiser

Not as expensive as buying from a registered breeder but be careful. Some people buy kittens thinking they are a certain breed, a Maine coon for example and when they grow up, they are actually half Maine coon or just a long-haired cat.

The best advice I can give to first time cat owners, is go for short haired cats. My two are long haired and need regular grooming. Luna gets matted very quickly because she's the most active. She doesn't like being brushed, but she puts up with it. Loki on the other hand will put up with a few strokes of the brush on his maine, any more and he would take my hand off. I take him to a professional cat groomer every few weeks.

Adult or kitten?

It depends how much time you have on your hands. Adult cats are usually pretty independent. They will have their favorite spaces and spend a lot of time sleeping. Kittens, on the other hand need a lot of attention. Playing with them creates a strong bond and prevents your home from getting clawed.

With all ages, however much love you show your feline, they will return your love and become as affectionate with you as you are with them.