I can still remember well the weekend that my friend and neighbor, Mary, decided she needed

some feline company at home. She opened up the classifieds and a day later was the proud owner of a 10-month-old, male Siamese cat, whom she named Bandit. He took to her quickly and meowed adoringly whenever Mary petted him.

Then Monday came. Mary left for work, saying good-bye to Bandit. Ten hours later, she came home to find her apartment turned upside down: vases broken on the carpet, cupboards ajar, garbage strewn everywhere. The sofa had long tears along one side, and her bedspread, balled up atop the bed, smelled strongly of cat urine. Tacked to her front door was a note from another neighbor, which read "Please keep that cat quiet!" When I stopped by to say hello, I found her sitting down with the note in hand, looking exhausted and unsure of what to do. Bandit was sauntering around her and meowing loudly in her ear.

Let's face it: All kittens are irresistible, but if you're looking for a purebred cat, not all breeds are built the same. Some breeds just might not be for you.

The lifestyle of the potential owner plays a big role in deciding what breed to consider. A stay-at-home retiree is better able than a busier person to care for attention-craving, social breeds such as the Siamese, Burmese, Tonkinese, and Abyssinian. A longhaired breed such as the Persian, though not as demanding of attention as the Oriental breeds, requires plenty of grooming time, something else a busy owner might not be able to provide.

A family with several active, young children should choose a breed with a high tolerance for handling and commotion, such as an American or British Shorthair, Tonkinese, or Scottish Fold. My close friend Christy made the mistake of trying to bring a Persian kitten into her home. With four active children on the order of Bart Simpson all roaming throughout the house, the activity level was too high for almost any cat to take, let alone a laid-back Persian, who spent most of her time beneath Christy's bed in a state of terror. On my advice, Christy found a quieter home for the cat and replaced her with a Golden Retriever puppy, who adored the commotion.

Generally, the shorthaired breeds, being more gregarious than the longhaired breeds, match up better with children. Longhaired breeds also tend to get their hair pulled by toddlers, something that can quickly incite a cat. A client in my animal behavior practice once called me for help with her Persian, a normally serene, reserved pet who had just badly scratched her sister's 3-year-old daughter. When pressed, she admitted that the toddler had been chasing the shy cat around the house and pulling on her lustrous coat. A shorthaired tabby mix would have had much less hair to grab and more tolerance toward the child's playful behavior.

A single person working long hours each day needs a cat breed requiring little maintenance and attention. The cat should be able to amuse himself during the day without becoming stressed at being left alone. The American Wirehair and the Russian Blue both deal well with this type of on-the-go owner yet are still loving and affectionate once the owner comes home.

The following three lists give general selection guidelines for choosing a cat breed to best fit your lifestyle. I have based these lists upon my own experience; you might find other sources that position certain breeds differently.

Before considering a particular cat breed, be sure to attend several cat shows to familiarize yourself with the breeds and their temperaments, and to meet responsible breeders. Feel free to ask them questions about their cats—particularly how they think their respective breeds would fare in your unique situation.

Regardless of the breed you choose, be sure to select your kitten very carefully. Observe the mother and her entire litter, and choose a kitten with a calm, curious, confident demeanor.

If you do your homework before selecting a purebred cat—and are honest about your lifestyle restrictions—you stand a great chance of ending up with a special little kitten.