Friendliest Cat Breeds

If you are thinking about adopting or buying a cat, then you may be looking for a breed that is extremely friendly. Thinking about the characteristics of different breeds is a great way to find a friendly breed.

Each cat has its own personality. Some breeds are friendlier than others. Bringing a friendly cat home encourages the showering of affection on you.

What Breeds of Cats are the Most Friendly? 

If you are looking to adopt a friendly cat, then consider these ten breeds.

  1. Persian
  2. Sphynx
  3. Exotic Shorthair
  4. Abyssinian
  5. Ragdoll
  6. Bombay
  7. Cornish Rex
  8. Maine Coon
  9.  Birman
  10. Serengeti

The International Cat Association recognizes 58 breeds of cats. The Cat Fanciers’ Association and the Fédération Internationale Féline recognizes 44. Not all breeds exhibit the same amount of friendliness. In fact, some would rather never have contact with a human.

Watch this YouTube video showing many different breeds of cats. It will show you photos of some of the breeds that made the list as the world’s friendliest cats. It also includes many of the other breeds considered in naming the world’s friendliest cat breeds.

Are Persian cats friendly?

According to the Omlet, Persians are the friendliest cats in the world. Cat lovers often adore this cat’s long-haired coat and pansy-like face. According to the Cat Fanciers Association, it is also the most popular breed in America.

Persians love serene environments. The Persian, however, can handle a boisterous family. In the latter case, it needs reassurance.

Bond with the Persian by brushing it with a metal comb at least once each day. This helps end tangles and also helps to stop hairballs. You and your cat will enjoy the bonding time.

While white Persians are often seen in commercials, you can choose between seven different colors. In order to develop the different colors, breeders bred these cats with other breeds. The Cat Fanciers Association considers the tabby Persian the most friendly cat.

sphynx cats

Are Sphynx Cats Friendly?

The Sphynx is one of the most recognized breeds of cats in the world. It is also one of the friendliest, according to Omlet.

A breeder in Toronto, Canada, bred the first Sphynx in 1966. Its hairless condition is due to a natural mutation, according to the Cat Fanciers of America.

Breeders have bred this breed with other breeds many times. The purpose of doing this is to create a diverse gene pool. The result, however, is that the other breed’s personality sometimes shows through.

Generally, the Sphynx loves to be right with their human companion. If that is not possible, then they will curl up with the family dog or another cat. This breed hates to be alone, so it is not a good choice for single-pet homes.

While many people think of the Sphynx as being hairless that may not be true. Many are covered with a soft down making them feel like a fuzzy peach. Often, longer hairs are present on their faces.

Exotic Shorthair

Why is the Exotic Shorthair Considered Friendly?

The exotic shorthair is often called the lazy man’s Persian. Breeders showing this breed meet the Persian breed’s standards in every way, according to the Cat Fanciers of America. The one exception is that they have extremely short hair.

This breed tends to be very easy going. They will gladly join in whatever is happening in the household. Their sweet voices often add a musical overtone to family activities.

The friendliest exotic shorthairs are males. Females tend to be more aloof. You may want to get a male if you want your exotic to join in activities.

Both sexes love to play. Dangle a feather in front of one to watch in jump until tuckered out. They also love to sit quietly on your shoulder or near you.

If you are looking for a cat to sleep with you, then this might not be the right breed. They tend to be very warm natured, so they often hunt a cooler place to sleep.

Assyrian cats

Is the Assyrian a Friendly Breed?

The Assyrian is a very friendly breed. It will sit at the door waiting to greet you with purrs every night after work. It never wants you far from its sight.

This breed dates back to at least the Abyssinian War, according to Cat Fanciers of America. Soldiers during the war may have brought the cat back to Europe with them. The first ones imported into the United States arrived in the 1930s.

The Assyrian does not want to be a lap cat. Instead, it wants to be helping you do whatever task is at hand. You may find yourself playfully swatting at your cat to get its paw out of your way.

You may feel that you are being trained by this breed when you introduce one to your home. They are extremely talented at using their paws, voices and other behaviors to get you to conform to their desires.

According to the Cat Fanciers of America, this breed is extremely loyal. Getting one as early as possible increases the cat’s loyalty. Experts consider 12 to 16 weeks an ideal age to adopt this breed.

Ragdolls cat breeds

Are Most Ragdoll Cats Friendly?

According to Caster.com, the ragdoll cat is one of the friendliest breeds. These cats can be trained to come when called. Others have mastered other simple commands.

Most ragdoll cats prefer to spend their time on the floor. They love to lay in the lap of their owners. Their favorite place at night is usually in bed with their owners.

Ann Baker developed this breed. She chose to breed street cats with cats that she owned in Riverside, California, to develop the breed. She bred them specifically for their temperament, according to the Cat Fanciers Association.

