The association of cats with humans goes back literally thousands of years. People who keep animals as pets are more likely to have a cat than any other animal except for dogs. For the busy individual who isn't going to be at home for long periods of time, cats are a great pet.

The basic food and attention needs of cats are not as large as the typical dog, who needs long walks frequently. These creatures can be a great pet for anyone because they are very adaptable and can live almost anywhere and would even live happily, healthy and comfortably in a small apartment. Many people consider them to be a great pet because their need to play and show adoration of their owners is balanced by a very faithful streak to their family, regardless of the owners' ages.

Most of the cats kept as pets are not pedigree, meaning that they have been mixed with different breeds. Due to both the high price of purebreds and the fact that there is no real advantage to keeping a purebred cat over a mixed breed, it is estimate that no more than 3 percent of domestic felines are purebred. Still, there are more than 100 distinct purebred cats, as determined by global purebred groups.

However, the breeds are definitely not the same, as there are considerable differences in breed body shapes and sizes, coat color and length, eye color, and the way the breed interacts with humans. There are two main categories of cats: short hair and long hair. The short hairs outnumber the long haired varieties.

Long haired cats are harder to take care of, require more daily grooming, and run a higher risk of hairballs. Also, the long fur makes it more difficult to get rid of fleas, and harder to take care any cuts they may have.