The Friendliest Cat Breeds: Affectionate Cats Compared

Side by side

Ratings are VCA Animal Hospitals' 1 to 5 scores. Maine Coon: lap cat 5, good with children 5, good with dogs 5, 8 to 20 pounds. Ragdoll: lap cat 4, children 4, 15 to 20 pounds. RagaMuffin: lap cat 5, children 4, dogs 4, 10 to 20 pounds. Birman: lap cat 5, children 3, dogs 5, 6 to 15 pounds. American Bobtail: lap cat 5, children 5, dogs 5, 11 to 20 pounds.

Sphynx: lap cat 3, children 4, chattiness 2, 8 to 10 pounds. Siamese: lap cat 3, children 3, chattiness 5, 5 to 8 pounds. Energy: the Ragdoll, RagaMuffin and Birman are the calmest; the Bobtail, Sphynx and Siamese the most active. Grooming: the Sphynx needs skin care, the longhairs regular combing, the Siamese very little. Best for: calm homes want a Ragdoll, Birman or RagaMuffin; busy family homes a Maine Coon or Bobtail.

Gentle giants: Maine Coon, Ragdoll and RagaMuffin

VCA calls the Maine Coon super mellow and affectionate with people, cats and dogs, an ideal cat for a busy household, and notes it shows affection with chirps, trills and head butts. The Ragdoll is relaxed and gentle, polite with children and seniors, and tends to follow its people from room to room; VCA says it is nicknamed a puppy cat for that habit and stays playful into adulthood.

The RagaMuffin, a Ragdoll relative, is described by VCA as docile and easygoing, focused above all on cuddling on laps, and often waiting at the door when its people come home. VCA says these mellow, tolerant cats are a good choice for families with children. All three are large, slow-maturing cats that gain weight easily, so measure their meals.

Quiet companions: the Birman

VCA describes the Birman as gentle, playful and inquisitive, a cat that seeks your company in a sweet, quiet manner and speaks in soft tones. It welcomes other pets and learns tricks easily, but it is not a counter-climber or a high-shelf cat. Its medium to long silky coat lacks an undercoat and does not mat easily, so a comb once or twice a week keeps it tidy.

One note from VCA: Birmans do better with another cat or pet for company when their owners are at work. If you are out all day, consider adopting two, or choose a breed more comfortable alone. Birmans are pointed cats with deep blue eyes and four white paws, so they are easy to recognize.

Dog-like and outgoing: the American Bobtail

VCA calls the American Bobtail a cat that loves to love and be loved, welcomes children, cats and dogs, and often beats you to the door to greet guests. It can learn to walk on a leash, fetches paper balls and is touted as an ideal therapy cat; it has been nicknamed the Golden Retriever of the cat world. It talks in chirps and trills rather than loud meows.

Bobtails are athletic, with strong hind legs that VCA says can launch them six feet in the air, so give them tall, sturdy climbing space. They are also known to steal shiny objects, so put rings and earrings away. Weekly brushing suits the longhaired coat and twice a month the medium coat.

Social and talkative: Sphynx and Siamese

VCA describes the Sphynx as extremely friendly, intelligent and outgoing, a spotlight-seeker that is playfully mischievous, high-energy and curious, and nicknamed the Love Mooch. Its nearly hairless skin needs regular sponging to remove oils, weekly ear cleaning and protection from the sun, and it looks for warmth, often under your covers.

The Siamese is extremely active yet affectionate, very loving and loyal with its favorite people and pets, according to VCA, and a big talker with a range of sounds. It often does best with another cat, and can become anxious and over-groom when left alone too much. Choose either if you want a cat that follows you around and has opinions.

How to find a friendly cat

Breed tendencies help, but the individual matters most. When meeting kittens, look for the ones that approach you, enjoy being handled and play gently. With an adult cat, ask the breeder or shelter how it behaves with visitors, children and other pets; a confident, cuddly adult is a known quantity. Many shelter mixes are every bit as affectionate as pedigreed cats.

Then help the friendliness along: daily play, gentle handling, a predictable routine, places to perch and hide, and patience with new people. A cat that suddenly becomes withdrawn or irritable may be in pain or unwell, so book a vet visit rather than assuming its personality has changed.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.