Let me start by introducing my beloved cat, a British Shorthair with silver shading. I brought it home when it was just two and a half months old, and now it’s already two and a half years old. This wonderful feline has many endearing qualities. It doesn’t meow excessively, doesn’t guard its food, doesn’t engage in wild running at night, and has never scratched or bitten anyone. However, it’s not a timid cat either. It’s friendly only towards humans, and if other cats provoke it, it will definitely teach them a lesson and pin them down.
First and foremost, when considering getting a cat, you need to clearly define what you care about the most or what your bottom line is. If you don’t have a specific “bottom line,” don’t care about the cat’s appearance or personality, and are willing to tolerate any bad habits it might have, then you’re a qualified cat owner. In this case, you can choose a cat at will, and it’s recommended to adopt a cat instead of buying one.
If you do have requirements regarding the cat’s appearance and personality, and you don’t have an abundance of patience, it’s advisable to start with a purebred cat. But it’s important to note that not all purebred cats have good temperaments. This leads us to the next step.
Secondly, since you have certain expectations for the cat’s personality, you should identify the traits that you simply can’t tolerate. For example, in my case, I can’t stand animals that make a lot of noise, so cats that are overly vocal are out of the question. Secondly, I can’t stand cats with an unfriendly and aggressive personality, those that like to bite or scratch people. In terms of appearance, I prefer cats with a white coat and a big, round face.
When it comes to choosing a cat, in my opinion, personality takes precedence over appearance. With these criteria in mind, I began my search for the perfect cat. Because of my preference for white cats, I decided to focus on the silver shaded British Shorthair breed.
As I didn’t have a large budget to buy a cat from a professional cattery, I visited many home-based breeders. At each place, I would ask, “Which cat in your house has the most docile personality, and can I see the cat’s parents? Are they gentle in nature?” Once, I found a kitten that was reasonably priced and had a nice appearance. But when the cat owner said, “When will you come to pick up the cat? These little rascals are so noisy…” I immediately gave up on that option.
Finally, I found the cat that I have now. Both its parents are extremely well-behaved cats, and as expected, their offspring is also very gentle. I’m a rather lazy pet owner, yet I’ve been able to take good care of it. Moreover, it’s in excellent health and has never been sick. I can honestly say that I haven’t come across a cat as well-behaved as mine anywhere else.
As a side note, recently I’ve read many posts on Zhihu with titles like “What should I do if I want to get rid of my cat?” Many pet owners didn’t carefully select the right cat in advance, which led to them later finding that the cat’s personality wasn’t what they expected. They then faced a dilemma: they couldn’t bear to abandon the cat, but continuing to keep it made them miserable.
On the premise of not advocating impulsive cat adoption, I suggest that every novice cat owner be as clear as I was about their own needs and their “bottom line” for a cat. This way, we can avoid the negative impacts that impulsive cat adoption can bring to both humans and cats.
In conclusion, I hope that everyone can find the perfect little cat that suits them. And here’s a photo of my cat, Tuntun, sleeping by the bedside when it was a kitten. It’s these precious moments that make having a cat such a rewarding experience.
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