The Humane Society gets strays, with unknown histories, BUT, they ALSO get cats with well known histories. Some times some one passes away, and a home needs to be found for their cat. They often get a good description of the personality and habits of a cat. Sometimes, it’s better to get an older cat, with a known history of having the traits you’re looking for. I have rescued a kitten,though, who was very sick and nursed him back to health and he is great too! It does seem to me, after years of having cats, and friends’ experience, that the boys (neutered) do seem to be so happy with being fed, given affection and a good home. I have a female right now who is the highest maintenance cat I have ever had! She’s very demanding and has a history of actually breaking things until she gets her way!!!! I’ve never had a cat that broke things before. If I didn’t believe that adoption is a commitment. . . . I would have taken her back. I’m pretty much swayed, from heart warming experience, to have neutered males. . . just give them lots of loving attention (massage them, including their legs and paws and they’ll be more receptive to having the tips trimmed from their claws), and “socialize” them as kittens for happiness for the rest of their life with you. Pick up a book on getting a kitten and how to raise it- you’ll be better off. For instance, telling you about how you have to experiment to find the kind of litter and material for them to scratch on, that they prefer, that they each have preferences, and then things go much better, etc. Good luck! They’re wonderful. zzc