You want to get urself a cat? Cool
Cats are for free but theres some things to be aware when u choose one.
Dont ask the Vet, ask Wursti.
Age
Cats dont learn their whole lifetime (like humans or even dogs). Prefer a very young cat.
With 8-12 Weeks they learn social skills, it shouldnt been taken from mother cat before they are 8 Weeks.
After ~3 Months the social skills dont raise any longer.
With one year it becomes hard to teach them trix (like open doors or bring newspaper. Mine cats are schooled not to walk on keyboards...)
Sure its a good thing to take an older cat from the "pet jail". Just know the difference between dogs and cats:
A maltreated dog will be thankful if a "good" human cares. Such a cat will never trust again, you wont be more then a can opener.
Season of birth
Theres spring born and autumn born cats. Its a bit too late for spring born cats now.
The "spring" cats are in general
-bigger/stronger
-more intelligent
-more social/calm
Outside vs. Inside Cat
Cats become older when they are kept inside.
If they can choose: OUTSIDE. Never keep a cat inside, that knows outside. They become mad.
Be aware Streets. Cats dont get killed by cars, if cars dont go faster then 50/60 Kmh.
70 is too much, they cant "feel" this speed.
Gender
Male cats are more shy when young but more brave and calm when grown up.
If not castrated, they will disappear for weeks every now and then.
Castrated (and female) will stay close to home (~300m)
Castration
A female cat will have ~100 - 150 cat babies within its lifetime.
Statistical, 149 will die from Hunger.
Go to the vet, read the controverse discussion bout the right age for castration.
(Piss organ development VS social behavior)
Colours
Cats are very colorful animals, often they get chosen by humans cause of that.
I can just tell one thing: Catholics some times hate cats that are completely black.
Understanding Cats
Theres always been problems with cats.
While they were spiritual animals in ancient European cultures, christianization made them "devils" animals.
Cats were great helpers to bring human race on the next level (from the hunter/collector to the farmer)
When there was no Tupperware, they protected the grain stores.
However, EHK differ from European wild cats (although its the same animal)
The story of humans and cats is a story of big misunderstanding.
Get a book, i recommend "
cat watching" for the beginning. Its nice tiny 10 Minutes Storys for every day...
Understanding Cats is very important, else u will have a "vicious animal" and ure just lucky that its smaller then u.
EHK/EKH and Tigers have lots of similar behavior. Not so with Lions.
Theres special breeds, they are all not worth mentioning (in my eyes).
Behavior differs between those races.
One exception is Siam Cats. They live (so-so natively) for thousands years in big groups, so u need at least two to give them a good home, they are known to be very intelligent and like to play alot. Theres Hybrids with EHK for a little money.
BTW, this is the wrong topic...