Whether you spend a lot of money buying a particular breed of cat or whether you buy or adopt a moggy is largely down to personal choice.  Some people just want a cat to love and care for as part of the family; others have a particular breed (that has a particular appearance or temperament) and can sometimes see them as a bit of a status symbol or talking point too – after all, relatively few people buy pedigree cats compared to the number of people who buy pedigree dogs.

First, let’s deal with some terminology.  A pedigree or purebred cat is a cat bred from two cats of the same breed (e.g. a male and female Siamese cat).  The resulting kitten is registered as a purebred/pedigree and will have accompanying paperwork to prove their genetic makeup (some rescue cats are purebreds but lack the paperwork to prove it).  The term ‘pedigree’ can also include certain cross-breeds (so the cat isn’t a purebred) for example where the mother cat is a purebred and the father is a ‘permitted outcross’.  These too can be registered and given appropriate paperwork.

Cross breeds (aka ‘moggies’) are two breeds that are mated that are not ‘permitted outcrosses’ (i.e. they have insufficiently similar characteristics to make them into a pedigree).  This means that two different purebreds can be bred but will produce a ‘moggie’.

Perhaps the interesting things about cats as opposed to dogs is that dogs vary considerably in their size and appearance whereas the differences between breeds of cats are much less marked.

When considering whether to buy a pedigree/purebred or a moggy, the first consideration will probably be price.  Breeders charge each a lot of money for purebreds whereas moggies are generally inexpensive.  Like any purebred animal, purebred cats come from a relatively small gene pool and are often bred to create or emphasise particular physical characteristics (e.g. Siamese cats are bred to have long, thin faces).  This genetic limitation plus breeding-for-appearance can lead to hereditary disorders and birth defects that can limit the lifespan of your cat and can lead to debilitating conditions.

Pedigree and purebred kittens and cats can be bought cheaply from cat rehoming centres for a small fee as and when they become available, though they usually won’t have the paperwork to prove their heritage.  Nevertheless, if it’s a particular breed you’re after then this is a good way to acquire one without the expense of going through a breeder.  Not only that, but there are plenty of unscrupulous breeders out there who don’t care where they’re sending their kittens after they’re paid for – whereas a shelter will ask questions and usually do a home visit to ensure that that particular cat/kitten and potential owner will be a good match.

Moggies are easy to find – they are usually found for sale from private sellers whose pet cats have become pregnant.  Or they abound in cat shelters after being abandoned or neglected.

Whether you choose a moggy or a pedigree, though, one of your first tasks must be to ensure that they are vaccinated and wormed.  You may not want to neuter your pedigree if you’re planning on breeding from it, but you should consider neutering in all cases (especially moggies – there are too many stray and abandoned moggies out there already).

For long-term care you ought to consider taking out pet insurance to cover any vet bills that may arise as a result of ill-health or accident.  If you’ve got a pedigree cat then taking out pet insurance will also ensure that you receive the purchase price of the cat back if the worst should happen (though choosing this as an option will usually lead to an increased premium so check the terms and conditions).

AXA cat insurance is the best insurance you can get for your pet. Visit us today for great offers and get peace of mind that your cat is in safe hands.