Raising cats has many benefits; they are our playmates during leisure time and more like spiritual mentors who correct our character. They influence us subtly to cultivate ourselves. At the same time, raising cats can reduce stress and ensure our health. Of course, having so many benefits comes with the premise that you have a cat. Cats come in many breeds, including purebred and mixed breeds, each with different personalities and various acquisition channels such as pet stores or catteries. So, how do we combine so many factors to choose a cat suitable for us?

　　1. The difference between purebred cats and mixed breed cats:

　　In the classification of pet cats, there are purebred cats and mixed breed cats. These two types have distinct differences in lineage and breeding. Purebred cats refer to breeds whose ancestors are all of the same cat breed, usually bred through close inbreeding, which often causes congenital defects. Mixed breed cats are offspring produced by crossbreeding; their lineage is not pure, but they have excellent adaptability, thus gaining popularity and being kept by the public.

　　Purebred cats are generally obtained through selective breeding. Long ago, people domesticated cats and then selected some for breeding. Thus, purebred offspring were gradually developed step by step. This process involved crossbreeding and selection, so today’s cats in people’s arms are, strictly speaking, not "purebred" but "mixed breeds." Later, some cats with similar appearance and temperament gradually stabilized in shape. Through careful selective breeding, their inherited external features were stabilized, becoming today's purebred cats. Some originated from crossbreeding, some naturally, but in the end, the variety’s characteristics were narrowed down and rigorously controlled to form a unique breed, eventually reproducing the next generation with cats of the same appearance and traits.

　　Mixed breed cats generally are not recognized by people or relevant authorities as a breed, and their appearance may be quite complex. Since breeding is unrestricted, coat patterns vary greatly, and it is impossible to classify them meaningfully by facial features. Of course, in certain areas, there are occurrences of close inbreeding among related non-purebred cats, so they share many similarities.

　　2. What makes a healthy cat?

　　A healthy cat should have clean ears without discharge; the nose tip should feel cooler and moist when touched with the back of your hand, with no nasal discharge around the nostrils; eyes should be clear and bright with no secretions or third eyelid exposure; the abdomen should be rounded, and ribs should not be easily felt; the anus should be clean without diarrhea symptoms, and surrounding fur clean and unstained; the coat should be glossy, fluffy, and upright.

　　When selecting, owners can gently touch the cat’s body to check if the skeletal development is normal and whether there are parasites in the fur. Also, some treats or toys can be used to tease the cat and observe its reactions to surroundings and attitude toward people. If the cat actively competes for food or toys, is not afraid of approaching people, and even initiates friendly contact, then it is worth considering for adoption.

　　3. Choosing a male cat or a female cat?

　　It is acceptable to choose either neutered male cats or spayed female cats. Both can be understanding and excellent pets. I recommend not keeping unneutered male cats, as they tend to spray urine everywhere, releasing a pungent odor; they wander outside often, get into fights, and may get injured or infected. For the same reasons, unspayed female cats are undesirable because they go into heat periodically during the year. If not confined indoors, they may become pregnant against the owner's wishes. Spayed cats do not have these drawbacks and may also become more affectionate towards humans.

　　4. Choosing a kitten or an adult cat?

　　When buying a pet, delicate kittens are very cute but require much care and must be trained to develop good hygiene habits. On the positive side, kittens usually adapt quickly to new environments. For many people, adopting an adult cat is a wiser choice. If you work outside all day or find kittens too noisy or difficult to train, an adult cat is more suitable. If you have adopted an adult cat, keep it indoors during the first few days; otherwise, it may try to return to its former owner's home.

　　5. Keep one cat or a pair of cats?

　　If your income is limited or the living space is small, buying multiple cats may be impossible. However, if every family member is out during the day and only one cat is left at home, it might feel lonely. In that case, you can consider buying two cats to keep each other company. There are many sources for cats. Getting a recommendation from someone else is a good method; never rush to bring a cat home before investigating its background.