Do cats love you? And breed advice please

[Blossomworld]

Do cats actually care about people? I really want a companion for me and the kids but I don’t want a cat that’s stand offish and attacks us.
I love the sound of ragdolls (and they’re the cutest things ever) but don’t know if I’m cut out for a long haired cat.
Does anyone have experience of ragdolls or British shorthair?
Or what are my chances of getting a moggy kitten that ends up friendly and cuddly?
No rescue suggestions as I live in a flat so wouldn’t be suitable.

If you're not against an older cat then you could put yourself in the list for rehoming an ex-breeding cat. Again you'd have to spend some time finding out if they're the right temperament, sadly not all breeders provide loving environments.

Again, along the same theme (although I would never normally recommend this for kittens or pedigree/breeds) if you want a older moggy you could maybe have a look online, as you can get the odd genuine rehome of older cats due to change of circumstances/accommodation. It'll always have an element of risk but that's how we found our 3 year old boy. I actually placed an advert on pets4homes describing my situation and what kind of cat I was looking for and I was approached by his fosterer who didn't advertise herself

I rehomed from cats protection. Might be worth looking at smaller rescues if you have any nearby

We have a Siberian, ex breeding queen who was kept as an indoor cat. Honestly, the clingiest most affectionate thing ever to the point of being quite irritating. She also plays fetch which is good fun

My boys are rescue cats.
Henry (tuxedo) was all friendly when we saw them in the centre. Rufus, ginger, hid. Was not interested.
3 years on. Henry is his own cat. Will come home when its cold or when the other 5 houses he lives in are away.
Rufus, never leaves for more than 10 minutes. Is the most cuddly cat ever.

Ginger boys are fabulous. So long as they are neutered.

I've got a spynx, no shedding! Amazingly affectionate, have to be kept indoors. Love playing, very cuddly, sleeps under my duvet on my legs.

@freeandfierce at last another sphynx lover!

I was starting to think I was the only baldy lover on the litter tray

I have a beautiful 1 year old ragdoll and she is adorable but more demanding than my moggies have been. She is sweet and playful and affectionate but also a bit fiesty and has had to be trained out of biting us.

The downside is that she is very needy. I have an older cat who dislikes her but ideally she would have a proper companion. She gets upset if either me or DD leave the house when my moggies have never cared.

She gets a "ring trim" every so often to stop the poo incidents. She also has a sensitive belly (common in the breed) so even with the short bum hair has still needed a bum bath a few times which is not fun for her or the person doing the bathing.

My favourite cat is still my beautiful black cat who died last year. He was the sweetest, gentlest and calmest cat I have ever known.

I have a Ragdoll and she doesn’t have regular poo-in-fur incidents. I’ve had her six years and there’s been about two occasions when she’s been ill that something like that has happened. She is the cleanest cat ever and looks after her own fur beautifully - she has the classic Ragdoll coat and barely needs a brush at all. She sheds a bit but not that much considering how long her fur is. She is also the sweetest, gentlest most cuddly cat ever. She will cuddle up on my lap and put her head under my chin and snuggle in. She sleeps by my feet at the end of the bed - and will get in the bed sometimes! She follows me around all day and likes to have me in her line of sight. If she can’t get on my lap - usually when I am working on my laptop - she will sit on the arm of the chair next to me or on the footstool at my feet and put her paws or chin over my nearest leg.

I also have a gorgeous British Shorthair. He is really loving and affectionate but won’t get on my lap and hates being picked up. He will always be nearby though, often on the bed, chair or footstool. He is the most laid-back cat ever, nothing really phases him and he sleeps for about 20 hours a day.

To be honest if you’re really worried about poo then I wouldn’t get an animal, they chuck up on a regular basis and have accidents if not well regardless of whether they are long or short-haired - much like children,

I have a rescue cat that lives indoors and is a normal European short hair cat. She is incredibly affectionate but was a bit timid when I got her about a year ago. It required quite a bit of effort from me but it was so worth it and I enjoyed it and continue to do so.

