Jill Bowen

Jill Bowen has practiced veterinary medicine in England and Texas and has taught at Texas A&M. She lives with her veterinarian husband and two cats in Blacksburg. If you have a question, please write to her in care of The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, VA 24068, or send an e-mail to mjbowen@radford.edu

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We are thinking of getting another cat. We have always had strays, but we thought this time we might invest in a pedigreed one. Any advice on which breed to choose?

There are literally dozens of breeds of cats from which to choose. Deciding which cat would be best suited to your home and family is largely dependent on the disposition of the cat in relation to your lifestyle. There are many breeds of cats that, in keeping with their species’ tradition of independence, are ambivalent about human interaction. There are other breeds , however, that enjoy and seek out the company of their human owners. The choice is ultimately dependent upon your own personality as it relates to pets.

Some of the breeds have distinct personality traits. For example, Siamese cats are people cats and tend to be high-maintenance. They are smart, active and do not like to be alone. They are also noisy and have a characteristic loud cry. Owners often get two Siamese so they can entertain each other, especially if the owner works outside the home.

Abyssinian and Burmese cats are also active and playful, as well as smart and loyal, and become very attached to their owners while being a little wary of strangers. The Russian blue and Bombay cats enjoy being petted and are companionable, gentle, affectionate and easy going. The same goes for the American shorthair breeds (unlike the British shorthair cat breeds, which are often aloof).

There are a number of longhair breeds that you might consider, bearing in mind that they require regular grooming. This is particularly true of Persian cats, whose owners claim that they are loving and companionable unless thwarted — when they quickly lose their temper and can become quite mean. The Maine coon cat is a big cat, and males may weigh as much as 20 pounds in their prime. They are active cats but most are fairly mellow. One advantage is that their coat does not matt easily.

Before choosing your new cat I would suggest you go online or to the local library and look up the various breeds and their characteristics. Then visit breeders in your area to see which breed appeals to you the most. A local cat show is always a good place to visit so that you can see a variety of cat breeds.

Pedigreed cats are not cheap, so it is important to do your homework before splurging.

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What sort of sedative should I give my cat before traveling? The flight will be about two hours, but I have to check her in three hours ahead. Do I need to give her Dramamine for airsickness?

I prefer not to give any sedation to traveling cats; most cats respond to the stress of traveling better when not sedated. Certainly, if they are being shipped in the cargo area, they need to be fully awake so that they can brace themselves against the jostling that can occur. Airline employees do not like cats to be sedated, as it is hard for them to tell if the cat is alive or dead if it appears to be comatose in its carrier.

Wherever possible it is better to take a cat in a small carrier that will fit under the seat and take it as carry-on luggage. If that is not possible, check to make sure the cat is shipped in a pressurized cargo hold and that the flight is not in the middle of the day when temperatures are highest.

Do not give anti-sickness medication, as cats seldom suffer from travel sickness, and the effects of such medication are very unpredictable for cats