Fancy a fancy cat? Contact a breeder

Kittens come in all sizes, personalities, colors, patterns and coat lengths. Thousands are available from animal shelters nationwide, and they are as cute as can be. But if you're looking for a particular type of cat, you may go to the shelter or check rescue groups online daily and still not find what you're looking for.

That's when you can turn to a responsible breeder who raises the type of cat that meets your needs: For instance, one that's bred to be outgoing or active; that has a particular coat type, length or pattern; or that has a personality and activity level suited to your lifestyle and home environment.

While cats may not vary quite as much in size and appearance as dogs, individual cat breeds have distinct traits that make them the perfect choice for some people. Pedigreed cats have been selected for specific personality or behavior traits over many generations.

People often choose a pedigreed kitten when they want to know what a cat's personality and size will be when it matures. They might take into account how they want to spend time with a cat (go for walks or snuggle on the sofa) or whether the breed is known for being playful or trainable or friendly toward dogs.

Random-bred domestic shorthairs or longhairs can also come in a variety of temperaments and activity levels, but they are the surprise packages of the cat world; it's not easy to predict their personality or behavior if you don't know anything about their parents, grandparents or more distant ancestors.

Health is another factor. A kitten with a family tree comes with a known family medical history. That doesn't mean they won't develop certain diseases, but if purchased from a reputable breeder, they'll come with a written health guarantee against heritable conditions. The sales contract should provide for a replacement kitten without forcing you to give up the original cat you love. It should also state that the breeder will take the cat back at any time if you must give him up.

If you have your heart set on a cat with an unusual pattern or color, a pedigreed kitten may be the way to go. It's not impossible to find a spotted tabby kitten in a shelter, but it's not common, either. That look is most often seen in Bengals, Maine coons, Savannahs and Egyptian maus.

Are pedigreed kittens perfect? Not necessarily. And the imperfect one may be exactly the one you want to take home — if you don't plan to show it. Some kittens have cosmetic flaws that make them unsuited to the show ring but perfect for family life. They have the same predictable traits as their show siblings, but lack the perfect markings a cat needs to succeed in the show circuit. They also have the good nutrition, health care and early socialization provided by a responsible breeder.

Read up on breeds you're interested in before you look for a kitten. The websites of the Cat Fanciers Association (cfa.org/breeds) Fanciers Association (cfa.org/breeds) and the International Cat Association (tica.org/breeds/browse-all-breeds) are good resources.

When you visit a breeder, the cattery should be clean and not crowded, says Dr. Marybeth Rymer, a Bay Area veterinarian. Cats should be calm and easy to handle.

Ask breeders about health history, genetic issues and what the cats are like to live with. Rymer says health questions should include whether the cattery has had any cats with feline infectious peritonitis in the past five years; has had issues with diarrhea and the organism Tritrichomonas; any steps the breeder takes to prevent these diseases; and whether the breeder performs appropriate genetic tests for that breed and tests for feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus.

Breeders should be open with their answers. Move on if they're unwilling to share health information.

"Do not feel you must buy that day," Rymer says. "Consider revisiting the cattery to confirm your first impressions."