Next, you can feed them in closer proximity. Keep your new cat in her "safe" room with door firmly closed, and place each cat's dish on their side of door. Be sure to feed them at same time. Once they both eat with no growling or hissing, you can move to next level of introduction.

Close your first cat in a room he likes to frequent, making sure he has water, some favorite food and a litter box. Let your new cat out to explore house. After a few hours, put her back in her room and let your first cat out. He will probably hiss and fuss when he smells another cat's scent in HIS territory. Again, be patient and praise him when he acts calmly. Repeat this activity at least once a day until both cats seem comfortable.

Before you let cats have full access to one another, let them come face to face in a safe situation. Use two hard plastic doorstops to jam door to new cat's room open a mere 2-3 inches. Check that door can't be pushed open any further, and that neither cat can get its head through opening. The object is to give them a chance to swat paws at one another and even go nose to nose without opportunity for full body contact. Feed each cat on their respective side of door. Once they no longer hiss or growl at one another, you can try playing with both of them in same room.

Your other source option is animal shelters that in US alone receive up to 12 million homeless dogs and cats every year, and about 25% of them are purebred. Paying adoption fee is a lot cheaper than price you will pay to a breeder or pet store, and you will be saving a life.

The definition of good stock or purebred must include beauty, and in a Boxer good look means coat is fawn and brindle, with white markings or "flash" covering not more than one-third of entire coat.

Sometimes distribution of "flash" alone may make difference between a show champion and just a pet Boxer.

The all-white Boxer or "check" is prone to blindness and deafness, and American Boxer Club members are not to register, sell or use "whites" for breeding.

When it comes to choosing male or female Boxers, there are not much clear-cut differences in their personalities.

At times, male is calmer, more tolerant of other dogs, willing to hold still for those hugs than female. But at other times, female can be so. One owner said female Boxer is hyper and more aggressive especially toward other females, and that aggression has increased as female gets older.