There are many different color patterns available in ragdoll cats. They all have darker colors on their face, legs, tail, and ears. Many have white bodies with darker points.

Bombay Cats

Is the Bombay a Friendly Cat?

Nikki Horner developed this breed by breeding the American Shorthair with the Burmese breeds. These loving cats look like miniature black panthers. That was Nikki’s goal.

According to the experts at Chewy.com, this breed is one of the friendliest in the world.

This breed wants to be with you regardless of what you are doing. Most Bombay cats are content to hang around with you often. They love to ride on your shoulder as you move through the house.

You may never get the bed to yourself again. Most Bombay cats love to sleep with you. In fact, they may surprise you by stealing your pillow.

Their easy-going personality makes them a great choice for families with young children, according to The International Cat Association. Most are extremely tolerant of family activities.

This breed will welcome you home warmly. They are also relatively well behaved when you are not home to supervise them. They love to be involved in family activities.

The Bombay sheds very little. Therefore, it is a great breed for those who hate housework since there will not be as much cat hair to vacuum up.

Bombays benefit from an occasional bath. You can also rub them with a chamois to get their hair to shine more.

Cornish Rexes Cats

Are Cornish Rexes Friendly?

The experts at Chewy.com have also named the Cornish Rex as one of the friendliest cat breeds in the world. This breed loves to lay with you when you relax.

Cornish Rexes have no hair. Instead, a soft down covers their body. They love to snuggle allowing them to capture some of your body heat, according to The International Cat Association.

This breed is often called the greyhound of the cat world for its unique body shape. It has a long wavy coat. Many people can tolerate this breed who are normally allergic to cats.

This high-energy breed thrives on attention. Most love to play fetch with a ball. They also love to be the center of attention. You can train them to give kisses.

This breed usually gets along very well with children. After they go to bed, they will also love laying in your lap as you watch television or read a book.

They love warm places. Do not startle if you wake up with this breed in your bed. Lying on heat vents is a favorite activity when you are not around.

Maine Coon Cats

Is the Maine Coon a Friendly Breed?

According to Hill’s Pet, the Maine Coon is an extremely friendly cat. The official cat of Maine, this breed loves to be around humans and other animals.

It is one of the funniest cats, according to The International Cat Association. It will try to help with everything.

Unlike many cat breeds on this list of the friendliest cat breeds, the Maine Coon wants to be close to you without being on you. It will follow you from room-to-room and even follow you on outside activities. Most, however, do not want to lay in your lap.

No one is sure where the Maine Coon breed originated, according to The International Cat Association. Some believe that Marie Antoinette sent the first cats to Wiscasset, Maine. At that time, she may have been planning to follow them.

Others suggest that this cat was first bred in Maine. Regardless, by the 1860s, this breed was winning many cat shows.

It is likely that you will find yourself laughing at the antics of this breed. They tend to be goofy throughout their lives.

They grow very slowly. Maine Coons will not reach their full development until age five. They never lose their kitten personalities with many loving to play fetch.

Birman cat

Are Birman Cats Friendly?

Birman cats tend to be very friendly, according to the experts at Hill’s Pet. This breed looks similar to the Siamese. Legend says that its sky-blue eyes and silky coat were a gift from a goddess for the cat’s loyalty to her owner, according to the Cat Fanciers Club of Queensland Inc.

Birman cats are still extremely loyal. They do well as the single cat in a home. They will tolerate other cats and animals.

According to The Cat Fanciers Association, people in different countries describe this cat’s personality differently. The French say the breed has a flair for drama while the English find them reserved and dignified. People living in America often describe them as ingenious.

You will never be alone when you choose a Birman. Family activities normally include the Birman cat. You may need to comb their silky coat regularly.

Serengeti Cats

Are the Serengeti a friendly breed?

If you are looking for a rare friendly breed of cat, consider the Serengeti, according to iheartcats.com. This breed looks like a miniaturized African Serval. It can jump seven feet in the air.

This breed developed by Karen Sausman in California may be shy when it first meets you. Give the cat time to warm up to you, and you will never be alone.

This breed has a high-energy level. They often make great pets for people who are always busy on the go.

They are very vocal. Expect that you will find yourself arguing with this cat often.

If you lose your Serengeti, then look at the highest point in your home. They often love to sit there observing what is going on before deciding to join the fun.

Despite their looks, they have no wild animals in their heritage. They will tend to stay in the house. They will not usually try to attack.

They get along well with other pets in the home. They also tolerate children extremely well, according to Pet Guide.

Many experts consider cats from these 10 breeds the friendliest in the world. Each breed has their own personality. Choose the one matching your family’s lifestyle the best.

Before adopting or buying a cat, please make sure that you are ready for the commitment. Most will live at least seven years. When you choose one of these friendliest cat breeds in the world, you are bringing home a new friend.