Welcome to Gaia! ::

Does gender play a big role in choosing a cat? It certianly does. There are attributes that each gender of feline has that is almost universal. Please think which you would perfer.

Boy

Boy cats, in my experiance, tend to be more snuggly as they get older. Theyre cheaper to fix, but do have the higher chance of spraying in the house. (which is why its best to get the fixed as soon as possible). Generally laid back, once neutered, males are a prime choice for those with busy lifestyles.

*Generic Males are more laid back; every cat is different....

Girl

Females tend to be more aloof, a little more demanding, and a bit on the fiesty side. They are more exspensive to spay, but absolutely nessesary to prevent the squalling of heat cycles and unwanted babies.

*Generic Females are more aloof; every cat is different

There are soooo many types of coat patterns out there, the most common being the tabby.

Tabby

Calico/Tortishell

Tuxedo

Solids

"Points System"

Other important factors to consider:
-Age
-Energy Level
-Attention Requirements
-Clingy/human love-ey-ness
-Reaction to other animals
-Medical Issues

Not surprisingly, most of the above are linked to one another - a young kitten will most likely have more energy, need to be watched more, and be easier to convince to get along with existing pets than a twelve year old cat, whereas with older cats, personality is more likely to be established/easier to identify early on in interaction, and medical issues are likely known.

When deciding on a cat, it's very important to consider what you're signing up for/how much you can handle. Are you getting a cat so you can have a cute, sometimes cuddly but fairly independant animal in your life? Are you looking for one that can amuse you with it's crazy off-the-wall energy and antics? Do you have the time and patience for training and kitten phases?
How long of a committment are you looking for? Cats can live for over 20 years - are you ready for that, or are you wanting something a bit more short-term?
Medical issues can be costly and stressful and there's quite a range - some shorten life and/or cause considerable pain; some are just a matter of maintaining stability; some can be overcome, at least to a degree (ex: obesity). Do you have what it takes to handle the extra care-requirements? Do you have any other pets whose health you need to take into consideration? I know it's nice to save them all, go for the least adoptable one (because we all know healthy kittens will be out of the shelter almost before they're up for adoption, but the seven year old with leukemia, or the obese twelve-year-old can end up there for ages), but you really have to think about whether or not you can handle it, especially for first-time owners.