Short, tall or grande?
Cats can make purr-fect pets for the right owner.
Just like with dogs, there are several different breeds of cat. Some breeds, such as a Maine Coon, can be very large and weigh up to 25 pounds. Other smaller breeds will weigh much less. A domestic or basic house cat can weigh anywhere between 6 to 16 pounds. Cats are typically 9-10 inches tall and have long tails that are about one foot in length. When touching your cat, you should notice that you can kind of feel some of its bones under its skin but the bones should not be jutting out. That’s how you can tell if your cat is a healthy weight or not.

Cats can have both long and short hair.
One type of cat, called a Sphinx, doesn’t have any hair at all! Cats also can come in all different colors such as black, white, grey brown and orange. Some cats are one color or could be a combination of all colors, and colors could be striped or splotchy. Just be sure to look for an animal with a shiny, healthy coat with no missing patches of fur.

My, what big eyes you have!
Cats have big round eyes on the front of their face. Their eyes can even be different colors just like people, such as yellow, gold, or even green. You may also notice their eyes look a little different than ours. Humans are most active during the day (diurnal) so our eyes work best during the day. Cats are most active at night (nocturnal) and dawn/dusk (crepuscular) so their eyes work well in extremely low light. When there isn’t very much light outside, you will notice the cat’s eyes (pupils) look huge
and circular; this helps them to see better in the dark. However, the cats still need to be able to see during the daytime; when there is a lot of sunlight their eyes, the pupils will contract to little slits to help them see when it is bright out. Some gem stones and marbles get the name “cat’s eyes” from the crescent shape in a real cat’s eye.

Say Cheese!
Cats have 30 permanent teeth as an adult. Kittens start out with 26 teeth, but just like you, they loose their teeth when their adult teeth start to grow. These teeth are sharp because cats are hunters and like to eat meat. Sometimes, when you play with your pet cat, they may play bite (like they do in the wild), which can hurt because of those sharp teeth. When picking out a cat for yourself, try to play with them to find one that doesn’t tend to play bite.

Claws?
Cats have four paws, and since they are hunters, they have five nails or claws on all of their paws. But cat claws are special because they can pull their claws into their feet (retract) when they are not using them. You can’t pull your nails back into your hand when you want, can you? Most other animals can’t either!

How long is that in kitty years???
A cat that is well cared for can live 15-20 years. Some cats have been recorded to live into their 30s! When deciding that you want a cat as a pet, think about how old you will be in 20 years and what you will be doing. Can you see yourself taking care of a cat for 20 years? If so, a kitty companion may be the right pet for you!

Personalities are not just for people.
Every cat has its own “personality.”. Some cats will be shy and might hide a lot whereas others may be more outgoing and will want to play with you all the time! If your cat is shy, you might scare it if you try to play with it too much or too rough at first. You need to let the cat decide when he or she wants to play and for how long. Soon, your cat will learn to have fun with you and will want to be around you more often. If you give your cat some of its favorite toys or treats, he or she will come looking for
you because it will learn that you are fun and safe to be around.

Wait, did that kitty just say something?! They will often meow when they want something such as food or toys. They sometimes even make little chirping noises if they see birds outside a window because they just get so excited! You may even hear or feel your cat purr deep inside its chest when you are petting it. This lets you know that your cat is happy and enjoying the “massage.” When cats are babies they will purr to let their mommy know they are safe and happy. Cats are also able to growl
when they are angry, just like their larger cat relatives found at the zoo!