Temasek Cattery - Home to the Ragdolls & Singapuras

Tips & Advice

Related links:
Cat Fancier's Association
Waratah National Alliance
UK Singapura Cat Club
Sentosa Cattery

Which type of pet is for me?

I guess the questions you really need to ask yourself are, why do I need a pet, am I driven by irrational decision making like - it's so cute, cuddly, furry and adorable, am I willing to take care of it for Life! etc etc etc.

There is social responsibilities linked to owning a pet, so are you ready to accept these responsibilities of its upbringing, pet's expenditure like food, vitamins, toys, time spent on playing with it, grooming, medication (yes, your pet will fall sick and require medical attention), etc etc.

If you are, then you will need to evaluate your lifestyle on which pet is for you, would it be a small mammals like a French Lop rabbit or a dog like a Great Dane or a small toy dog like Pug or a pedigree Cat like a Persian as a pet. The list is endless but your lifestyle will determine your pet.

If you are busy person who does not spend a lot of time at home or if there isn't any other people at home for a large part of the day (at least 12 hours), it is highly recommended that you do not purchase a dog as requires attention, obedience and toilet training and also daily walks.

Or if you are a person who like to cuddle and would like to see that your pet is roaming around the home in an uncaged manner, then a small mammal is not for you.

But if you are a busy person and do not like to see an animal caged and would prefer that it is seen but not "heard", then a cat is your best bet. Like the proverbs goes - DOG HAS MASTER, CATS HAS SLAVES.

Which breed is the right breed for me?

Now that you have decided that is would be a pet Cat for you, you need to decide if you want a pedigree cat or "adopt" one from the city pound like SPCA in Singapore, on a daily basis, these "strays" are given a new lease of life by kind hearted people.

So if you want a normal cat and is not too fussy or not planning to Show or Breed the cat, it is highly recommended that you "adopt" one from the city pound to assist in controlling the cat population in your city.

But if you are cat fancier and would like to have a pedigree or purebred cat, then you need to decide what you are looking for in the breed's temperament before you decide on the breed.

Each breeds has a common traits but they do differ from breed to breed as you research more about each breed in the Cat Fancier's Association website: www.cfa.org.

Probably (again), your lifestyle and your character will determine the choice breed that you would like to purchase - would you like a cat to cuddle up to you when you are sleeping, or a lap cat that sits on your lap while you watch TV or a cat that is walking around your home computer when you are working on it or a cat that waits for you in the morning or evening at your door step when you are waking up or returning from work etc.

Why should I buy from a breeder?

There is nothing wrong with buying a cat from your retail pet shop, the only question you need to ask is, what guarantees are there if the cat is found to be sick or have some inherence sickness or have a genetic problem after you have purchased it. Can they guarantee the bloodline or pedigree or its genetic? Can they guarantee that the Cat is fully weaned, vaccinated, dewormed, litter trained, isn't shy or growl when handled or would it scratch your furniture when they are bought home.

With a breeder, those are some of the basics that are covered by the breeder when he/she is bringing up the kittens. Also do note that breeders will not let you purchase the kittens until it is at least 12weeks, as the kittens will be learning a lot from its 'Mum" during those times.

One last point, always check with the breeder if the cattery is registered with any Cat Fancier Body like the local Cat Club or any overseas Cat Club or Association like Cat Fancier's Association. Ask to see the certification of the cat association and check on its expiration. Ask if the breeder also show his/her cats. These are important to information that you need to ask to differentiate between a true breeder and a backyard breeder, if possible ask for references from his/her vet and/or owners of his/her previous litters.

What do I watch out for when buying a cat as a pet?

The first thing to do is not to rushing into holding it or trying to coax it towards you, from a distance, observe for redness in the eyes, extreme wetness on the nose or running nose, bad breath and/or broken or missing teeth.

Check also for any fur mites on the fur, ringworm around the body, ear mites in the ear and any possible visible deformity.

Besides those general appearances, you will, next, need to observe it for its temperaments and bad habits like hissing, growling, scratching, struggling when handled, shyness (it run away when you approach it). You will need to see that the kitten is alert, playful and healthy overall before purchasing the kitten.

Ask to see other littermates, if you have not seen them, ask to see the Sire and Queen, at the very least ask to see the pedigree papers. Ask when was its last deworming and/or its vaccination (you must have at least 2 vaccinations before it is 12weeks old).