Are pedigree cats more sociable?

[whethergirl]

I'm looking to buy a kitten for my 6 year old ds, and was looking into buying a pedigree, like a Burmese, because they might be friendlier and affectionate and give ds the companionship he needs?

Obviously they cost a lot more money though - is it worth it? I use to keep non pedigree cats before ds, and I found that it was pot luck really as to what type of cat you'd get - some are naturally friendly, cuddly & relaxed and some are just more nervous and solitary.

I did have a Siamese cat when I was child, and although a great personality, was completely bonkers, and could not be toilet trained.

make sure he's not the smallest - this cd be why he's cheaper but if he looks healthy and he's eating ok i wd go for it.male shorthairs usually less as the female longhairs seem to be more popular.good luck.

redbind - would love to see a pic of all yours.

Seeker, she did say I was welcome to visit anytime. She said Bengals were also renowned for their gentle nature. Like you said, most appealing of all is that it's been reared with children. Having said that, so have the £75 tabbies down the road...right I'm off to bed, I've been googling cats for about 3 hours straight and just can't think straight anymore!

Oh, just seen page 2 - might just squeeze in a bit more cat talk before bed then! Redbin - you're right it is taking a chance. Just thought maybe there's less of a chance with pedigrees as they are known for certain traits.

Thanks sharbie. I actually much prefer short hairs, cat hair gets everywhere as it is. I might just ask the gumtree woman why he is cheaper, out of curiousity.

Went to see the kitten today, a cross bengal/norwegian forest, £150 (ready in 4 wks).

However, due to being a bit over excited and hyped about getting a cat, I've also got a bit neurotic about it and might need a bit of reassurance!

It was a horrendously long and busy journey there on public transport with ds who was so moany and tired that I had to spoil the surprise and just tell him we were going to see a kitten possibly for him, just so he would perk up.

So got there, it was a really busy house, and the woman seemed like she was a bit stoned or something? Anyway, I picked up the kitty for a few minutes, let ds have a stroke, gave her £150 and took the long journey home again. And I couldn't help thinking...I've just given £150 to a woman I've never met before. Also...how do I know for sure it's a pedigree mix? I mean it just looked like a white kitten with a few black spots to me.

I suppose because I'm paying so much for this cat I expected something a bit special like instant bonding or for it to do something amazing like lick my nose or something! Silly, I know.

I just feel £150 worse off, no kitty to show for it, have put my trust in a strange stranger that I've met for 5 mins, for a cat who is supposedly a mixed pedigree that looked nothing special to me.

Of course a pedigree isn't necessarily more friendly than any other cat.

Go to a good rescue centre, like The Blue Cross, RSPCA or Cats Protection and find a cat which has been thoroughly assessed and has been used to socialising with young children.

Buy a cat from a breeder and you have no idea what you're getting.

i felt exactly like you whether when i went to see my puppy
i was so careful about wanting to get it right i almost talked myself out of the whole thing
fwiw we paid £400 for our cat and he became v ill not long after - no help or comeback from breeder.so sometimes no guarantee with a pedigree either - you are taking a bit of a gamble either way.trust your judgement.

There is no guarantee but pedigree cats have a lot more predictable personality traits. I've had pedigree as well as moggies. Moggies are a lot more pot luck, I didn't mind before but I don't want a nervous, aloof and unsociable cat for my ds!

One of the other reasons I was drawn to this kitten is that it's already in a house with 3 kids, as well as it's pedigree from both sides known for being gentle, affectionate and playful.

My ds really needs a little friend at the moment, and I want him to have the pleasure of having a kitten and seeing it grow up.

That's what I've done Sharbie (and always do!), I've got myself so worked up about getting it right that I feel like I'm getting it wrong! Thing is, I've already paid her now, I'd hate to go down the route of asking for my money back. I don't know why, but I just had a sinking feeling today as I left that house. But think I'm feeling a bit negative today anyway.

I've had 6 cats pedigree and moggies and it's just like people they all have different personalties.

My bengals really fussy with me but not DH.

I didn't bond with my latest when I first met him but after a 3 hour drive, during which he threw up and pooed in the box so I had to clean him up both ends when we got home he seemed really friendly straight away.

