If you're looking for a cat that will happily remain in the comfort of your home, you may be wondering what the best indoor cat breeds are. Here are a few favorites from our vets.
What is the best breed of cat for you?
The answer to this question depends on the personality, physical attributes and other characteristics you find most desirable in a feline companion, as well as your own lifestyle. Cats are as unique as their people and while some are chatty attention seekers, others are quiet and lazy.
Here are a few breed suggestions to help you find the perfect feline companion for your household.
Siamese
You can recognize these cats by their short, soft coat which is light-colored on the body with a darker fur on the face, paws, ears and tail. Siamese cats are strikingly beautiful, playful, and known for following their owners around the house 'chatting'. This is not the right breed for anyone who spends a great deal of time out of the house. Siamese cats possess several dog-like qualities including a love of play and a need for lots of companionship.
Ragdoll
Ragdoll cats are large, long-bodied and strikingly beautiful, with long, silky coats and tend to make loving indoor pets. When it comes to their personality, these cats are loving, sweet, and always up for cuddles. They often welcome their people at the door when they arrive home, and can learn tricks easily with a little positive reinforcement (treats).
British Shorthair
Bred to keep rodents from invading their masters’ farm and house, this breed plays well by themselves and are a good choice for single people provided they get plenty of exercise and interaction from their owner. This powerful, medium-to-large breed is known for being round and thick. Our vets recommend that you groom your British Shorthair daily, since these cats tend to grow thick, dense coats in the winter, which shed when warmer weather arrives.
Himalayan
Also known as “Himmies”, these gentle and calm cats have large, deep blue eyes and long, full, dense coats that require regular grooming. This breed often exhibits kitten-like bursts of energy. You are as likely to find see these lovely cats snoozing in a sliver of sunlight, as you are to see them sprinting through the living room, on to their next adventure. These cats make great companions, provided their owners are attentive to nutrition and give them enough exercise and interaction.
Scottish Fold
Scottish Folds are known for being enthusiastic mousers who are also playful, sensitive and expressive. This breed is recognizable by their unusual folded ears, and striking orange-yellow colored eyes. These cats tend to be good with children, and love attention, companionship, and time around people. If you’re out of the house for long periods this may not be the best cat breed for your household.
The Moggy
Moggy is a general term for a mixed breed cat. These cat's are a mixed bag of personalities depending on their roots, but typically they are content and happy creatures with few health issues. You just might find the best cat for you at your local animal shelter, or cat rescue!