Also, can anyone recommend a good cat vet on the north side of
Chicago? My old vet was North Avenue Animal Hospital, and I found this
practice to be very incompetent (missing diagnosable illnesses several
time in my cat-lead to an early death)
Any advice would be great! Thanks!

Here's two that I recomend:
Chicago Cat Clinic
5301 West Devon

Cat Hospital of Chicago
2851 West Irving Park

These are both on the northwest side so City Cat Doctor, which is downtown on
Wells, maybe closer for you.

And I also recommend you ignore the flak you will get here for adopting a
purebred cat.

Aww, gee, Yngver. That would be me you're speaking of. Honestly, I don't mean
to get so hydraulic. Kitten season will do that to you. But I'm very
equal-opportunity with the flak. My grand-cat is purebred.

Sherry