Cats are one of the most common pets, yet every cute little cat has a fierce beast inside. So, which cats are suitable for keeping as pets? Which cats are intelligent, gentle, approachable, and the easiest to raise?
We've compiled a list of the top ten most suitable cat breeds for families, including: Persian cats, Ragdoll cats, Exotic Shorthairs, British Shorthairs, Chinchilla cats, Abyssinian cats, American Shorthairs, Linqing Lion cats, and Siamese cats. If you don't want to become a cat slave right away, why not try one of these perfect pet cats for families?
The world's top 10 most suitable cat breeds for keeping as pets
01 Persian Cat
The Persian cat is a breed that originated in 1860 in Britain after more than 100 years of selective breeding, based on the native long-haired cats of Afghanistan and the Angora long-haired cats of Turkey. It has an average lifespan of 12-15 years and weighs between 3.5 and 7 kilograms, making it a very common long-haired cat breed.
Persian cats have an endearing face, long and luxurious fur, and elegant manners, hence the titles "Prince of Cats" and "Princess of Cats." They are a highly popular purebred cat among cat lovers worldwide and hold an extremely important position.
02 Ragdoll Cat
Ragdoll cats, also known as Ragdoll cats, originated in the United States. They are one of the larger and heavier cat breeds, and are also among the most beautiful cats. Because of their elegant and noble temperament and extraordinary beauty, they are also known as "fairy cats".
Ragdoll cats have a V-shaped head, large, round eyes, thick fur, thick limbs, a long tail, and a soft body. Their coat colors include pointed, bicolor, and mitted. Ragdoll cats feel like soft, plush toys when cuddled, are very friendly, have a gentle and affectionate temperament, and are relatively easy to care for, making them ideal family pets.
03 Exotic Shorthair Cat
The Exotic Shorthair, also known as the foreign shorthair cat, short-haired Persian cat, or exotic shorthair cat, is a breed of cat bred artificially. It was created in the United States in the 1960s by artificially crossing long-haired breeds such as Persians with American Shorthairs, Burmese cats, and others.
The Exotic Shorthair's coat is similar to the American Shorthair's, but it has a sturdy, horse-like build like the Persian cat, along with a large, round face and a flat nose. Besides its dense coat, the Exotic Shorthair retains the Persian cat's unique adorable expression and round, chubby body. These cats are very cute and have a plump appearance.
04 British Shorthair
The British Shorthair, an ancient breed of cat, has a history dating back to domestic cats in ancient Rome. With its long breeding history, it can be considered a model in the cat family.
British Shorthair cats are round and plump with short, thick, well-developed limbs, short, dense fur, large heads, and round faces. They are gentle, calm, friendly, and very easy to care for. Their average lifespan is 15-20 years, and their average weight can reach 4 to 8 kilograms. The main breeds of British Shorthair cats include orange-eyed white cats, blue-eyed white cats, odd-eyed white cats, cream cats, and pointed shorthair cats.
05 chinchilla cat
The Chinchilla cat originated in England and was deliberately bred from the Persian cat, making it a relatively new breed. Chinchillas have shorter limbs and are slightly smaller than Persian cats, but appear more agile. They have large, round eyes, with emerald green, blue-green, or yellow-green irises being the most common colors. They have dense, glossy fur all over their bodies, and their short, bushy tail resembles that of a squirrel, making them very charming.
Chinchilla cats are strong and agile, like quiet, have a gentle temperament, a strong sense of self-esteem, and elegant manners. They have a naturally pampered appearance and give people a gorgeous and noble feeling.
06 Abyssinian Cat
The Abyssinian cat, also known as the Ethiopian cat, is nicknamed the "ballet cat" for its graceful gait. Its coat color resembles that of a hare, leading the British to call it the "rabbit cat" or "ball cat." The Abyssinian cat has a slender body, dense, tan fur, long, muscular limbs, a wedge-shaped head, and large, golden, green, or light brown eyes. It also has light cream-colored stripes on its chin, lips, and eye rims.
Because of its stripes and many spots on its head, the Abyssinian cat resembles a small cougar.
07 American Shorthair Cat
The American Shorthair is a breed of cat that originated in the United States. Its ancestors were cats brought to North America by early European immigrants. It belongs to the same family as the British Shorthair and the European Shorthair, and is a large breed among shorthaired cats.
The American Shorthair is known for its robust physique, strong bones, well-developed muscles, and intelligent, gentle nature. It has a large, round head with full, rounded cheeks, a straight nose, large, slightly rounded ears set wide apart, and large, round, bright, and wide-set eyes. Its fur is thick and comes in over 30 colors, with the silver striped variety being the most prized.
08 Linqing Lion Cat
The Linqing Lion Cat, also known as the Shandong Lion Cat, is a descendant of the Persian cat and the Luxi tabby cat. Among the many breeds, the lion cat with one blue eye and one yellow eye and snow-white fur is the most precious, and people call it the "Mandarin Duck Eye Lion Cat".
Linqing Lion Cats are characterized by their large heads, short ears, and long fur, with the fur on their necks and backs reaching 4-6 cm in length, hence their name. Based on coat color, Linqing Lion Cats can be categorized into four types: white, black, black and white (or black and white), and tortoiseshell. Based on eye color, they can be classified as yellow-eyed, blue-eyed, and heterochromatic (different colored eyes).
09 Siamese Cat
The Siamese cat originated in Siam (now Thailand), hence its name. It is a world-famous short-haired cat and the representative breed of short-haired cats.
Siamese cats are flexible, muscular, slender, and have well-defined features, with long, thin legs. As a popular pet cat, Siamese cats adapt well to their owner's local climate. They are known for their spirited and active nature, intelligence, agility, strong curiosity, and understanding. They are extremely loyal and devoted to their owners, and may even die of depression if forcibly separated from them.
10. Birman cat
The Burmese Sacred Cat, also known as the Burmese Sacred Cat, is said to have originated from the cats kept by monks in ancient Burmese temples as guardian deities. It was introduced to Europe in the 18th century and gradually evolved into its current form.
Birman cats are relatively long-bodied, with a predominantly light golden coat. The face, ears, legs, and tail are darker, ranging from brown to dark gray, and the paws are white. Colors include seal, blue, lilac, chocolate, red, cream, and tortoiseshell, and all colors can be further accentuated with lynx markings. The fur from the chest to the abdomen is wavy.
A distinctive feature of the Birman cat is its white paw tips, a feature known as "snow-treading paws," which adds to its noble appearance. Birman cats are gentle, friendly, and have melodious voices. They enjoy human companionship and are also very friendly towards other cats.
