More affectionate cat breeds

[Bells3032]

Hi all

Following a little intruder to our home (a very cute tortoiseshell who decided our bed was her temporary home) we were thinking about getting a cat. It won't be got at least 6 months as we are planning to move into a house once lockdown is finished.

We both grew up around dogs and I really miss having a fluffy friend to cuddle but realistically we want to start trying for a baby in the next couple of years and I don't think it would be possible for me to care for a puppy and young kids so no dog for at least ten years we agreed. And I'd never take on an animal I didn't feel I could give 100% of its needs.

However we both also love cats too. We know nothing about cats Tbh but we have a while to find out.

Was just wondering if there are some breeds that are more likely to be affectionate (want something to cuddle) that would be OK around kids. We want kids soon and my sister is also around a lot with my niece and nephew who are 5 and 7.

Any advice on where to start? I'd prefer to rehome but worried they might not be OK with kids though I reckon there will sadly be an abundance of unwanted pets in six months.

Help please. Thanks

Persians are amazing. Very affectionate. Cheddar demands to be picked up and cuddled. She's very vocal and I suspect she thinks she's human. She sleeps on my bed every night. My other two, were more timid but equally affectionate.

Cheddar & Magic

I have had various pedigree cats over the years. The Siamese, Persian and Birman were all very friendly. The Birman in particular loved a cuddle :) I also had a Bengal and I wouldn't recommend them if you are looking for a cuddly cat.

I now have a black and white rescue mog and although she is nice, she is not that affectionate or tolerant. If I was getting another cat I would go for another Birman.

Somali or Abyssinian more dog like than the dog.

The need for human affection gets tiresome at times - that's 2 cats to 5 people, they are loving lockdown!!!

All the other owners say the same and as they've never been hugely popular breeds that's a very dominant character of both breeds.

All pedigree cat clubs have a rescue/welfare section where you can rehome a pedigree.

Ours is a moggy- tortoise shell, she’s the most cuddly cat I’ve ever met! She cuddles with us on the bed, loves being rocked like a baby and just wants to be with us all the time. She is an outdoor cat but always comes in when we call her. She was a rescue too.

I have always had cats, currently have 5, and all of them are mixed rescues. I've never cared about having a specific breed. All of mine are lovely, but I would recommend getting a short hair. Long hair cats can be a nightmare, especially as cats quite often don't like to be groomed.

Tonkinese. A mix of Burmese and Siamese. The best of both worlds and a real dog cat

Moggies are the way to go IMO. The boys we've had have been the most affectionate.

My Persians came from St Francis Persian rescue.

Definitely depends on the cat. I have two Bengals and they are the softest lap cats you could ever want. Constantly turning over for tummy tickles

Adult rescue cat, the rescue will tell you their personality. Mine is the sweetest and cuddliest cat I’ve ever known.

It does depend on the individual most of all. I've had/have moggies who have been delightful but we've also had several oriental shorthaired pedigrees (lot like Siamese) who are the cuddliest and most affectionate of cats.
Boys generally friendlier but all of ours are girls at the moment and they're all very affectionate. (Although the pedigrees are cuddlier more of the time)

My street rescue is incredibly affectionate, I really hope you rehome rather than buy.

took a work call earlier and he insisted on head butting my chin

Is head butting a sign of affection? My old cat used to do this to me when I was about 5 years old.

Adult rescue cat as others have said.

If you want a specific breed then Burmese are pretty much a sure thing for friendliness and cuddles. They love a lap and have the softest fur. They are also capable outside, agile, bright cats. Good with other cats.

Ive got 2 tort females, both very affectionate, one more lap cat than the other, absolutely ace with the kids and adore the older one, baby doesn't do much more than try to grab handfuls of their fur atm but im sure once she gets older itll be the same.

I've a 6 month old Burmese boy, and he's hard work! Super affectionate but needs lots of attention and playing. He's also a bit too bitey for my liking and I'm having to discipline him a bit which I don't like. Plus who has time for this much cat care!!?

But my son loves him, despite the biting. The cat is very cuddly, clearly intelligent, and will be lots of fun. And very beautiful looking.

My make ragdoll is vert affectionate, borderline demanding of attention when he wants it... but the most loving cat I've ever had was a bog standard black rescue moggy....

Pardon the typos

@SoftBlocks

Ginger toms. All the ones I’ve known have been super friendly, almost like dogs.

I agree. My ginger boy is a soppy old thing and I swear he thinks he's a dog. He follows our two spaniels around, winding himself in and out of their legs. The dogs just accept him as one of them.

We got our female black and white from a rescue. She'd had a litter of kittens. I think cats that have had kittens are sometimes more friend,y but agree, get a rescue that they would be happy to home with small children.

My cat is a cross between a Norwegian Forest and a British Shorthair, he’s my first ‘fancy’ cat but not my first ever. I’ve had males and females, personally I would always go for males from my experience. The cat we have now is absolutely fab. He’s friendly, affectionate and playful. Both breeds he comes from mature slowly so at two, he’s still growing and is very active. You need to be aware that cats do everything on their own terms and will only pop over for a cuddle if it suits them. Some cats are more happy to engage than others - they’re all different.

My British Blue was the best looking cat ever but he didn’t like us. Would be in the same room but never closer than 1m. Never tolerated stroking. If you touched him he would immediately clean and arrange his coat how he wanted it.

Our silver tabby looked like the whiskers cat and was very friendly. You really don’t know what you will get. Our moggies have been affectionate and one of them trilled a lot despite being a huge grey tabby male with white feet. He talked all the time. He was the only cat we have owned that understood us. Most cats mostly understand themselves.

The oriental breeds... and anything that comes in colour points (because the colour comes from Siamese) are all pretty well known for being peopley... they can be a bit full on for some though, the affection is intense, lol

Or a young adult rescue, old enough to know what it’s personality is like, but still young enough that you’ve got a whole load of time with it still.