Want to be first time owner; Looking for friendliest cat breed

[chasetheblue]

I didn't teach Miami to bring it back either, she just... Does. Lol.

 

[jclark]

Just about any breed as long as it's a male.

My senior main coon would fetch better than my golden retrievers ever did. Do you have boys or girls? Boys can be mischevious with cats (I was to some degree).

If you want your cat to be social with strangers he/she will have to meet strangers as a kitten. The only time my main coons would trot to the front door would be when some religious group was going door to door to drum up followers (The cats would growl as they made their way to the door...go figure).

Breeds I've had experience with as a teenager and were fun to have around: Main Coon and Tonkinese (Siamese mixed with Burmese).


Did I say get a male? ..Get a male. Females can be sweet but males are more dog like and from my experience less moody.

 

[grayson73]

Just about any breed as long as it's a male.

My senior main coon would fetch better than my golden retrievers ever did. Do you have boys or girls? Boys can be mischevious with cats (I was to some degree).

If you want your cat to be social with strangers he/she will have to meet strangers as a kitten. The only time my main coons would trot to the front door would be when some religious group was going door to door to drum up followers (The cats would growl as they made their way to the door...go figure).

Breeds I've had experience with as a teenager and were fun to have around: Main Coon and Tonkinese (Siamese mixed with Burmese).


Did I say get a male? ..Get a male. Females can be sweet but males are more dog like and from my experience less moody.

Interesting.  I did not know that about males.  I have a 9 year old boy and 6 year old girl.

 

[Draco]

Just about any breed as long as it's a male.

My senior main coon would fetch better than my golden retrievers ever did. Do you have boys or girls? Boys can be mischevious with cats (I was to some degree).

If you want your cat to be social with strangers he/she will have to meet strangers as a kitten. The only time my main coons would trot to the front door would be when some religious group was going door to door to drum up followers (The cats would growl as they made their way to the door...go figure).

Breeds I've had experience with as a teenager and were fun to have around: Main Coon and Tonkinese (Siamese mixed with Burmese).


Did I say get a male? ..Get a male. Females can be sweet but males are more dog like and from my experience less moody.

I Beg to differ! My female is the most playful and sweetest! My male is a brat and not a fan of being held or likes to play much.

It really depends on the cats personality.. gender does not make a difference, IMO!

 

[newownerkt]

This is completely anecdotal, but I recommend orange male tabbies! I can barely believe mine is a cat, he's so friendly and pliable and fun.

 

[mollomint]

I know they are not pure breeds but it doesn't really matter, does it. The colour does have a impact on the personality of a cat.

 

[mservant]

Breed and colour may have some influence over personality but the biggest factors are going to be early socialisation and life experiences.  I agree shelters are a great place to go, and they should also be able to guide you to cats that are used to being around children and in a family home environment.  The other part to this of course is your kids and their understanding and behaviour as they get to know and interact with your cat.  It will be important how they are introduced and get to know and trust each other.  The calmest of kids and cats can become terrified just from one fright in the early introductions.  My other thought is that two cats can be easier to care for than one as they do entertain themselves  (and also more likely to tollerate sleeping with each other than on their own if not going to be with the humans in the home).  And of course there would  be more than one so less chance of your kids battling for attention.

I hope you find your purrfect family member/s soon. 

 

 

[kittyfostermom]

Sounds like you might want a dog. Your chances of getting your requests will be greater. Chances are you won't get all that with a cat, i suggest you do a lot of reading up on felines before getting one, you might be disappointed and then you might take it to the shelter which means one more cat will be unwanted and without a home. Sorry but you don't sound ready to be a cat owner.

 

[stormi71]

I really don't get how fur colour influences a cat's personality? It's the same as saying all redhead humans have tempers, blondes are dumb etc, just not true.
I have had a ragdoll kitten (female) for just over two weeks, she is very dog like as in follows me everywhere, likes to play hide and chase, in which she does the crab-walk at me, pretending to be tough, reaches me, then runs off again to hide somewhere else, to either chase me, or for me to chase her. She's also super affectionate and loves cuddles and curling up on me or next to me.
My last cat was a silver tabby male and he wasn't very affectionate. Didn't like being petted much, his idea of affection was being in the same room as us lol.
I was reading an article about how to teach a cat to play fetch. They don't learn as quick as dogs, but it can be done. Some just learn to do it themselves. My last cat used to love my kids flying disk toy, you shoot a flat round plastic wheel type thing out of this disk shooter, and it would spin through the air quite a distance. My cat would run madly through the house to catch it, but we would get sick of going to pick it up again, so he quickly learnt to bring it back. Was the funniest thing ever to see him walk back into the room with it in his mouth and drop it at our feet.

