Along about fall of 1995, I finally allowed as how it woudn't be terrible if we were to acquire just one cat - of course, it'd have to be neutered, it'd probably have to be declawed (don't start -- I've never had a cat de-clawed, and I can't see the circumstances where I ever would at this point. This just goes to prove the defendant's ignorance during the timeframe, your honor... If you love your cat, don't declaw!), and as long as it stayed mostly out of my way, it'd probably be okay.

Being the analytical type of pet keeper I am (see the Fish Section - we'll get the Parrots on here one of these days too), I bought some books, picked up a few magazines, hung out in the appropriate usenet groups, checked the appropriate web sites, and gradually decided that a Bengal an Ocicat an Abyssinian would be the best way to go. Of course, having decided that, I was a fool and picked up the paper, looked in the classifieds, and bought the first Aby we looked at.

Digression:

Don't do this at home, kids - we're trained professional idiots. From the lofty perspective of our brief period of cat ownership, I'd like to suggest that there are two reasonable methods to get a cat - if you want a non-pedigreed cat, then support your local rescue group, and adopt a shelter rescue cat from them. On the other hand, if you want a pedigreed cat, then check the show schedules, visit a local show, and start interviewing breeders who are working with your breed of choice. Ask around, and ask breeders of other breeds who they'd recommend in your breed. Be prepared to be interviewed right back -- a good breeder is damn picky who they place their beloved cats with. Consider if you absolutely have to have a kitten - there are wonderful pedigreed cats who are retired (sometimes as young as one or two years) breeder or show cats, who for one reason or another are available to be placed in a loving home (they didn't like being shown, they had difficulty breeding, etc.). Also consider looking into a breed rescue organization.

What not to do:

Don't buy kittens (or puppies or rabbits, etc.) at pet stores. These animals are mostly produced by kitten (or puppy, etc.) mills, and outside of supporting these often deplorable operations, these animals are generally of much lower quality (ie: health or meeting the breed standard) at a much higher price than a cat available from a responsible breeder.

Be wary of animals in the classifieds. There are responsible breeders who advertise their available kittens in the classifieds. There are also "back yard breeders" and people who irresponsibly let their animals breed uncontrolled. Know the difference before you buy an animal in this way.

Free to a good home isn't. There are no free pets. That free to a good home kitten most likely has had none of the basic veternarian work that it needs done to it, and it absolutely must have these. Don't bring an animal into your house and expose your family (yes, there are cross-contagious diseases) and your pets to problems. Besides, "free to a good home" often attracts the worst kind of animal "adopters" - from people who won't spend the money to get proper vet care to people who make their living reselling these animals for research. Don't give an animal away, and don't take a "free" animal.

You have the resources - if you can read this, the entire 'net is available to you - to do this right. Be responsible in how you acquire your pet.