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      A green-eyed beauty.

      Other cats may be cinnamon, or amber, or fawn. And these are just coat colors. Cats’ eyes may be blue, copper, green, gold, or brown, or a cat may have eyes of two different colors. This can occur in any breed, but is frequently seen in the Turkish Angora, Turkish Van, and Japanese Bobtail.

      If you want to study all of the various permutations of color in cats, the Messy Beast’s color charts (www.messybeast.com/colour-charts.htm) are a great place to start. If you’re trying to identify the colors of a specific breed, check the colors listed in the breed descriptions set forth by the various cat registries. Color descriptions may vary between registries, and different countries may also have different names for the colors.

      The name of the color matters only if you are registering a pedigreed cat or entering a cat show with a breed in which there are color divisions; otherwise, it doesn’t matter whether you call your cat gray or smoke or lilac. Your cat won’t care, and because you love your cat, you won’t care either.

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      Finding a Breeder

      It’s always nice to adopt a stray cat or rescue a cat from a local shelter, but what if you have your heart set on certain characteristics in your cat? If you want a talkative breed, you might look for a Siamese or one of the other Asian breeds known to enjoy carrying on conversations. Maybe you’ve fallen in love with the ruddy coloration of an Abyssinian, or you want an athletic cat of any color. If your shelves are filled with treasured heirlooms, you may prefer a cat like the Ragdoll, who’s not as likely to jump and climb. Perhaps you love the look of long, flowing fur or, at the opposite end of the spectrum, you find a hairless cat your ideal. These are all good reasons to consider a pedigreed cat.

      You might be attracted to the idea of cat shows and decorating your walls with the ribbons your cat wins. Maybe you’ve even become so enthralled by a particular breed that you’d like to start your own cattery.

      For any of the aforementioned reasons, you should look for your pedigreed cat from a breeder. Another reason you might want to get your cat from a breeder is that there are certain hereditary diseases in cats. If there are genetic tests for specific diseases, a reputable breeder will have had them done. You’ll know that the mother cat (the queen) has had proper nourishment and necessary vaccinations. When you pick up your kitten, you’ll know he’s been wormed, if necessary, and had preliminary shots.

      

      The Ragdoll is one of the more docile cat breeds.

      When you buy from a breeder, you may get a written contract that states the purchase price and any conditions, like spaying or neutering the cat. There may be a health guarantee as well, stating that the cat is free of inherited diseases. There may also be a time frame during which you can return the kitten and receive your money back. Or the contract may state that if your kitten dies within a certain amount of time, the breeder will give you a replacement kitten.

      While some breeders may not, a truly good breeder will agree to take back any cat she has bred at any time, and for any reason. This means that if a time comes when you can no longer care for your cat, you know that he will be returned to the breeder’s care rather than end up in a shelter. The older I get, the more reassuring that kind of guarantee is.

      

      Bengal cats have distinct tiger-like markings.

      A Scottish Fold mother and kittens.

      Another great thing about getting a cat from a breeder is that you’ve got someone to turn to for advice and information, whether you have a behavior question or you want to learn more about cat shows. Whatever your cat-related question, your breeder will be there for you.

      In addition to the contract and a copy of your kitten’s pedigree, the breeder may give you a small bag or can of whatever food your kitten is used to and maybe even a small bag of litter. At the very least, your breeder will tell you what kind of food she feeds and what kind of cat litter she uses.

      When you begin your search for a pedigreed cat, understand that the closer your cat is to breed perfection, the more expensive he will be. Also, if you are particularly interested in breeding stock, an established breeder will have a lot of questions for you before she will sell you a cat that you intend to use for breeding. There will be additional contracts involved. Many breeders will sell unaltered cats only to other breeders. One breeder I know won’t sell pet-quality cats until they are four to five months old and can be spayed or neutered before they go to their new homes.

      Expect to pay from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for a pedigreed cat, depending on the breed and the kitten’s quality. Understand that quality is based on how closely the kitten meets the breed standard. A pet-quality cat who has some flaws according to the standard should still be a healthy cat. “Pet-quality” should never mean that a cat is sickly or deformed.

      A great way to see many different breeds and to talk to people about their breeds is to attend a cat show. This will give you a chance to find out more about a breed before you invest in a cat. Don’t be surprised if people are willing to talk but won’t let you touch their cats. It’s nothing personal.

      

      Maine Coons are among the largest domesticated cats.

      They just don’t want germs spread from one cat to another. If they do let you pet their cats, don’t be offended if they offer you hand sanitizer before they let you touch. They are protecting their cats.

      You can find lists of breeders on the cat associations’ websites. While a breeder’s membership in an association does not guarantee her honesty or the quality of her cats, most breeders who join associations do so because they want to improve their breeds and produce the best cats possible.

       BREEDER SEARCH

      How to find breeders affiliated with the various cat registries:

      • Cat Fanciers Association: Go to www.cfa.org and click on the Secure CFA tab to create an account and access the breeder referral service.

      • The International Cat Association: Go to www.tica.org and click on Find a Kitten on the lefthand menu.

      • American Cat Fanciers Association: Go to www.acfacat.com and click on Breed Directory.

      • Canadian Cat Association: Go to www.cca-afc.com, click on Breeds, and then choose Breeders from the drop-down menu.

      

      Maine coons have long, bushy tails and tufted paw pads.

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      Popular Cat Breeds

      Here, we will take a closer look at some of the breeds that consistently rank among the most popular: the Abyssinian, American Shorthair, British Shorthair, Devon Rex, Exotic Shorthair, Maine Coon Cat, Persian, Ragdoll, Scottish Fold, Siamese, and Sphynx.

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