Gentle and kind friends: 16 of the most affectionate cat breeds

Of all pets, cats are perhaps the most amazing and mysterious creatures. They maintain their independence, despite the fact that they live next to a person for many years.

First published - 05/07/2020

Photo: pixabay.com

Many owners of these animals notice that the pet does not recognize the owner in the person. Rather, cats recognize themselves as the main ones in the house. Even when they rub against us, it is not so much a way to express their affection as a desire to mark. After all, cats have glands around their faces. Their scent remains on the owner to indicate whose person it is.

Despite this, cats remain the most popular pets. After all, they are very smart and understanding creatures. The same parts of the brain are responsible for emotions in these animals as in humans. They feel our mood and are able to support us in difficult times or play when we are having fun.

Currently, there are about 200 breeds of domestic cats. They are all different, not only in appearance, but also in habits and character. Many people want to get an affectionate cat that can brighten up loneliness, will not offend the child and will simply allow itself to be pampered.

In our rating, we have selected those cat breeds that are recognized as the most affectionate, friendly and calm.

Which of these cats should I get for my child?

Any representative of the breeds from the above rating will be an ideal pet for an apartment. When buying a cat for a child, you should remember that the animal must be active and sociable.

Maine Coon and Neva Masquerade cat kittens get along well with children.

Animals for small children must meet the following requirements:

• quick adaptation and high stress resistance;
• ease of care;
• affectionate disposition and lack of aggression.

During the training process, using physical force on cats is strictly prohibited. An angry pet who is with a baby can harm him.

The most affectionate cat breeds

Before we talk about “affectionate breeds” of cats, let’s define what exactly we mean by this quality of a pet. There are two options here:

1. A cat always readily responds to affection, loves to be scratched and stroked, that is, it gratefully accepts signs of attention from people.
2. The cat needs communication, is ready to participate in all household chores and follow the owner with its “tail”, giving him its love and warmth.

The willingness to receive affection and to give it are not the same thing. The two lines of behavior mentioned describe different animals. Therefore, when choosing a breed, you should decide what kind of affection - active or passive - you primarily expect from your pet.

Some cats are just waiting to be petted.

Breed alone cannot ensure kindness. It only determines certain characteristics of temperament that are most characteristic of its representatives. For example, if you dream of a pillow cat, you should not buy an Abyssinian cat, and a Persian cat is a bad option for those who want to see a devoted friend and companion in an animal (note that both cats mentioned belong to the breeds included in our list of the most affectionate ones).

Maine Coons

Maine Coons are one of the largest cat breeds. And sometimes it can be difficult to satisfy their constant desire to “jump on their arms” or lie on their laps. These furry “hippos” are very sociable and friendly.

Another interesting feature is that Maine Coons often purr and literally “quiver” to attract the attention of their owner. You can rarely hear a full-fledged loud meow from them.

Important! These cats are also amenable to learning and training - for example, they willingly walk on a leash.

Miniature Munchkins

Short legs, huge eyes and fluffy fur - the munchkin breed is gaining immense popularity around the world. And not only because of its appearance! These cats are very friendly, readily make contact and do not harbor a grudge against their owner. They are very curious and, despite their small stature, explore the world with great pleasure.

At what age should you adopt a kitten to make it easier to raise it?

Breeders recommend adopting kittens at the age of 3 months. By this time, the baby becomes independent and it is easier for him to part with his mother. A kitten that has not experienced severe stress from a change of home will be more contactable with humans. A raised animal has a lot of advantages over a baby :

• the kitten is already socialized and ready to learn;
• the animal is accustomed to the tray and scratching post;
• some of the cats have already been neutered, so they are more affectionate towards their owner;
• the animal knows the rules of behavior in the house.

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It will be easier to raise a grown cat than a 1-2 month old baby. The animal is already socialized, so the learning process will not be difficult. When choosing a pet in a breeder's home, give preference to friendly, affectionate kittens who will make contact themselves.

Should I choose a cat or a male cat?

The second question after choosing a breed is the sex of the animal. What is the difference in temperament and character between a cat and a female cat?

Cats are affectionate and gentle, but at the same time, they prefer to “walk on their own.” They love independence from life and their master and do not always allow familiarity in relation to their own person. Many cats may ask to sit on their owner’s lap only in extreme cases - when they are sick or in an unfamiliar place. Of course, they like to be scratched, stroked, caressed, but one cannot expect absolute dedication from representatives of the feline family. Most often, cats are more careful and intelligent than cats.

Cats, more than cats, become attached to humans and express their feelings. They cuddle up to their owners with pleasure, preferring to fall asleep next to them and purr gently on their laps. The love that cats give to their offspring, cats give to humans. As a rule, cats are a little lazy and often allow you to do whatever you want without showing aggression. This quality is especially valuable for families with small children.

Purring fireworks

Do you lead an active lifestyle and can’t sit still? Then the Bengal cat will become the best pet for you! They love to swim, explore new places and become so attached to their owner that they truly love him all their lives. As for the variety of games and entertainment, you can play with this cat without stopping!

Russian blue

Russian Blues are distinguished by their good manners and restraint. These graceful silver beauties are very friendly. Russian Blues value other people's space, so they will never impose their attention.

Important! Russian blue cats are one of the most affectionate pets. They value the time that is given to them, so they are ready to spend it in the company of a loved one.

Pets of this breed are very smart and attentive to details. They will not only carefully examine the entire apartment, but will also analyze the behavior, facial expressions, habits and even tone of voice of their owner in order to understand him perfectly.

Exotic shorthair.

In the same year and in the same country, another cat was born, with a character reminiscent of a dog. Exotics are distinguished by their intelligence, peacefulness, and, of course, extraordinary appearance, inherited from the ancestors of the Persian and American Shorthair, and the parents were crossed to obtain new colors from the Persians.

A distinctive feature of the breed is hypersociality. It is not a burden for the exotic to live next to other pets and small family members, thanks to its sociality. He is able to carry out simple commands. However, such a cat suffers loneliness very painfully; he always needs company, but he does not notice any attachment to his owner. There are often representatives who take a long time to get used to new people, so his trust is worth long days and weeks of spending time together.

Despite their appearance, these cats have good health and an average life expectancy of 12-15 years.