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

My huge half-Bengal boy. He is very affectionate to me, although it is always on his terms & he can be a complete pig to the other 2 cats

One of them is black, she is a complete sweetie, doesn’t like laps but will sit on a cushion on my lap

Basically cats are like a box of chocolates

@Quackersandcheese3 a decent breeder will act exactly the same as if you were buying a kitten and they might have a few ex-breeding cats for sale. Typically I’ve gone round, had a cup of tea and known very quickly which cat I’ve bonded with. Sometimes they come already spayed but otherwise it will be the same sort of contract breeders do for kittens to say you will neuter the cat and any other restrictions they have (some only went the cats to live indoors etc). It can be surprising how young some of the cats are as well, so don’t assume it’s always much older cats that are rehomed this way (although some are five or six). Good luck.

Some retired Queens are very young - they never get pregnant or had to have a C-section and so on. Even a small time or hobby breeder can't keep all their retired/"failed" breeders with them they just run out of space etc.

My MIL usually gets a Queen/stud to go with one of her kittens - all homes thoroughly vetted. One breeding boy turned out he had a dodgy ankle joint so couldn't show or responsibly breed from him that kind of thing.

@SunbathingDragon thanks for the information. I’m really looking forward to it all. Think I’d prob have to wait a few years til my kids grow up though. Youngest is 2.

My Burmillas were amazing.
We're now going to adopt 2 more male kittens and hoping they'll be just as loving.

Ahh you are exactly in the place I was before our kids arrived/we moved into a place with a garden. I had been hoping to get a dog and then got pregnant just as we finally got our own place with a garden so dog plan went on the back burner for several years.

When my daughter was nearly 1 a little black and white moggy turned up at our back door. We took her to the vet to see if she was chipped and long story short, ended up adopting her.
She wasn't the biggest fan of the kids when they little and would keep mainly out of their way, but they've won her over with persistent feeding and now they have a lovely relationship! She is the most loving, affectionate little beasty, comes running usually if I call her and will roll over and show me her very fluffy tummy.

Cats are much more 'on their own terms' than dogs but I'd second getting in touch with a rescue and finding one with an outgoing personality who is going to be up for a lot of affection.

I feel sad thinking about ‘retired queens/studs’ being sold on. Maybe I’m being a bit anthropomorphic, but on once hand we are talking about cats being so loving, and on the other we are accepting them being cast aside as they are no longer kitten (money) making machines . Poor cat.

On threads like this pps often suggest getting a rescue cat as there are already too many kittens. On cat charity websites etc they always advise neutering for the same reason. So why is it ok for breeders to do this? Is it to protect the breed? Is it for money? Is it the competitive element of breeding the best cat?

Every cat I've ever had has been a cuddle monster even the ferals. It's how you treat them. Shower them with love and they will love you back.

I've never had a kitten or puppy and never intend to.

There are breeders just in it for the money.

There are breeders in it that focus on healthy cats that are also ticking the boxes for the breed - I have mixed feelings about the whole pedigree thing tbh. If breeders didn't pass on retired ones then they would end up with some/all living in cat pens because not many cats would tolerate 10-20 living in the house.

If there were no breeders etc there would be no future cats and kittens/puppies etc so is it fair to keep them as pets at all?

Do you have adult cats or dogs as a pet Random ? Or no pets?

Rehomed adult cats and dog.

We have had 2 x single cats - 1 moggie, 1 pedigree.

Current 2 are pedigree and came as a pair them added dog after big life change and DH WFH permanently.

I have zero desire to have kittens/puppies. Current cats around their 2nd birthday and although affectionate from day 1 very energetic as well - I was but obviously after a good few years they have slowed down now.

I rather went off kittens as well after we had our two haha - exhausting!

Get an adult rescue.
Mine was and she's so affectionate, comes when called etc, will never not want a cuddle.
My friend bought herself a lovely very very affectionate kitten, turned into a very aloof cat! Not bothered about cuddles at all!

Adult rescue, go and cuddle as many as possible. However I got a female kitten from a rescue and she is the most docile little thing ever, she was really timid in the rescue so people over looked her.
I also have a ex stray that turned up in my garden, absolutely petrified of humans, I thought he was feral, now he is soooo friendly, also really docile (not as much as my girl). Complete lap cat and really clingy, follows me round like a dog. Gives me head bumps.
My boyfriend has a ex stray female, she’s a right feisty little thing and only comes for fuss on her terms.

Anecdotally I’ve found male black cats to be the soppiest and just want cuddles all the time.

Agree that an adult rescue will be the best way of knowing personality.

@ihatecaronavirus. But at least my two had a happy ending!

I'd go to a rescue and adopt a cat who they tell you is friendly.
We have two random mogs who are very loving and coped brilliantly when we had a baby. She is now their favourite person. The older one lies very still while the now-toddler piles all her bricks up on her.
I'd definitely say it's the cat more than the breed that matters.
If you want a kitten, get two. They play with other and are less inclined to claw than single cats - as they learn from wrestling with each other that claws hurt!

I've had cats all my life and I really think it's more of a personality than a breed thing. And socialisation.

The most affectionate cat I've ever had (downright needy, actually, at the worst of times) was one I got from a friend who kept my kitten's brother. Friend's cat was completely unlike mine and utterly aloof most of the time.

They were full siblings, born within minutes of each other. But mine was the runt of the litter and partially bottle fed as a tiny kitten. He was also our only cat at the time and adored and doted upon by everyone, slept in our beds and would always find a lap for a nap. Aloof brother was more like one of the cats in a household with several.

Burmese are amazing , so affectionate, very needy and vocal. Will spend alot of time wrapped around your neck it in your shoulders even when you are walking around the house. Can be trained to walk on a harness and will also play fetch. Best to be kept in twos as they like the company of another cat.

Not sure if all breeders insist on this but the breeder we got ours from would only sell to people who would commit to keeping them as indoor cats. They are so friendly that they will go off with anyone who shows an interest in them and also have no road sense.

Ours go in the garden on a harness and sometimes without it or to play fetch with us.

I agree that getting X breed is no guarantee but can help tip things in your favour.

Our boy was a "next to cat" until he turned 11, he is now a lap cat so I regularly end up with 2 cats and a dog all trying to sit on me, they compromise and snuggle next to me or on my shoulders are skulk off to sit on DH 😂

I've had lots of cats over the years including pedigree cats but I personally would say rehome a cat because there are so many cats needing a lovinh caring home. A good rescue will match you with a cat and provide support too. Two of my current cats are rescues and they are so loving.

Agree with the previous posters with burmese. Mines 21 now and is honestly my shadow. So so affectionate and spends no time on her own. The only thing I would say is she doesnt shut up, its lovely through the day as she speaks back to us, however not so good early hours of the morning when shes shouting to tell us shes found a toy mouse. I'm a deep sleeper so most of the time I can sleep through it but she has my partner up at least twice every night.

That said wouldn't change her for the world and I'm so so lucky that shes ours.