 

[hublebuble4]

I don't have so much experience concerning cats, but now that my to adult cats have had 4 kittens, I mus say: Cat siblings like to play with each other. I have 3 black and 1 grey/blue kittens, Three are female and one is a male. I suggest that the best solution is to have two female. But they must have been well educated to use the litter-box. and they must have a nice character. Try to make an agreement with the breeder or the cat-shelter if you can have the kittens for a "try"-period. So you can see that they are nice cats. You must understand, that they will be a part of the family for about 15 years. So it is important that you and your family like/love them, and that the cats like you and your family. Moggie cats can also be nice. Good luck!

 

[hublebuble4]

You asked for the most friendly cat breed. I Believe that it is very important that the cat have had a friendly home from the birth. All cats can be nice if they have been treated with love from the birth. But on this the catsite there are many members who have much more experience of that question than me.

 

[42cattier]

I also would suggest to adopt a bonded pair of cats, they feel safer and play together, pairing later could be very problematic. Usually any healthy cat under 5 years old plays fetch with a ball (choice of ball matters, soft sponge balls work best for me) and catch feathers on wand toy, if move it hight and very fast. None came to greet intruders(guests), just to check up warily what is it now.

Friendliness, IMHE, depends on genetics and personal life experience: young friendly brown tabby was most forthcoming, but attacked adults and another cat when they turned their backs to him, drew blood, had to retrain him, takes time; 3-4 y.o. Ragdoll, while peacefull and quiet, is reserved and independent, draws the line not to cross way farther than other cats I knew, then uses claws, reservingly just to stop you, but nevertheless. Plays fetch only when he wants to, not when people want to. Scared by bad homeless experience cat (grey Isle of Man cat) remembered this his whole life, no greeting of strangers, had abandonment issues (warm reliable human company helped), feched perfectly, friendly and playful with people he trusted, scratching had to be watched for.

Best of luck!

 

[crazycatlady40]

Tabbies are good cats if you want a friendly cat for your kids. My kitten Banjo will play fetch and even has taken a liking to running away with my work shirt right before I put them on. Get one as a kitten and it will love you and your kids and be great family pet. I've had three and they have all been total lovebugs.

 

[crazycatlady40]

I wouldn't get two they will be bonded to each other and they may not bond to you and your kids. I have one and he is well bonded to all the people in the house. If you get the right one they will be your friend for life and not be worried about being an only furkid. You can introduce another one at a later date,

 

[hublebuble4]

If you live in an apartment or in a house it doesn't matter. If you have two cats, buy a high cat-tree. There the cats can play, scratch, sleep, rest, and so on. I bought a rather big cat-tree, and it's super. The cats can also build up their muscles when they jump on the cat-tree. And another advice: be very careful if you have things in the home that can be crached. If you don't pick and put away fragile things in your home, you will hear some day: crash, bom, bang. I must admit that I have heared that sound sometimes. And it is better to prevent that for happening in advance Before it happens. Just a tip.

 

[torn]

Definitly two cats....

 

[42cattier]

Forgot to tell about fetch game: unlike with dogs, the human is the one who brings balls back and frees them when they stuck somewhere. More an exersise for people than for cats, but it's fun for them to catch a passing "bird" and watching you run and bend.

 

[crazycat1969]

I also have 2 Bombays, 4 Siamese of which one of the Siamese is a colorway which is a torbie. All of them answer to their names. If you find that they are not answering to the name you choose, take out a baby name book... hold your cat on your lap and slowly go down the list till you get a serious reaction out of the cat. Cats listen to how sounds come off your vocal chords and how harsh they sound. I've done this with great success many times. I've rescued for over fifteen years and all my cats answered to their names.

I've only ever had one that played fetch. She is my Siamese colorway. (torbie) and even then she has to be in the mood. Asian cats in general seem to be quite a bit smarter to me and much more teachable, clean and more gentle. They will sleep on their own, but then they prefer to sleep with us just as well. It's about a 40/60 being 40 sleeping with us.

They are all door greeters. If your cats love you, admires you, you give them a lot of attention when you're home... they will love and await for your return and will wait for that door to open to greet you with love and attention to get it back! Groom them every other day, keep them used to being groomed so that you don't get hair everywhere and you will have your door greeters waiting for their brushing. We’re talking 2-5 minutes of love and you will have loving companions. But then they just might turn into the bed companions you don't want because they are so committed to you.
If you put a nice warm bed in a warm window or where the sun hits, you don't need a fancy pet heater. I've seen those things burn a dog before cus he wasn't smart enough to get off of it when it got too warm. Nasty burn.

I would say get a kitten (2-4 months old)from a shelter if you want to teach it so many things. An older cat may be set in its ways. Though i was lucky got a 4 yr old and have been able to retrain him and he was a farm cat who had never been inside and only caught mice for food. He thought the dining table was his bed at first. He's now 21. Asleep on my bed as i speak. He's my baby.
Oh wayfair.com has the best prices I've found on tall cat trees. If you can get your cat used to sleeping on that... less likely she'll sleep with you!