Cats kind of remind me of bunnies- They're independent, they'll snuggle with you on their own terms, and they will tear up the furniture if they don't have someplace else to scratch.
Like bunnies, their diet is often misunderstood by the average pet owner. They need food with NO by-products or corn in it, and they really should be on a wet food or raw diet. Here's a fantastic site with tons of articles on cat care; be sure to read the article "Why Cats Need Canned Food"!
http://www.littlebigcat.com
The general rule of thumb is to avoid buying foods you would find at Wal-Mart or a grocery store. Science Diet, Meow Mix, and anything bright and colorful should not be fed.
If you want to protect your furniture, make sure you clip the kitty's nails often, and you can provide a scratching post if needed. If absolutely necessary, you can buy Softpaws for the cat; they're little slip-on claw boot things that are a humane alternative to declawing [which, by the way, you should never do ><].
In my experience, the long haired cats shed less than the short haired kitties. Either way, be sure you brush the cat out at least once a week; nothing like waking up to a big ol' hairball the cat yaked upon the carpet the night before.
Honestly, the kitten stage is my favorite.
Kittens are just so much fun, and it was great being able to raise my Smokey cat around the bunnies. However, it was a lot of work keeping him in line, and the kitten shots were pretty expensive.
Have fun with your future kitty! Seriously, cats are great fun. I always thought I was a dog person, until my Smokey walked into my life- Now I can't imagine living without a kitty.
Holly
