Why should I buy a pedigree cat?

The glib answer is that you shouldn’t buy a pedigree cat. This is because there are many superb random bred cats available and they are cheap or free on adoption. And they are more robust because their gene pool is vast compared to the narrow gene pools of many pedigree cats.

However, keeping a perfectly evenhanded approach to the question in the title, there are some reasons why a person should (‘could’ is better) buy a pedigree cat. You can tell a cat is purebred. They stand out. They are bred to specific criteria and it shows. For example, if you like large cats you can buy a Maine Coon as breeders breed them large. Conversely you can select a small cat like the Singapura, or short legged cats from the dwarf cat stable. There are many dwarf cat breeds.

There are over 100 cat breeds but only about half are mainstream. They are bred to specific colors and patterns etc.. So if you have a specific appearance in mind you should be able to find a breeder who can supply that look.

Also it is said that pedigree cats are more likely than random bred cats to get along with people because character traits are bred into the cat. Although specific character traits per breed are exaggerated the breeds often do have noticeable character traits. This is selective breeding.

If you want a noisy, loyal cat and like sleek, slender lines with a hint of the Orient, then a Siamese or a cat of the Siamese family would suit. If you’d like a smart, highly interactive demanding cat with an exotic presence and have the money, then the F1 Savannah would suit. To select that breed, you’ll like wild cats and you’ll have the space and time to do a decent job.

The point I am making is that you can buy what you specifically like if you have specific requirements. As pedigree cats are rarer than moggies you’ll also have a rarer cat. Some people like that. It makes them feel different.

Indeed some pedigree cats are very rare. They are prized and coveted by others. They are status symbols. Beware thieves! If these are serious considerations then a pedigree cat is probably for you.

You’ll have to spend much more money if you want to buy a pedigree cat. Prices vary a lot depending on the excellence of the cat per the breed standard: anything from £300 to £20,000. You’ll also have to go in search of what rocks your boat whereas random bred cats are everywhere. They come to you are often free. Shelter cats have a price but that is to cover overheads.

I have given some reasons why you should buy a pedigree cat. The true is that the vast majority of people don’t have a specific ‘look’ in mind. They are searching for a nice cat companion and are open to suggestions. That being the case there is little advantage to buying a pedigree cat.

Random bred cats have an infinite variety of coat types and colors. But with moggies, you don’t get the sort of differences in cat anatomy that exists amongst the cat breeds. Cat breeds are nearly always distinct from each other whereas random bred cats are less distinct.

The health of a cat is massively important to cat owners. It is bound to be because there is a lot of heartache and expenditure in cat ill-health. This simple fact supports buying a random bred cat over a purebred.