I'd never get another pedigree. We had a British shorthair who died at four years old from wet FIP. It's rare - true, but it was probably the fact she was a pedigree that caused a common virus in cats to mutate into an incurable illness.

The only risk factor she actually had was the fact she was born into a house full of other kittens and queens. They're very often too inbred, hence the higher chance of diseases.

I have 2 bengals and they are great with my two toddlers and very friendly. I got them both as adults (one from a rescue, one ex-breeding). If you get an adult you can choose one knowing exactly what its personality is.

Poppin, I did think (AFTER I paid for a kitten the other day) that buying an adult would have that advantage, however, I also wanted ds to experience having a kitten.

Bottleofbeer - so sorry to hear about that. That was one reason I was a bit wary of pedigree myself. I have now ended up getting a cross breed bengal/Norwegian Forest....I'm not sure if that means she is less of a breed because it's mixed.

Fluffy - oh dear, hope my kitten doesn't have such an awful journey home. I told the owner that I didn't have a car so would get my mum to pick him (he's ready in a couple of weeks) but she said she's already taken them all to the vet for a check up on the tube, and they were fine. I'm not so sure, tubes are very noisy and it's a long journey.

I feel really sad that you have paid £150 to somone who clearly doesn't give a toss (as they let you take the kitten the same day!) for a crossbreed when you could have got a crossbreed rescue kitten from any rescue centre for a small donation fee. There are thousands of unwanted kittens all over the place. All the time idiots like this can sell their kittens, they'll keep irresponsibly breeding them.

A bit late now, but we have a Ragdoll and they are known for being very affectionate cats and are beautiful to look at. They must be kept as housecats, not due to theft, but because they are so soft in nature and trusting that they would not protect themselves if they needed to in the big wide world. No breeder we spoke to would have let us have a Ragdoll if we were going to let it out anywhere other than a secured, cat escape proof garden. Our girl is lovely. She does like things on her terms, if we pick her up she will get off our laps again, but she'll happily come and sit next to us or on us and sleeps on my son's bed with him every night.

We got her as an adult rehome from the breeder. She'd been returned by the owners as they claimed their baby was allergic to her and so had kept her shut alone in a room for weeks. She wasn't and still isn't good at being groomed, but she was already neutered and vaccinated and we paid £200 for her. The breeder is wonderful and very dedicated and always on the end of the phone if we need her.

er kitten not taken home same day

Shame I didn't see this thread earlier. All the breeds have cat club type societies and they are always looking for people to take on abandoned pedigrees. They usually have background info and match you.

I have had a succession of somalis and tbh they are bombproof. Only the hoover gets them moving out of a room. So very affectionate. Best of all they were cheap too - £50 donation, fully vaccinated and neutered.

Mind you personally kittens have never appealed to me!

Hope it all works out

We have a british shorthair nearly 8 years old who has spent most of his life being pretty unaffectionate to us
First sat on our knee at 2.5, but only if a newspaper on our knee.
Doesn't like being picked up and is affectionate only on his own terms. We always have to be on our guard for a quick swipe of a claw.
We love him all the same though even if he doesn't love us.
I put it down to him being born into a house with 2 people out at work all day, and wasn't really socialised.
I would recommend a cat from a busier household, maybe with children who are picking them up and cuddling them from a young age.

I've owned several pedigrees & moggies over the years, as have my parents & friends & out of ALL the Cats I've known well our little rescue Kitten is the soppiest thing EVER,

he's now 6 months old & is quite happy to be dragged around by DD & her friends , just flops around, stretches out & purrs when picked up - actively complains when they ignore him, he follows DD to bed, curls up with her until she falls asleep & then comes back down to cuddle up with me :)

The closest I've had in affectionate Cats was my rescued Maine Coon, she lived until 20, & could be very very soppy & was fantastic with DD when she was born, but she could also be VERY very feisty & has seen off burglars &once made a real mess of DHs arm when we first moved into together :(

Very different Cats in looks & back ground, but strangely enough they are both October born & therefore if you are into Astrology - Librans - maybe theres something in that?? - as out of all other Cats I've owned & known, those of the same breed even, they have all been very different personalities -

