New Cat? Maybe? Need Advice

I am so sorry for the sudden passing of Futch, how tragic.
If it were me, and thinking about adding another cat, I would go with a shelter rescue. Sure osicats and bengals are just stunning cats, I would love to have them, but think how much more your heart would heal knowing you gave a home to a cat who may not have ever had that option again.
Your heart will tell you what to do.

No, that does not make you a bad person at all I'm sorry you lost Futch so young.

With the ages of your other cats, an Oci or Bengal kitty probably isn't your best choice though - they are both so active your cats would probably get annoyed with their constant need to play. Perhaps a retired cat in either breed would fit in better, Ocicats are very social and usually do well with other cats.

If I were you, I wouldn't get an ocicat or bengal KITTEN, because of the age of your cats and the age of the kitten. Their activity levels are different, and I've heard that ocicats and bengals tend to be more "active" than let's say a dsh or something. However it all depends on the kitten. What you could do, when the time is right, is try and find a breed-specific rescue, or purebred rescue. I know they exist, lol, there is one around here (I'm nowhere near you, but there must be some down there ) A lot of times show-quality cats with papers and everything go through those types of rescues, so even though you would be doing another rescue (Amen for rescue kitties!) you would be trying something different yet still getting what you're looking for. And if you do end up going to a breeder, that's totally fine as long as you look for the RIGHT, proper breeder that's breeding for the right reasons. And it sounds like you know what to look for.

Give it some time, like you said, think things over. I don't think you can show snowshoe siamese, since they're kinda an "off/mixed breed" but I do know that the breed tends to get along great with other cats, it has the best traits from both a DSH and a siamese. But that would be me and I don't think that's what you're looking for.

I agree with these others here who says

1. Dont have bad conscience for thinking pure breed. You have already payed more then enough of your share to the Fate, having 6 rescued moggies (I think they were).
If you still do have bad conscience, there are also lots of other ways to help needing cats, other then adopting them.

2. I agree an oci or bengal kitten isnt optimal together with older cats.
But there ARE grown up breed cats who need a new home, if you have your eyes open. F.ex. all these ex queens or ex studs who retire. They dont even need to be old. 5-6 years, males often younger, and often of show-quality. (a breeding cat must be good, but doesnt must be of show quality. So look after these of show quality, as show quality is your desire). The breeder will be happy they get to a good home.
They were perhaps already champions in the fertile classes. You can start their new carriers anew in the neuter-class.


Good luck!

That is a difficult decision and I can see your dilemma! I haven't read all the replies but I am sure you got some good advice. I mainly want to answer re: your question; "and I am bad person for wanting to go to a breeder instead of the humane society?"..I want to tell you that NO you are NOT...there is nothing wrong with the responsible breeding of purebred cats, nor your desire to own a well bred, healthy cat with known background, and with a predictable temperament and specific type! Do not let rampant "feel-good" AR-speak propaganda make you feel guilty about a personal decision such as this! I certainly applaud reputable rescues; I got my kitten from one! I've never owned a "pedigree cat" in my life! I am thinking about it now though because I do want something specific and I would like to show. I would also like a pet that has a known health history and pedigree information on health, longevity, etc..The breeds that are already here should be preserved and revered and I fully support responsible breeding programs. That's probably way more of an answer to that than you wanted, but it is one of my personal soapbox items, particularly coming from dogs.

Good for you!! This way too you can take your time and research! Can't help on dealing with catteries as I've not yet gone that route myself If it is anything like in dogs, you just have to show that you are dedicated and a good owner and provide references and such. Perhaps a home visit if they are near you; that sort of thing.

P.S. Should have said, I'm so sorry for your loss ;( He must have been VERY special in your kitty clan!

Abys, Somali and Orientals are active breeds like Oci's & Bengals. I don't know anything about the other 2 breeds.

Chausie and Serengeti would not be good for you.
Chausies are hybred cats.
The Serengeti cat is a cross between the a Bengal and a Oriental and is a very active cat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chausie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serengeti_cat

http://tica.org/public/breeds.php

Hi - first of all, I am very sorry for your loss...
As others have already said, you are NOT a bad person for wanting a purebred cat... I am also on the waiting list for my first show cat, who will join my family next year.
I have 2 Ragdolls, and one DMH (I think she might be a long hair, but not sure), and I can tall you by experience that a ragdoll are wonderful withother cats; they are laid back, and much more friendly than territorial, making them easy to be introduced into different situations... He will not run after your cats though, that's for sure - maybe while they are kittens, but they are more "chill" than anything.
My show cat will be a British Shorthair - I wanted another breed besides Ragdoll (I Love Rags, but also like diversity ), and also a breed that would be good with my cats, and good at shows.
IMO, once you find a breed that you like, and does well with your kitties, you will be fine if you get a cat from a GOOD, REPUTABLE breeder. A good breeder will socialize the kittens from day 1, making them much frendlier towards not only people, but other cats as well.
There are wonderful people here at TCS that can refer you to a good breeder, once you choose your breed - I highly recommend asking here on the board for help in finding a breeder, as there are quite a few horror stories of bad breeders out there...
Have you researched CFA breed profiles?
this tool http://www.iams.com/iams/pet-care/cat-breed.jsp can give you an idea of some breeds that can match what you are looking for, and you can narrow it down from there...
Good Luck!!!

