If you’re thinking about welcoming a cat into your family, knowing key differences between cat breeds can help you make the right choice.
Here are some kid friendly cat breeds that make great pets for young families.
Kid Friendly Cat Breeds
The Persian
Persian cats make loving and affectionate companions, plus they are known to be patient with boisterous children. Persians do not mind staying inside the house for long periods of time and love attention. A Persian cat will happily sit with you for long periods of time.
They are great company but not too demanding as a feline friend. One potential drawback is that, its long coat is high maintenance.
Children would need to be aware of how to handle the cat or if the children are old enough, to learn how to help with this ongoing process of daily brushing.
The Burmese
Burmese cats make an excellent choice for families because they are affectionate cats towards children and adults.
A Burmese cat is energetic, fun, and make wonderful family pets. They have a short coat that requires little maintenance.
The Siamese
The Siamese cat’s outgoing personality makes it an ideal cat breed for families with children – and they also love to play! Siamese cats enjoy playing games – anything from fetch to hide and seek is right up their alley. They also love jumping around and chasing after toys to play around even more.
They’re known to be affectionate and friendly companions and are sometimes known as lap cats. They’re also very intelligent animals who understand what you’re saying (and often reply by mewing back at you), making them perfect companions for active kids. They have striking blue eyes.
Just in case you need any persuading, here are 8 amazing reasons to own a cat.
The Abyssinian
The Abyssinian cat is known for being very loving and affectionate pets. They are social and will happily fit into a family with children. They also get on well with other pets in the household. They have a short, easy to care, low maintenance coat.
They are energetic cats that can be trained to walk on a leash.
The Scottish Fold
One cat breed that is good as a pet for families with young children is the Scottish Fold cat. A Scottish Fold will happily sit on your lap but also likes some activity.
They can become sedentary if left alone, indoors, so some play with cat toys and wands is recommended.
Kids love playing with cats so this is a perfect situation. As they are a social cat they may be lonely if left alone for long periods of time and benefit from having a playmate. Two Scottish Folds anyone?
The Maine Coon
A well-known cat breed that is one of the best cat breeds for children is the Maine Coon. Maine Coons are gentle giants with a gentle nature. They are patient and will allow your kids to play with them without getting angry. They’re also perfect for families with other pets, as they get along well with dogs!
Maine Coons are wonderful family pets. They are great with children and patient. They have a natural curiosity and playfulness that makes them incredibly appealing. Children love playing with these lovely cats. There is something about a Maine Coon!
Kids also love, love, love stories about animals and in particular cats. Books in childhood become a treasured memory. Here are some terrific and inexpensive stories about cats.
The Himalayan
The Himalayan cat is known to be gentle, friendly and playful, making them a good choice for families with young children. Himalayans like to play, and if you give them a crumpled paper or a toy kitty, they will play for hours.
The Himalayan is a cross between the Persian and Siamese cat and was created to have color points like its cousin. It also has blue eyes because of this breeding process. Like a Persian cat, your Himalayan cat will need to be brushed every day.
The Ragdoll
Ragdoll cats are known to be docile and affectionate, making them the perfect cat for children to play with. They are the ideal indoor cat. Ragdolls are very sweet and love people. They make good pets for families.
As they are semi longhaired, they do require regular grooming. Ragdolls love to be brushed and petted. They get lonely when you leave them alone for too long.
The Birman
Birman cats have a serene demeanour, so it won’t be difficult to find one sleeping on the couch. Plus, Birmans are extremely affectionate and love spending time with their owners, making them excellent pets for families with young children.
Birmans have a very relaxed personality, so they’ll enjoy just hanging out in the living room while the kids watch TV or play games nearby. Birmans do have a long coat, but because they don’t have a thick undercoat, grooming is easy, with a once a week brush usually being enough.
The British Shorthair
British Shorthairs get along with children and dogs and make great family cats. They enjoy being around the family but they don’t necessarily like being picked up. They are calm and laid back but love playing with toys and chasing a laser pointer.
The Norwegian Forest
Norwegian Forest cats are one of the most loyal cat breeds out there, making them perfect pets for families with young children.
They are sweet natured cats. They love climbing so providing some high perches will make her very happy. They are a large in size and some are very large. They definitely fall into the best cat breeds for children.
The Siberian
Siberian cats love being in high places and looking down on everyone (so if you have a cat tree in your living room, they’ll be in there all day). Siberians are cat-friendly so they’ll get along well with pets and children.
Not only that but these cat breeds are very affectionate, so your kids can cuddle up next to them for hours! Siberian cats like water so don’t be surprised to see your cat going near sources of water.
The Manx
The Manx cats is a very affectionate cat breed. They love cuddles and getting petted by family members. Manx cats like playing with their toys.
They are also good at opening cupboards. A Manx is also likely to charge around the house. Some Manx cats do not have a tail and some have a short stubby tail. They are often said to have a dog like personality.
The Bengal
Bengals cats are very intelligent cats. They are active and love to have a chat. Bengals like water and climbing and jumping, so you can expect them to be high up on cat trees or shelves around your house most of the time.
He is a perfect choice for children in busy households and can even learn tricks. He loves attention. He will keep out of the way of toddlers and very young children. Primary school age children are a match for the energy and curiosity of a Bengal cat.
The Japanese Bobtail
Japanese Bobtails have a short kinked tail. They are quite a rare cat. They are energetic, outgoing and good with children. They are an intelligent, smart and playful breed that easily pick up new tricks. They enjoy playing games which makes them perfect pets for families with young children (especially if they’re the energetic kind).
They also understand what you say to them and often reply by meowing back at you. They are very social cats, people oriented and like being part of the family. They don’t like being left alone for long periods.
Feline Friend For The Family
Kid friendly cat breeds will only tolerate friendly kids. Kids, particularly very young children need to be shown how to behave around the cat or kitten. Family life can suffer if a kitten or cat is scratching the the kids. One simple way to avoid cat or kitten scratches is using a wand toy to play with the cat. Little hands from young family members are out of the way, safe and sound.
Sometimes it is not the breed that is the important aspect but rather how the kids treat the cat. Human companionship with a cat is just what makes the bond between pets and children so special. Find the friendliest cat breeds to choose a cat for your family but show your kids how to be friendly to cats. Remember, they may need to show their mates too.
Kids learn by example, so the way you treat the cat is very important for those all important copycats in your home – your kids.
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