I once owned 2 Chinchilla Persians who were like chalk & Cheese - the Leo born 1 really did thing he was King _ became a first class PITA if he didn't get his own way, or was ignored at all - he once p'd in my visiting Brothers suitcase, because he refused to let him steal the Chicken he was still eating & that was pretty much HIS personality & in the end I gave him up to a friend who often Cat sat for me & doted on him - he was spoilt rotten from then onwards & never misbehaved again

so IME, you can't really tell, the breeds do differ a bit, & Rag Dolls for example are known to be "cuddly" cats, orientals aren't (born out by my Parents Cats) Bengals are known to be aloof & not very friendly, even aggressive, yet my Parents huge one, is another big soppy thing :)

Oh sorry just seen your update -

would that make your Kitten December born?? - as our other Cat is december born, (beautiful sleek half burmese rescue Cat) & even though only 2 yrs old, shes a real grumpy old thing & doesn't like to be handled by me & DD at all - she LOVES & fusses over DH though & I always know he's due home because she goes & sits by the front door - 20 minutes before he comes in, without fail - & he RARELY comes in a the same time :)

I'm really sorry, but I have to add, that I am concerned that a so called Breeder would home a half Bengal Cat with young DCs & if you haven't yet picked your Kitten up, you might want to think twice about going elsewhere & getting a refund

I'm experienced with the breed & tried to adopt one from our Cats Protection & they don't EVER re home them with young DCs, I can see why they make that rule, as they are still very close still to their wild leopard Cat roots, they are very intelligent Cats & need a LOT of stimulation & can be destructive & aggressive if they don't get it, they are far more like Dogs than Cats -

my Mum & Dads Cat can be a soppy thing at times, but he's quite old now & has been a real handful in the past - he still has his moments - he MAKES my Dad walk him every night at 10 pm, - despite them having a cat flap & can go out on his own - my Dads not a young Man & when recently too ill to go out, the Cat shredded the hall wallpaper in protest

& I'm really not sure the Norwegian Forest Cat will temper those traits - I don't doubt its a beautiful Cat though, but I really hope you haven't taken on more than you & your DCs can cope with:(

MILs ragdolls weren't cuddly, one was positively , only one out of her 3 mainecoons is reliably affectionate - 2 of them are petrified of anyone but MIL & FIL but the worst is mellowing now he's 9

Well I wish I had all this info BEFORE buying my kitten. Not sure I can get a refund now at this stage, and ds has his heart set on him.

Didn't know you could get cross breeds for a small donation otherwise I would have definitley gone that route

midori1999, what Sharbie said, I haven't even picked up the kitten yet (ready in a few days on 12th).

Bearcat - the kitten was born into a home with 3 children which is one of the things that appealed to me. And we'll be spending lots of time with him, what with it being Easter, I also work from home, so hopefully that will encourage him to be a 'people' cat!

rockinhippy - never thought to look at the starsign. He could be Aquarius or Pisces, will check his birthday. Am also surprised about your character analysis of Bengal cats - I did do my research and found that Bengal cats are known to be friendly and sociable. The person who I'm buying the kitten for owns the half Bengal mother, and tells me she is great with her 3 kids.

"I don't doubt its a beautiful Cat" - actually it's a very normal looking white cat with black patches! That's why he was cheaper than his beautiful siblings with gorgeous markings. Luckily DS liked him the best because he looked like a "Dalmation" cat!

Gosh I'm really confused now and hope I've made the right choice. When I go to pick him up, I don't think it will be unreasonable to ask if DS could play with him for a few minutes would it? Not that you can tell a lot in a few minutes I suppose.

Actually it won't be Pisces/Aquarius, I'm getting confused. Just looked at the ad and he must be older as the ad was posted quite a while ago.

here he is

(the middle pic, white with black patches)

I have both, a non pedigree cat and a Maine Coon, both are incredibly affectionate and cuddly, and my partner has one non pedigree and two maine coons and all of them are cuddly and friendly in their own way, we both feel that there is no difference between pedigree and non pedigree except the price, the look of the cat obviously and that pedigree's come with more health problems and dietary needs.