Are you looking to adopt a pet but don’t know which cat breed to choose?
It’s no secret that cats are one of the most popular pets in the world. For example, there are about 74,059,000 cats in the United States. According to statistics, more than half of all Americans have a cat in their homes and 9 out of 10 Americans consider their pet to be a member of the family.
However, even though felines are very popular in the United States, it doesn’t mean that there are no other households that want to adopt a cat and become first-time owners. Plus, it’s essential to remember that owning another pet doesn’t make you a pet expert or the right parent for a cat as well – thus, you will still be a novice cat parent if you’ve never had a feline before.
Each animal has different needs that can’t be found in other creatures. In other words, you need to know a few things about cats before adopting one and after this process, you should choose a cat breed that’s right for you.
Unfortunately, cats have gained a false reputation and many people believe that they’re selfish, unfriendly or soulless creatures that don’t love their owners – but if you’ve ever been a cat parent, you already know that this stereotype is totally wrong. There are many cat breeds that can be friendly, lonely, grumpy, affectionate, talkative and so on, but you just have to choose the one that is perfect for you and that’s why we are here: to help you find the best feline, especially if you are a novice owner. So, read on to find out more info!
Ragdolls
In essence, Ragdoll cats are actually dogs that meow instead of bark. Why? Because their personality traits and behavior are similar to those of dogs. For example, they can quickly learn various tricks and love to follow you around the house all day long, just like dogs.
They can be perfect pets for any type of family, whether or not they are novice owners, and they can get along well with other pets and children as well.
According to animal experts, the Ragdoll cat will greet their family members at the door when they come home and is not only friendly and docile, but also intelligent, affectionate, and easy to take care of.
Of course, they love to play with toys and get involved in various family activities.
They are not very vocal and talkative, but they will use a sweet voice to remind you that they are hungry or when they want attention.
However, when it comes to the Ragdoll cat, the best part is that they won’t jump and climb on your furniture, as they generally like to sit on your sofa and bed, no higher than that.
Maine Coons
Even though the Maine Coon cat is one of the largest cat breeds in the world, this does not make them less suitable for novice cat parents. They are very affectionate with their families, adaptable to many lifestyles and personalities, curious, intelligent, and friendly. The Maine Coon is an expert at hunting mice, which is great especially if you live in a house.
They love to be surrounded by people and follow them anywhere in the house. Of course, just like any other animal, they want your attention, but when you are busy, they won’t disturb you.
In addition, being excellent mouse hunters, they will keep themselves trained by chasing toys. So, try to give them plenty of toys if you want to keep their skills sharp. However, just like the Ragdoll cat, the Maine Coon cat prefers to stay on the ground level, without climbing your furniture.
Siamese
The Siamese cat breed not only looks sophisticated and elegant, but they are also very affectionate and friendly with their families, as well as talkative. So, if you choose to adopt this cat breed, then you need to know that you have to be prepared for long and interesting conversations every day.
Nevertheless, this type of cat breed is also very playful and active, which means that you need to give them various toys and help them get involved in different activities to stimulate their minds and consume their energy.
What many people don’t know about the beautiful Siamese is that this breed was actually used to develop many other breeds, such as the Balinese, Oriental, the Tonkinese, and the Havana Brown.
They are very communicative, so they will tell you in a loud voice what they want from you while watching every step that you take through the house. That being said, if you want a social cat who talks to you every day, maybe the Siamese breed is perfect for you.
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American Shorthairs
The beautiful American Shorthair cat breed was initially created to protect people’s stores of food from mice, rats, and other intruders, but nowadays, they can make excellent family companions. They are active and calm, but not needy. If you want to keep their mind sharp and help them consume their energy, you should provide them with puzzle toys and interactive toys.
Even if they don’t like to be carried around and aren’t lap cats, they still want your attention and affection as well as sitting next to you on the sofa. Their coat can be easily taken care of and all you have to do is to brush it once a week just to remove dead hair.
Speaking of cat grooming sessions, here are 6 Cat Breeds That Love Water.
Sphynx Cats
The hairless Sphynx cat loves attention and to make their family members laugh. The best part of owning a Sphynx is that they are so friendly that even veterinarians can easily handle them without making them anxious (because almost all cats are scared of vets).
They are active and intelligent creatures, and if you choose to bring a Sphynx home, it’s essential to give them toys that will challenge their athletic bodies. In addition, if you do not pay enough attention to them and don’t give them all the affection they want, they tend to explore their surroundings, including climbing on your furniture (if they don’t have a cat tree, of course).
If you are a novice cat owner, perhaps you will choose this cat breed, but don’t forget that they are social cats, so if you work all day it’s better to have another pet to keep them company, such as other cats or even a dog. Also, they will need to be covered most of the time, because they need a warm environment.
However, before adopting a pet, it is important to make sure that you can help them meet their needs. It is essential to provide them with good food, attention, affection, games to stimulate their minds, regular vet check-ups, and so on.
Scottish Folds
As the name suggests, the Scottish Fold cat is native to Scotland and is also one of the most sensitive, expressive, active, and intelligent cat breeds out there. However, before adopting such a cat breed it’s essential to know that they love to play and shouldn’t be left home alone for too long. Nevertheless, if you still have to leave them home alone, then they need another feline friend to keep them company.
They are excellent pets for every type of family, and although they are medium-sized cats, they don’t require much maintenance effort. The Scottish Fold simply loves to be surrounded by people and adores every activity that involves human interaction.
So, if you have never had a cat before, but now want to adopt one, you should definitely opt for the Scottish Fold cat. Also, they can be the perfect pet for families with children.
Somali
The Somali cat breed is one of the most intelligent and active cats out there who love to climb and jump all day long. They are also very curious, so they tend to explore their surroundings more. That being said, there’s nothing you can do without your beloved furry cat investigating it closely.
In other words, this beautiful and interesting cat loves to be the center of attention and you have to give them enough attention and affection, otherwise, you risk raising an unhappy cat. Of course, you can keep them busy with some toys, such as balls, bottle caps, puzzle toys, big peacock feathers, and so on.
As I mentioned earlier, they love to climb and jump, so you should provide them with a cat tree. According to animal experts, they rarely break objects in your house, unless they are simply curious.
Somalis are very adaptable and can fit in any house, whether you are a novice owner or not, but the only condition is to give them attention and love. People who have had this cat breed before say they are irreplaceable and you will love them for life.
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