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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Which breed indoor cat please?

55 replies

PickleBranst · 23/01/2025 08:22

Morning, our lovely cat died six months ago, aged 16. He was a moggy but very happy house cat, we got him aged 8.

I've been on numerous charity/rescue centre adoption lists for months but just not getting anywhere. Some insist on a garden (fair enough) but we have quite a big house and there's usually someone at home (I work from a home office everyday). We don't want an outdoor cat due to nearby roads.

So now looking to buy an indoor cat/kitten from a breeder. We like - ragdolls, burmese, old style siamese or British shorthair so far.

A bit worried the burmese/siamese may get upset on the occasional weekend we're away (maybe once every three months) or occasional day out (maybe once a fortnight). Love their nature and cuddles though!

BSH seems great but a bit aloof? Ragdoll is beautiful but ideally prefer not too much grooming.

Any thoughts from the experts please? Dc and I adore cats, so it would be very pampered.

OP posts:
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MumChp · 25/01/2025 11:32

PickleBranst · 23/01/2025 17:30

@Ohnonotmeagain and @whaddayawannado I have applied for several FIV/cat flu cats in the past few months, I'm on waiting lists but I just get told someone else has adopted the cat already, they'll call me if it doesn't work out etc. I've been surprised as well tbh.

Thanks for all the replies. I love the sound of all of these breeds! I loved a Persian I had in the past but she used to hate being brushed and also needed her trousers cleaning after the litter tray...so thinking more on a shorthair.

We have a Persian shorthair. Wonderful cats.

Toddlerteaplease · 25/01/2025 11:38

I've had several exotic shorthairs. And they are fabulous cats. Sweet and affectionate. Very placid. Just perfect.

Which breed indoor cat please?
Which breed indoor cat please?
Which breed indoor cat please?
Toddlerteaplease · 25/01/2025 11:39

@MumChp I need a picture

MumChp · 25/01/2025 11:45

Toddlerteaplease · 25/01/2025 11:39

@MumChp I need a picture

:)

Which breed indoor cat please?
PixieandDelilahsmum · 25/01/2025 11:48

Persian. I had one for a very short time recently. I took her in when a friends relative became ill and couldn’t look after her anymore. She was old so sadly was only with me for a few months until she died. I have always had cats and currently have 2 other cats (tabbies). Persian cat stole my heart. She was completely docile and loving and a full on lap cat (as soon as I sat down in the evening she’d leap up and fall asleep on my lap). I have never been a cat snob but I now appreciate why people love this breed so much. I will have another one when I’m old and I’d rescue one again. She didn’t have a single ounce of aggression in her, she even let me shave her matted fur out when she first arrived. I adored her!

PixieandDelilahsmum · 25/01/2025 11:51

This was my beautiful Belle

Which breed indoor cat please?
Shubbypubby · 25/01/2025 11:57

Ragdolls can be very needy- I wouldn't leave mine for a weekend without some staying at the house with him. Mine is a lovely boy but does require a lot of attention. Grooming is fine- I groom him every couple of weeks but I do have to trim his back end to avoid poo trails.

Allergictoironing · 25/01/2025 11:58

If you're in or near Kent, Rolvenden cat rescue always have cats suitable for indoor life and are quite positive about it?

toomanydicksonthedancefloor1 · 25/01/2025 12:01

I have had a ragdoll and Persian and both were lovely. Persian needs more fur management and ws very territorial and jealous over his human but very loving. Ragdoll a simpler and softer personality while still loving.

Toddlerteaplease · 25/01/2025 17:50

So glad to see the Persian love on here!

Ihatemondays1962 · 25/01/2025 17:52

GrowingSideways · 25/01/2025 05:35

Awful rescue.

What makes you say that?

herewegoloobyloo · 25/01/2025 18:02

We have a female Ragdoll. So laid back and great company. She doesn't require much grooming at all - their coat is like silk.

SnarkSideOfLife · 25/01/2025 18:11

I have a Birman boy and a long haired BSH girl. My Birman is like a dog, very affectionate, constantly next to me with his head in my lap/on my shoulder. He can be quite vocal. So some noisy yowls at night which annoys Dd but I sleep through it. He’s also slightly highly strung and wees on me/my bed/the sofa but think this is just him.

my bsh girl is a bit more aloof but still friendly. So she will be on the sofa next to me but not on me. Saying that she sits on dh more. I think she’s suspicious of me as I dunk her in the sink when she has poo on her trousers! She’s very nervous, if the doorbell rings she flees upstairs and hides. If we have a guest over she will hide the whole time they’re here and not reappear for hours.

they are both quite daft, let me clip their nails, tickle their tummies, pick them up for cuddles, brush them, etc. I’m a bit of a slacker with brushing ….once a week max, maybe more like once a fortnight.

Which breed indoor cat please?
Which breed indoor cat please?
helpfulperson · 25/01/2025 18:34

Our local rescues have a number of indoor only. Lothian and borders, Scotland, in case that's any use.

