9 Kid-Friendly Cat Breeds

If you’re a parent thinking about introducing a family cat, you might benefit from reading the following research findings:

1. Cats can help motivate and stimulate a child’s interest in learning. In fact, the word “cat” is one of the most frequently occurring words in an infant’s vocabulary. 
2. Cats can help improve interpersonal skills and empathy and teach the value of care and responsibility.
3. Cats can be confidantes to a child in need of emotional support. Children often seek out pets for comfort when they are upset. 
4. Children raised with cats may get sick less often than their peers and have fewer visits to the doctor’s office.

Having confirmed the benefits of getting a family cat, the next step is to find a cat breed that is child friendly. Cats can be very cute and cuddly, but some breeds tend to have a feistier side than others, which can result in nipping, biting, and short-temperedness. If you don’t fancy a sassy soulmate for your kids, it pays to learn which cat breeds are the friendliest and how to keep your indoor cat happy.

Best Child-Friendly Cat Breeds

The best cats for kids are the ones that are laid back, gentle and playful. Your cat should be unfazed by changes in its environment, enjoy physical contact such as stroking and should be relatively tolerant of being handled. No breed can guarantee a cat’s nature, but there are certain breeds that fit this ‘child-friendly’ bill more so than others. They include:

Burmese

Burmese cats are people-oriented and are very sweet-natured. They crave close contact with their human owners and they love a good lap cuddle. Burmese cats are playful and mischievous and will follow you around the home hoping for a pat or stroke. Their fun-loving nature lasts long into adulthood, making them great companions for life. 

Manx

With a Manx cat in your household, there will never be a dull moment. Similar to dogs, they like to play fetch, and bury toys, they are skilled hunters, and they are fascinated by water. Manx cats are social, tame, and active and can be trained well. They are also very loyal animals. 

Abyssinian

Abyssinian cats are an easy cat breed to have in your home. They love people and other animals and while they enjoy playing with their human owners, they are equally content playing for hours with their own toys. Abyssinian cats are active and like to jump, they speak softly and they like to be combed. 

Ragdoll

Ragdoll cats are curious cats, meaning they are comfortable being left at home to explore while the family heads off to school and work. They have a luxurious coat that requires daily grooming, perfect for a child willing to take on the role. Ragdoll cats make for gentle pets that don’t demand high volumes of attention, so are a good fit for a busy household.  

American Shorthair

American Shorthair cats are built for family life. They are very low maintenance and get along with everyone, human or pet. American Shorthair cats tend to lead long and healthy lives, making them a good addition to a family with young children. They are skilled rodent catches too, meaning they’ll pull their weight around the household. 

Maine Coon

Maine Coon cats are gentle giants. They make popular therapy cats because they are socially outgoing and affectionate. Maine Coon’s have a calm confidence that keeps them relaxed with even the loudest and bounciest of children and their high intelligence makes them easily trainable. 

Birman

Birman cats can get quite large and while they can be territorial, they are not aggressive pets. Birman’s are beautiful to look at, with unusual markings that are striking in colour. They are attachment animals but do tend to attach themselves to one person rather than the family as a whole. 

Himalayan

Take the best from Siamese cats and combine this with the best from Persian cats and you’ve got yourself a Himalayan cat. This placid breed exhibits bursts of kitten-like activity no matter the age and children often find this playful part of the day a lot of fun. The rest of the time, Himalayan cats are quite docile, so you do need to pay attention to nutrition and exercise. 

Ragamuffin

Ragamuffins demand a lot of attention and you’ll often find them waiting for you when you come through the front door. They will happily stay in a lap for hours and they provide the family with non-stop companionship. If a large, affectionate and somewhat clingy cat is what you’re after, a Ragamuffin won’t disappoint.

Finding the right breed for your kids

The cat breed you bring into your home is up to you and your family. Most cats will make great cuddly buddies for your kids, however, every cat is different. To ensure a successful match, keep in mind your current and future living arrangements, your family’s schedule, the age of your children, travel plans (and travel safety for your cat), and typical breed characteristics. Don’t just choose the cutest kitten in the litter - take the time to learn specific details about the breed and make sure all family members are on board with the responsibility of pet ownership. Your cat will be with you for years, after all.