When making the decision to own a pet, first you decide on which kind you want. Danny DeVito says in War of the Roses, “Cat people should marry cat people, and dog people should marry dog people.” There is a lot of truth in this statement. However, cats generally require less maintenance than canines, and are the most popular choice of pets to be owned in an apartment.

According to the latest statistics on Catster, the American Shorthair is by far the most popular breed of cat owned by people today. Respectively, these cats are most popularly owned in America. Considered to be feline “mutts”, they are not recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA). The CFA is the world’s largest cat registry, and acknowledges 41 different pedigrees of cats. They rank the Persian and the Maine Coon as the top two breeds of cat.

The Persian cat is almost universally rated as the most popular breed of cat to own. It is a long-haired, fluffy and very affectionate breed of cat. This breed of cat is devoted and laid back, but its’ hair can be nightmare for maintaining, sometimes growing up to 3 inches long! This cat is the most popular breed because it is so loving and devoted. Persians need a comfortable environment to feel safe.

The Maine Coon is the second most popular breed of cat. It is one of the oldest cat breeds around, and can withstand both hot and cold climates. This is why it is so popular, because it can be owned all around the world. They are fun-loving, good natured, and are considered safe around children.

Even though purebred pedigree cats can be attractive, there are so many homeless cats that are just as adorable, and are in need of good homes. Most any cat will be a wonderful addition to your home. However, avoid the ones that hiss at you off the bat.

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Naming your cat can be as difficult a task for some as naming their own child. Even if the cat already has a name when you get it, it is not necessarily a name you want to keep. Choosing a name for your cat can involve a number of factors. First, it is recommended that you definitely double check the gender of your cat before it is given a name. You wouldn’t want to be called ‘Chucky’ if you were a female! What is the most popular name for a cat?

Once the gender of the cat is defined, you can move on to making a good choice. You can check the Washington Post’s latest results on their ongoing survey of the most popular cat name. According to their results on December 3, 2006, the most popular cat’s name at 76 votes is Kitty, what a surprise! Needless to mention, you may want to choose a slightly more original name than this popular name for a cat.

Others use names taken from popular animals known from television, books, and movies such as Mr. Bigglesworth, Garfield, and Felix just to name a few. The same can apply to names of famous actors, sports legends, and musicians. Names derived from such sources can certainly personalize the meaning behind the cat’s name although, naming your cat after Keyser Soze or Ozzy Ozborne could have negative effects.

Perhaps the easiest approach is to use the appearance of the cat to lead you to a decision. Ask yourself these questions: It the cat fat, or thin? What color or type of cat is it? I guess this is how cats end up being named ‘Fluffy’ or ‘Smokey’. It seems as though most people prefer to spend some time observing their cat, and spending some time with it before they give it a name. Can you imagine not having a name for your own child after it was born? I think avoiding an identity crisis for your cat is a good idea. At least decide on something within the first week. Otherwise, the cat may be less responsive to the name once you finally decide on one.

Generally, within a few hours you can determine whether or not the cat is friendly, aggressive, shy, or outgoing. These personality traits can clue you in to whether the cat is named ‘Cuddles’ or “Dracula’. KittyNames.com offers an excellent site for helping you choose a name based on any of the previously mentioned factors. It also offers a search engine which tells you the meaning behind your suggested name for your pet.

Although ‘Tigger’ may seem appropriate and popular cat name for an orange tabby with a bouncy personality, selecting a fitting name is essential in establishing a lifelong relationship with your cat.

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