If you get a new cat get a shelter rescue.

If you want a new car, maybe you want a sports car. If you want a new motorcyle maybe you want a loud Harley.

But cats are living beings. Sure you have some requirement like in your post, the new adoptee would have to accept living with five other cats, but easily you can find such a cat in a shelter. This whole breeding and purebreed predilection treats cats like products bred to produce certain qualities like how an Apple is reputed to be more high-end and reliable than an E-machines. Besides it just contributes to overpopulation. You can find a decent amount of purebreeds at shelters as well, perhaps not a very specfic breed you may pin for. Cats should not be looked at as commodites with this or that trait or you do not want them, they are sentient beings.

What if I said that I started selective breeding of Jamaicans with Kenyans to produce the fastest kids? If it is wrong to selectively breed humans, how can it be right for animals?

My advice - take it! I think you will be a perfect "parent" for him!

Congratulations on finding a kitty purebred or shelter is your choice as long as you give your kitty a good home. it really doesn't matter

...And if humans have the right to exist....don't cats? Actually, we selectively breed ourselves!
To the OP, there is nothing wrong with wanting a specific breed of cat. You go for it! Rescue kitties are great too, but if you are looking for something very specific, sometimes a purebred cat from a RESPONSIBLE BREEDER is the way to go. We all have the right to choose that option for ourselves. Incidentally, every cat I've ever had except one has been a shelter, rescue or "found" kitty (the "one" was an impulse move at the age of 20 for a pet store kitty). I am considering buying a Turkish Angora or Turkish Van in the somewhat distant future because I would like to show in Premier. There are some wonderful breeds of cat that I would hate to see disappear. Some cats are better with dogs and kids than others; some like to swim, some are more hypoallergenic than others....in other words, there is something for everyone and you should NOT feel guilty if you decide to get a purebred cat, whether from a rescue or from a breeder.

Let me add that looking for certain traits is NOT treating cats like commodities! Heck, we look for certain traits in our mates too, do we not?? Yes we do!! Please let's not get drawn in by the trendy animal rights jargon......

Fantastic and CONGRATULATIONS on your upcoming new addition!!!! Can't wait for pictures!!!!!!! You could still show your kitty if you wanted to in HHP!

"Responsible breeder" is a useless jargon to hide the sad reality. I could be a hypothetical "responsible breeder" in my area. Under this doctrine I could have bred some 50 kittens and found for them "responsible homes" since I am such a "responsible breeder". Also I would have charged far more than local shelters since I am so "responsible". This simplistic and convenient doctrine asserts that I and everyone involved involved are "responsible" so long as we assume we are independent of causes, conditions and developments around us. So long as we ignore the chronic surplus of cats in our local area, in our state, in our country, in the world that will only end up dying in some shelter, lost in the woods, in some back-alley. Cats as a natural mechanism have farily large litters of 4-6 kittens, to ensure that some would survive in the wild. Now that they are domesticated and free of the burden of living in nature as our "beloved pets", boy how we have failed them! Humans would be scandalized if they treated other humans as badly as they do their "loved pets" or at least the several millions that are gassed every year in the USA because they cannot find a human family.

Humans are not selectively breed, you are absolutely blinded if you can even make this comparison. Breeders perpetrate an existing breed, through selective mating or more rarely try to create a new market for a new breed to satsify some human whims they wish to cater to. People choose their own mates for the most part or in some cultures their family chooses for them one. A "responsible breeder" would never produce muts, because they would never allow their bitches to have available to them during a heat any non-purebreed.

No..it is not useless jargon. Breeders (dog and cat) have all been thrown in a pile together by AR-speak and therefore some had to distinguish themselves with the word responsible in order to set apart from the commercial and ignorant B-Y breeders. There are cat breeds that have been around for a very long time; Turkish Angora, Siamese, Maine Coon (in its natural form), etc..etc... someone has to further these breeds and others! I won't deny anyone's right to own one of these purebred cats (and the same goes for dogs) if they want to. Do you want them no longer to exist, or what? You know, there are some cat breeds that I personally do not agree with..some very recent "new" breeds that go against my own grain (and I won't say which); I just won't buy one of them. I can't stop and shouldn't stop another person from doing so.

SURE we selectively breed ourselves, are you kidding?? We all have a certain type and we look at things like education, like-background, hair color...of course we do!! Some people are a lot less selective than others, that I"ll give you

I'm not debating as to whether a person is capable of LYING or not...sure people can call themselves RB's and NOT be...doesn't mean the notion doesn't exist!

I want people to realize, who do not already, that AR activism has as it's goal to ELIMINATE the DOMESTIC CAT and end pet ownership. If you do not believe that I can supply you many links and direct quotes from some of the "esteemed leaders" of the AR movement. Just look at the mass legislative activity going on in multiple states DAILY that are trying to make it IMPOSSIBLE to breed and even OWN ANIMALS!! Wake up and smell the coffee.