Settle on a Breed and Where to Go

• 1). Each kind of breed has a different temperament and its own set of quirks. Petfinder indicates that some cats, like Abyssinians, have a tendency to attach themselves to one caretaker, so they are ideal for someone living on their own and looking for a constant companion. Other cats, like the more common American Shorthair, are good for owners of any age, even small children. Find out which sort of pet suits your demographic and personality type, then go from there.
  
  
• 2). The next question is where you plan to go to find your kitten. Some people prefer breeders, whom they can meet and ask questions of before the adoption. Others opt for animal shelters and pet stores.
  
  
• 3). Animal shelters in Michigan can be found on Petfinder or the Humane Society Web sites. Northern Michigan has its own shelters, but you may have to travel elsewhere in the state to find your ideal pet.
  
  

Finding Your Shelter in Michigan

• 1). The closest shelters to North Branch are about 30 minutes away in Lapeer County, where you'll find Paradise Animal Rescue and the Lapeer County Animal Shelter. Paradise Animal Rescue offers kittens for $100 to $140, while older cats are offered at a discount. An hour away is the Tuscola County Animal Shelter in Caro, where an application is required before a cost can be generated. Because of the smaller population in this area of Michigan, the west and east sides of the state might offer more options for kitten adoptions.
  
  
• 2). West Michigan has a number of shelters, including several in Grand Rapids alone: the Kent County Humane Society, Kent County Animal Shelter, Jandy's Home, Reuben's Room Cat Rescue and Crash's Landing. Each shelter offers different prices for kitten adoptions, as well as other services. At the Humane Society, for example, kittens are two-for-the-price-of-one: $95. The Kent County Animal Shelter charges an extra fee for spaying or neutering, pricing kitten adoptions at $120.
  
  
• 3). On the other side of the state, Detroit offers an animal control business and an animal shelter, Farmington Hills has Backdoor Friends Purebred Cat Rescue, and Rochester Hills has two separate Humane Society offices. Farmington Hills' location for purebreds charges a considerable amount of money for adoptions, starting at $175 for kittens. Keep in mind these are purebreds, which are considerably rarer than mixed breeds. The costs at the other shelters must be obtained after filling out an application.
  
  
• 4). No matter where you go, make sure you ask about follow-up medical procedures and get an up-to-date health history on your new pet. Shelters can provide this information as well as contact inumbers for area veterinarians.