What Breed Is Right For Me?

So you've come to the point in your life where you want a pet.  That's great!  Cat or dog?  Male or female?  What age?  What breed?  So many things to think about before adopting.  These are all great things to think about but ultimately researching the breed in particular is what is more important because for the most part each cat will have the general personality of the breed.  However, there are exceptions to every rule so it is also important to visit with the particular cat as well to determine personality.  Remember, baby animals do not develop their personalities until they are a little older so at 2-3 months old you have no idea what their personality is going to be like at 6-8 months old and even older.

If you are wanting a laid back cat that loves their people and likes to snuggle and isn't much of a climber then an Abyssinian is probably not your cat because they love to climb and are extremely playful.  If you think you want a dog but aren't sure about the responsibility then maybe a Maine Coon is good for you because they are known as dogs in cat suits.  Leash training them is fairly easy and they are laid back cats but can get on the larger side.

Here are a couple of good resources for cat breeds and this will give you insight into their personality, intelligence (believe me that's important), playfulness, grooming requirements, etc.

http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/catselectorindex.do

http://simplycatbreeds.org/

Here are the dogs:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/abc.htm

Finding the right animal for your family, lifestyle, and/or home is very important because if you get the wrong one it can go very badly and the animal can end up at the shelter which always a bad ending for the animal.

Just keep in mind if you are not an active person then most dogs probably are not for you.  If you are an active runner and like being outside then a very large, 'fluffy', dog is not for you.  Just because it's a pretty animal doesn't mean he/she is right for you.

In my experience, the most loving and affectionate cats are Ragdolls/Ragamuffins.  They are great family cats and are good with kids.  They tend to bond with one person, though.  Maine Coons can be very affectionate as well but are more aloof.  They have a small voice for their large bodies which is entertaining to me.  They can growl a little when they are talking but are in general very gentle creatures.  They are the gentle giants of the cat world.

This is a baby Maine Coon...cute!

In my opinion, though, the most appreciative animals are rescued animals.  Most of them have had a hard life or have been given up by their families and simply want a good home to live out their days and have a loving family to love on and give all their attention to.  Whether you find an animal on the street and take it in or go to the shelter and save a life they will be so appreciative and will love you for the rest of their lives.

I hope this has helped you in trying to figure out where to start in your search for the right pet for your family. 

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