You have the traditional buckle style which is easy to put on and take off but the buckle can break. Then there is the slide through adjustable kind. This is a more secure way of fastening but it s also more difficult to adjust, especially if you have a cat that doesn t like having a collar on. Most cat collars come with an elasticated or a breakaway section. For the eyes and ears which are the most sensitive areas in your cat s body, there are solutions that you may use. Choose one which is specifically designed to prevent cats with light-colored eyes to develop stains. For the ears, cats collect a considerable amount or wax so you have to take care of it when grooming. You have to budget for cat food, cat litter and scoops and other accessories to make the cat s life comfortable at your home. Kitten or adult? A difficult choice since the kitten of today is going to be a member of your household for a long time. Perhaps it is better to get an adult cat since it has already developed a personality and you will know what you are getting. The association also holds cat shows and judges them based on how closely they adhere to the standards. They recognize only 41 breeds of cats. The breeder registers a litter of kittens with the Cat Fancier's Association. Then they have the option of deciding whether or not to allow the kitten to be bred. They release a scent from special glands in their paws which helps them mark the area as theirs. They also do it because they are working the kinks out of their body as well as burning some energy. Before you head off to have him de clawed, you may want to try out some of the alternative methods of preventing the scratching. Now, he ll finish the job himself. For those who have a long haired cat, you can use a blow dryer at the very lowest setting if you keep it continuously moving so that you do not burn him. Now, you have a clean cat and hopefully no wound marks to show from it. Your cat will thank you for his bath, and you will both enjoy each other's company more, next time you snuggle down in front of the fire.