There are many reasons why you may be ready to buy a new cat. This might be your first pet as an adult, you may be buying a pet for your child, or you might want to add another furry bundle of joy to the household. Whatever your reasons for buying a new cat, there are some things to take into consideration.

When buying a cat, you will know whether you want a pure bred show cat or a regular house cat. This means you might look for your kitten, or adult cat, in different places. There are three main places where you can buy a cat in the UK – a breeder, a shelter or a pet shop.

A breeder

Picking a kitten from a breeder has its advantages as a kitten from a breeder will have been carefully planned and have papers certifying its pedigree, its parents and their history and will also be in perfect health. If you are looking for a certain breed of cat, then buying from a breeder is the best way to go. Pedigree kittens from breeders usually cost quite a bit and unfortunately not all private breeders are reputable - there are a few breeders who take on cat breeding as a financial hobby. As your breeder bought kitten will be expensive, it’s a good idea to get a pet insurance policy which offers you back the price of your pet should something befall it.

A rescue home

If you are looking for a loving companion, and are not worried about a cat’s pedigree, then buying a cat or a kitten from an animal shelter is a great idea. Rescue homes will assess a new cat's behaviour and will decide which homes they will be most suited to, before offering them to you. Animal shelters often have both pedigree and cross breed cats available but the cat's background or exact breeding details are often not know. If you choose a cat or kitten from a rescue home, be prepared to answer lots of questions and maybe even a home assessment before you will be allowed a pet. Animal shelters just want to ensure the correct placement of the cats in their care with a suitable new owner, and it is a small price to pay for a new member of the family.

A pet shop

Kittens in pet shops usually come from cat owners with an unplanned pregnancy, but sometimes also from ‘kitten farms’. The breed and parentage of these kittens is usually unknown, and they can sometimes be weak or ill, or even have been taken from their mothers too young. Make sure your pet shop kitten is healthy and strong before you take him home with you. Please report any signs of abuse or ill treatment of kittens in a pet shop to your nearest animal welfare organisation. With cats and kittens from shelters and pet shops a standard pet insurance policy should suffice.

Direct Line pet insurance offers excellent cover and care at low premiums, so get your pet insured with Direct Line today.

Please note that Direct Line does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of the article above.

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