PlumpHobbit · 26/01/2025 22:26

Since I was a teenager, we've had indoor cats, first with my family and now me and DH, saw too many that had got knocked down on the road to want to risk it, plus now there's so many horrible stories around

I would absolutely recommend the Ragdoll, I don't think I'd have anything else. Had my parents 2 when I was still living at home (first house cat was what was probably a moggy, but we always had suspicions she had a bit of forest cat or siberian in there, she was so chatty and would prook away at you)

The Ragdoll breed is just the best, they are right that they are almost like a dog, forget going to the toilet alone! They can't go outside unsupervised because they don't sense danger, my parents have theirs in the garden with them if they're out, but they have high fences and sit at the end to block any bolts to the end fence, the boy is a bit of a menace in 95% of the time he's fine then the odd day he gets it into his head he's going and sets his mind on suddenly taking off meaning a rush to intercept him. The girl is very flighty so isn't interested in trying.
Our fences are lower, so we use harnesses (DH has an indoor BSH)

Ragdolls can be thick, but there's times they're very astute. DH is stricter than me with her, and she will casually, after a telling off, do all the things that she knows annoys him, e.g. lifting the corner of the rug, going behind the tv, all things she knows he doesn't approve of

She LOVES a smooch with me, i adore her and she adores me. I am obsessed with her. They (and the BSH) are not lap cats, they absolutely love to be WITH you but bar for a smooch, not ON you.

Mine is quite vocal, she will howl if she has a toy, and will often bring it down to you

Both her and the BSH have very sensitive tummies, the BSH is mainly on a hypoallergenic diet, which you guessed it, doesn't always agree with Ragdoll tummy if she steals too much. It's the same for my parents Ragdolls, you feed them the higher meat content food and if it agrees with them, stick to it. My parents give theirs dreamies, but we don't really give treats, because of BSH tummy, its not worth going back to square one as it took a while to get it stable. We did buy them some cooked chicken chunks for Christmas. You know the sort humans put in sandwiches. It was clearly Ragdoll poison as she refused to eat it, would turn her back on it, and dig contemptuously at it, clearly saying it should be in her litter tray

She has got SUCH a wonderful personality, and Will know when I'm upset and want smoochies, but also do so many hilarious things. I absolutely adore her and wish we could have afforded another when her breeder put a picture of one she had for sale that looked so incredibly similar it must have been a distant relative!

Make sure you research your breeder carefully and they have done all the correct health tests on the parents

As others have mentioned, the only downside of Ragdolls/fluffy cats are those big fluffy pantaloons do on occasion need cleaning up after a poo! I shower mine if it's particularly messy, or I hold and DH wipes if it's not too bad. Have taken to a quick check after she exits the tray

Bsbshdh · 26/01/2025 22:34

Ragdoll. Can you add a Catio so your cat can get some sun?

Howilivenow2 · 26/01/2025 22:43

Scottish fold/Scottish straight. They are absolutely adorable. Love to be around people, tolerant of children and very chilled. I have had mine since 10 months old and although she very occasionally ventures into the garden on nice days, she's not particularly fussed about being outside.

Mine is very low maintenance as she is short hair and she does not have folded ears so does not have the health issues associated with them.

She is fine being left for a few days with check ins twice a day, but is always really pleased to see us when we are back.

She tends to sit in the same room as everyone and loves to be stroked.

Which breed indoor cat please?
Toddlerteaplease · 27/01/2025 11:02

@Howilivenow2 that beautiful cations more like a Persian Chinchilla. Not a Scottish Fold. My parents have a Scottish fold, but with Straight ears and he looks like a normal (very handsome) cat.

Toddlerteaplease · 27/01/2025 11:02

Cat

Howilivenow2 · 27/01/2025 11:29

@toddlerteaplease She is definitely a Scottish straight and all the others I have seen for sale look similar to her to be honest. She has quite a flat face and is quite small.

Which breed indoor cat please?
Toddlerteaplease · 27/01/2025 11:33

Well what ever she is, she's beautiful.

MyNameIsAckinckacker · 27/01/2025 14:17

I went for British Shorthairs. Brothers.

One acts like I'm trying to murder him if I dare to even touch the top of his head to pet him and I get the look in pic one..!

Two is CONSTANTLY touching me in some capacity, He is either on me or following me, He's my shadow and I never have any personal space at all, He's the most loving little thing ever.

Which breed indoor cat please?
Which breed indoor cat please?
CatsInCars · 27/01/2025 14:36

Howilivenow2 · 27/01/2025 11:29

@toddlerteaplease She is definitely a Scottish straight and all the others I have seen for sale look similar to her to be honest. She has quite a flat face and is quite small.

My friend has a Scottish straight and she looks just like yours. Gorgeous. Not sure why that poster is still saying ‘whatever she is’, when you’ve told them she’s definitely a Scottish straight. 🙄

Anyway, she’s a beauty. 😍

Toddlerteaplease · 27/01/2025 21:15

Only because my parents have a Scottish fold and he looks like a normal cat.

JaceLancs · 27/01/2025 23:08

British blue boys are nearly always soppy

Which breed indoor cat please?
Which breed indoor cat please?
Which breed indoor cat please?
Which breed indoor cat please?