I have had the pleasure of owning 3 cats all moggies, but totally different personalities, we had a ginger female, who was by far the most intelligent, we called her the cat dog, as she had the loyalty of a dog, followed DH everywhere. Her sister was a tabby, very loving and cuddly but not at all clever. The 3rd male tabby, a real cat is the only way to describe him, absolute warrior, and very particular, loved me and was quite a mummies boy and DS1 wasn’t keen on DH despite h8m feeding him every day! and avoided DS2 like the plague! So it totally depends on the personality of the cat. We also had a wonderful dog, who adored the cats, the cats we’re definitely in charge. Sadly we have lost all our pets now, still miss them every day. Good luck with your search.

Where are you o/p? Quite happy to go online cat hunting for you

Are you sure you want a pet op? They have their own personalities, you can’t guarantee they are going to be cute and slot right in to your life.

There are always plenty of FIV+ cats who need indoor homes where they are the only pet. They are very often overlooked in shelters too.

Just checked the rspca site and you can refine by indoor only. 54 available near me

Check out ginger tiggy…

www.rspca.org.uk/findapet/details/-/Animal/TIGGY/ref/BSA2103542/rehome

@Roselilly36

I have had the pleasure of owning 3 cats all moggies, but totally different personalities, we had a ginger female, who was by far the most intelligent, we called her the cat dog, as she had the loyalty of a dog, followed DH everywhere. Her sister was a tabby, very loving and cuddly but not at all clever. The 3rd male tabby, a real cat is the only way to describe him, absolute warrior, and very particular, loved me and was quite a mummies boy and DS1 wasn’t keen on DH despite h8m feeding him every day! and avoided DS2 like the plague! So it totally depends on the personality of the cat. We also had a wonderful dog, who adored the cats, the cats we’re definitely in charge. Sadly we have lost all our pets now, still miss them every day. Good luck with your search.

Yes Rose has the right approach you just get lots of cats and collect iveky they'll each fulfil a bit of your needs

We have 4 cats; 3 girls and a boy. All are affectionate in their own way, but yes they do really care about their humans. When DS is ill they all go and sit on the bed and look after him and when I've been really upset, my two always come over to cheer me up.

Interesting comments about the u hi indeed boys. DH told DS (when choosing his 2 cats) not to get a ginger and not to get a boy. Guess which one he chose? But he's absolutely lovely - not a lap cat but incredibly gentle and playful.

@reallyreallyborednow my
Home could not be described as calm and stress free unfortunately I have an 8 year old who is not calm.

I’m in London. I know it sounds like I’m too preoccupied with the poo thing. I’m not. I’m just being honest about my limits though.

@Blossomworld

Inner city kitties have lots of indoor cats who need a home.

instagram.com/londoninnercitykitties?utm_medium=copy_link

We rescued 2 moggies at 6 months old from the same litter.
One is the most soppy, cuddly cat I've ever known. He loves our two young kids, follows us around the house and has been my WFH companion since last March.
His brother... polar opposite. Hates us, in fact prefers to live with neighbours 2 doors down! 🤷‍♀️

We have a rescue - he's a ginger boy and he really loves us. He always wants to be with the children and wants to be sat with someone or getting fussed over.

I checked cats protection. Only 2 cats who can live indoors and with children and one of them has serious medical needs. I really don’t think I’ll get anywhere with rescues. That’s what originally led me to pedigrees. A bit more certainty with breed traits, and hopefully we’ll socialised and not leaving mum until 13 weeks. They are a lot of money though.
I’ve looked on pers4hones and it would be so easy to get a kitten but I just don’t know. As you’ve all said there’s absolutely o way of knowing a kittens personally or the level of socialisation they’ve had when buying from there.

@JorisBonson thank you. I’m already on their adoption list, but have been for over a year and haven’t got anywhere. They are about the only rescue I’ve found that home indoor cats though.

@Blossomworld pretty much all rescues will have FIV+ cats, who positively can't go out. The soppiest boy I ever adopted was FIV and I was just glad to get him out of the rescue.

Yes, cats love you. Unlike dogs, though, most have a limited tolerance for being cuddled/messed about with. Your ddog might sprawl placidly while you play with his toes and tickle his tummy; your dcat if you're lucky will tolerate it for 10 seconds then flounce off.

I've had 9 moggies in my life and all but 1 have been sweet snuggly cats. My current kitten thinks she's part human part dog.

It's very much to do with you you treat them as kittens. Lots of handling but never chasing them, waking them up, pulling them from safe spaces.