[Blarg]

Get a short-haired cat. Me and my family growing up had plenty of Persians, and they have fantastic temperaments and are perfect apartment cats, as well as incredibly beautiful, but their coats require a huge amount of maintenance, and the down hairs they have(something most cats don't) make for nasty tangles that can easily wind up ripping their own skin off them when they move. You need some serious love of daily maintenance to keep those cats in good condition.

So get a shorthair. If you buy off a breeder, always ask to see the whole litter and the mother. ANY type of hiding means a bad breeder and probably sick cats; she should be proud to show the mom and family. Get a written receipt! And get an agreement where you can exchange the cat if it is not found healthy by a vet within the first week. Then of course IMMEDIATELY take it to a vet, that day or the next. Kittens die very quickly, and you don't want to give that a chance to happen.

Try to get a cat no younger than 6 to 8 weeks. They need that time to build up on mother's milk and get some strength and survivability built in. They'll still be tiny, but they won't be as likely to just suddenly up and die on you. 8 weeks is pretty optimal.

You actually don't want to get ones that are very old, because socialization is very critical in cats. If early socialization periods are not utilized, they close up and are gone forever, and the animal will always have a harder time from then on relating to people.

You want them to get plenty of human attention and early on, and that just doesn't happen with pet shops, shelters, or breeders, despite their best intentions. They just have too many cats, and frankly many breeders and shop owners don't even like their animals that much and just isolate them or keep them in cages. Get them old enough to be able to wean(get eating solid food and off mother's milk) but young enough to start their human socialization early.

If you can stand it, getting a sibling is an excellent idea. Cats can enjoy each other's company immensely, and it gives them a lot more mental stimulation to have another cat to bounce off of, so to speak. Siblings usually get along very well, so that's a good way to do it -- all at once. It will also ease their transition to their new home to have someone familiar with them. They'll still bond to you just fine, though. Kittens love warmth and comfort and play, and will be all over you within at most a couple of days after you get them. You'll be the new mom and they'll be underfoot all the time -- half the problem is they love you so much you're always in danger of stepping on them, seriously. You've got to really keep an eye out big time!

If you are interested in this or that breed, I would check out some of the big cat organizations, as different breeds have VERY different personalities. Picking one just for looks can be very bad news, as the look you like may be a poor match for your lifestyle and personality. Some breeds are incredibly active, for instance, and would drive many people up the wall. One of my favorite breeds, abysinnians, are like that, as I recall. Super cute and they will destroy your house! Not as good an idea as it may seem. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

You can also find lots of books on cats in the remainder sections of bookstores like B.Dalton. Many will have great advice, and help you narrow in on what breed you may want.

Of course, if you get a shelter stray or the kind that's given away outside the supermarket, it's just a roll of the dice. But that still often works out, and those cats will probably die if someone doesn't lend a hand. Up to you.