Hello everyone,

I am not really sure if this is the best newsgroup to post this
question since this is the first time I have come here.  I am
cross-posting this to alt.cats, rec.pets.cats, alt.pets.cats, and
alt.animals.cat as a start.  Please let me know if there are any
others that you think would be helpful, or more appropriate...

I am looking for a new pet kitten.  I am a single male who lives alone
(no other pets or children), and am looking for the companionship of
an affectionate cat.  I am looking for an indoor cat, preferably a
purebreed (if only so that I can be reasonably assured of its likely
behavioral characteristics and hardiness), and am trying to determine
which breed would be best for my personality and lifestyle.  Here are
the factors that I consider the most important in my search, in
roughly descending order of importance:

1) Docility: I want a cat that will not mind being petted at any time
and for which I don't have to worry about it scratching or biting me
if (s)he is not in the mood.  I also don't want to be scratched when I
have to pick the cat up to put it into a carrier to take it to the
vet.  I do NOT intend to have my cat declawed.

2) Affectionateness: I want a cat that will be very affectionate
toward its owner, but does not mind being left alone and does not
*need* constant affection throughout the day.  I don't mind being
followed from room to room, but also don't want to be tripping over it
everywhere I walk and having it meow anytime it is not being petted.

3) Independence: I do not tend to be away from home for long periods
of time, but do want a cat that I can leave alone for several hours,
or overnight (with adequate food and water of course) without it
becoming too worrisome about being by itself.

4) Activity level: Fairly low.  Since this will be an exclusively
indoor cat, I want one that will not need high levels of exercise to
prevent becoming obese, and that is not likely to bounce around on
furniture knocking things over.

5) Healthiness/Hardiness:  I definitely want a cat that is not
especially prone to any disease, and which tends to have hardy
bloodlines.

6) Need for grooming:  Low.  I don't have a strong preference for a
shorthaired vs. a longhaired breed, but am somewhat more inclined
toward a shorthaired breed because I tend to think of them as less
inclined to shed all over the furniture (I know this is not a hard
rule).  I do not mind occasional (perhaps weekly) combings or
brushings, or twice-yearly shedding bouts, but do not want to be
constantly cleaning fur from my furniture  and clothes.

5) Playfulness: No strong preference.  I would like to be able to play
with my cat with cat toys, but don't want a cat that requires constant
playtime.

6) Intelligence: I am interested in a cat that can learn its own name,
will come when called, and can be easily taught to stop mischievous
activities.

7) Appearance: I want a cat breed that is not especially exotic
looking... I prefer a tailed breed with an average body shape (not too
squat or too bony), with typical erect ears.  I have a very strong
inclination toward blue-haired cats, but would consider other
colors/patterns.

8) Vocality:  I don't have much of a preference here.  I would
definitely prefer a cat that does not constantly meow loudly, but
would not mind a cat that occasionally vocalizes to let me know where
it is or that it needs something important (like to be released from a
room  that it is inadvertently locked inside).  So, on the quiet side
would be my preference.

9) Availability: I live in the U.S.  I don't want to have to be on a
waiting list for too many months for a rare breed.

Currently two top breeds on my list of considerations are the
Chartreux and the British Shorthair.  I am not sure about their
availability in the U.S. though (I have spoken to two breeders who
said that their Chartreux have long waiting lists), and would welcome
any other suggestions.

Thanks very much.

Lothar