7 Most Popular Cat Breeds in the World

Did you know these cat breeds are the most popular ones?

Whether you’re a dog fan or a cat lover, you have to admit that felines are among the most beautiful and interesting creatures in the animal kingdom, right? They are some of the most popular animals in the United States, with 29% of Americans owning a cat. Just like any other pet, cats are intelligent, playful, affectionate, devoted to their families, some more talkative than others, and, in general, they can get along well with other pets, as well.

Many people believe that cats are easy to maintain, unlike dogs, but this is totally wrong. According to animal experts, every animal has different needs, regardless of their breed, age, gender, and so on. Just like dogs, there are some more independent cat breeds than others, while certain cat breeds hate being left home alone for too long and seek the attention of their people every time.

However, before adopting a pet (whether you prefer dogs, cats, birds, or other animals), it is very important to educate yourself first about the breed per se, what it means to care for an animal, the maintenance costs, what type of food it is recommended depending on their age, breed, or allergies, why it is essential to never skip vet check-ups, and so on. If these tasks seem quite difficult for you, it means that you are not ready yet for adopting a pet.

These animals have different needs and it is your responsibility to meet them, otherwise, you risk raising unhappy and unhealthy animals – or even worse – you will end up abandoning them. If these tasks seem difficult enough to you, it means that you are not yet ready for the adoption of a pet.

That being said, let’s look at the most popular cat breeds in the world, according to statistics. Read on for more info!

Tonkinese

• Life span: 10 to 16 years
• Weight: 6 to 12 pounds
• Origin: the United States and Thailand

The Tonkinese cat breed is the result of a cross between the Siamese and Burmese breeds. They are just like dogs, namely that they need a lot of attention and affection, so they will follow you all over the house until they get what they want. They are the happiest pets when you include them in family activities and let them be the center of attention.

The beautiful Tonkinese is very friendly, loving, and active. They will have a friendly attitude even around your guests, but you shouldn’t leave them alone at home for too long. Nevertheless, if you work during the day, you should make sure that they have another friend to spend time with, such as another Tonkinese, another cat, or even a dog.

Being very active breeds, they tend to jump to high places, so try to provide them with a large cat tree, as well as other toys that will stimulate their minds and help them consume their energy. Even though they are talkative, their voice is not as loud as that of a Siamese.

Maine Coon

• Life span: 9 to 15 years
• Weight: 9 to 18 pounds
• Origin: Maine, USA

As the name suggests, the Maine Coon is native to Maine, a U.S. state. This cat breed has been popular for their abilities as a mouser, farm cat, and ship’s cat, but nowadays, they make excellent pets for any type of family, including those who already have other pets or those with young children.

Although they are large cat breeds, they have a friendly and loving personality that can adapt to many lifestyles. If you choose to adopt such a breed, you should know that they love to follow you all over the house, but they are not needy at all, so if you are busy, they will understand.

The best part is that no rodents will be safe in your household as long as there is a Maine Coon guarding the territory. They tend to play with toys as if they were mice, so this way they keep their skills sharp. Even though they can jump and climb just like any other feline, the Maine Coon prefers to stay calm. Of course, they are very intelligent and can learn new tricks quickly.

Bengal

• Life span: 10 to 16 years
• Weight: 8 to 17 pounds
• Origin: the United States

Despite their wild appearance, the Bengal cat breed is a domestic feline with a loving personality, although their ancestor is the wild Asian leopard cat. In fact, their name comes from the Asian leopard cat from Bengal – Felis bengalensis (which is the scientific name proposed by Robert Kerr in 1792).

The Bengal was an accidental result of a cross between Asian leopard cat and a domestic shorthair. Jean Mill – the creator of the breed, had a leopard cat and a domestic shorthair to keep her company and, to her surprise, they mated. Mill thought that these two felines couldn’t mate because they came from different worlds.

However, people who already own a Bengal cat know that they are highly active, intelligent, friendly, and devoted to their families. Of course, they are talkative creatures, so you should be ready to have long and interesting conversations every day with your new friend. Moreover, you should be aware that they can develop destructive behavior if you don’t provide them with enough toys and games to consume their energy.

Siamese

• Life Span: 8 to 15 years
• Weight: 6 to 14 pounds
• Origin: Thailand

Firstly, it is essential to understand that the life span and the weight of an animal (among other things) depend on a lot of factors, but they are all correlated to the way you manage to meet their needs. In other words, the more you take care of them and give them healthy food, frequent visits to the vet, and so on, the longer they will live and be in good physical shape.

However, the beautiful and sophisticated Siamese has an impressive appearance, with an amazing coat and blue eyes. Of course, their main feature is that they love to talk to you constantly. Their voice is raspy and loud. They love to be in the center of attention, to sit on your lap, and “help” you with your daily tasks.

This cat breed doesn’t like to be left alone at home for too long, but if you have no choice, you should make sure that they have another friend, such as another Siamese. Just like any other feline, Siameses are very intelligent creatures, agile, athletic and love to be included in your family games.

Siberian

• Life Span: 11 to 18 years
• Weight: 8 to 17 pounds
• Origin: Russia

The Siberian cat breed was initially famous for its hunting abilities, keeping rodents away from grains and other foods, but nowadays, they make perfect pets for any type of family. The breed was actually accepted by the American Cat Fanciers Association in 1999. Many people choose to adopt this cat breed because they are hypoallergenic.

The Siberian cat loves to spend time with their people, so they will usually follow them all over the house, ‘helping’ them with their daily tasks. Of course, they love to sit on your lap for hours. In general, they act nicely around your guests and are not shy in the presence of strangers.

Nevertheless, they are active creatures that love to play. In addition, Siberians are also very curious, so keep your bric-a-brac and jewelry out of sight.

Ragdoll

• Life Span: 12 to 17 years
• Weight: 10 to 20 pounds
• Origin: Riverside, California, USA

The Ragdoll cat breed was first developed by breeder Ann Baker in 1960. The Cat Fanciers Association gave them full recognition in 2000. In general, males are larger than females and they can weigh more than 20 pounds.

They are just like dogs, namely that they have loving and friendly personalities, are devoted to their people, greet them at the door every time, follow them all over the house, and always sit on their lap. But that is not all! The Ragdoll comes when called or retrieves toys that are thrown for them.

They are docile and can learn new tricks quickly. They usually ask you to pet them by using a sweet voice. Ragdolls don’t like to jump and climb, so they will usually stay on the same level as their family.

British Shorthair

• Life Span: 12 to 17 years
• 7 to 17 pounds
• Origin: Great Britain

The British Shorthair is native to England, being recognized by the American Cat Association in 1967, but they officially accepted it in 1980. In general, males are larger than females, and they can weigh more than 20 pounds.

They have a friendly and loving personality, making them excellent family companions. Even though they like to be the center of attention, they are not needy. They will generally follow you around the house and watch you if you are busy. Although they like to sit next to you on the sofa, the British Shorthair won’t usually sit on your lap.

Moreover, they are not that active, so they will transform into couch potatoes when they become adults. That being said, try to take care of their diet, because otherwise, they tend to become overweight.

If you already have a kitty make sure that you keep an eye out for these issues, as they can indicate serious health problems!