We're picking out a family cat. What things should we consider?

What should you think about when choosing your family cat? Jacqui Neilson of the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, teaches at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University. She counsels four considerations: cat breed, gender, age, and history. At a shelter, the history provided by the prior owner may reveal a trait that’s your “pet” peeve too. But all too often, new owners overlook this information.

She says, “they see a cat that they like the color of or the look of or reminds them of a childhood cat they once owned and so they drive their choice based upon that instead of based upon facts that they know about the cat.”

So take some time to learn more about the kitty that catches your eye.

– Dr. Andrea Looney, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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