Most Affectionate Cat Breeds (Ranked by Data)
Some cats tolerate people; others follow you from room to room and sleep on your chest. This list is for anyone who wants the second kind.
Every breed here scores 4 or 5 on both Sociability and Family-friendly in our editorial ratings; the list is ranked by the Sociability score, then popularity. Sociability measures how much a breed seeks out people, strangers included; Family-friendly covers how well it copes with a busy household, children included. A breed has to score well on both, so an intensely bonded one-person cat that hides from visitors does not make the cut.
The Ragdoll and Maine Coon top the list and are the two most popular cats in the encyclopedia for much the same reason. The Siamese, Burmese and Sphynx are the demanding kind of affectionate, happiest when they are involved in whatever you are doing and vocal when they are not; the Birman and Ragamuffin are gentler about it.
Affection is a tendency of the breed, not a promise about the kitten you take home. Early handling matters more than pedigree, and a cat from any breed that was poorly socialized before twelve weeks may never be a lap cat. These breeds also pay a price for their sociability: most do badly when left alone for long stretches, and several are known for separation-related problems. That is worth planning for before a trip. A sociable cat is usually the easiest to leave with a visitor, and a cat sitter who comes once or twice a day can keep one happy, but the sitter should meet the cat first and the cat should get to decide whether it likes them.
Ragdoll
Large, relaxed companion cat famous for going limp when picked up and for trailing its people from room to room.
Large · 12–17 years
Maine Coon
Gentle giant with a shaggy coat, tufted ears and a chirping voice, shaped by New England winters.
Large · 12–15 years
Devon Rex
Pixie-faced cat with huge ears, a wavy coat and a mischievous, monkey-like urge to ride on shoulders.
Small · 12–15 years
Sphynx
Nearly hairless, suede-skinned cat that runs warm, craves attention and behaves like an extroverted clown.
Medium · 10–15 years
Siamese
Slender, blue-eyed talker with pointed coloring that forms intense bonds and comments loudly on everything.
Medium · 12–20 years
Burmese
Compact, heavy-for-its-size cat with a satin coat and a people-focused, puppyish personality that lasts into old age.
Medium · 12–18 years
Siberian
Powerful, triple-coated Russian forest cat that stays playful for years and is often tolerated by allergy sufferers.
Large · 12–15 years
Oriental Shorthair
Siamese body and voice in hundreds of solid, tabby and shaded colors, with enormous ears and a need to be involved.
Medium · 12–15 years
Cornish Rex
Greyhound-built cat in a marcelled, washboard-wave coat, forever racing, leaping and seeking warm laps.
Small · 11–15 years
Tonkinese
Siamese-Burmese blend with aqua eyes and mink coloring that balances chattiness with a cuddly, easygoing nature.
Medium · 12–16 years
Ragamuffin
Ragdoll offshoot with a rabbit-soft coat, a full range of colors and an exceptionally docile, lap-loving temperament.
Large · 12–16 years
Bombay
Jet-black, copper-eyed cat bred to look like a miniature panther; sociable, warm-seeking and easy to live with.
Medium · 12–16 years
Balinese
Long-coated Siamese with a plumed tail, the same blue eyes and chatter but a slightly softer, gentler edge.
Medium · 12–20 years
Japanese Bobtail
Pom-pom-tailed cat of Japanese folklore, the beckoning cat; chatty, bold and fond of carrying toys around.
Medium · 13–16 years
American Curl
Known for ears that curl gracefully backward, this friendly, kitten-like breed keeps a playful outlook for life.
Medium · 12–16 years
Ocicat
Wild-spotted look with no wild blood, bred from Siamese, Abyssinian and American Shorthair; outgoing and trainable.
Medium · 12–18 years
Singapura
One of the smallest breeds, a sepia-ticked, big-eyed cat with a nosy, affectionate, self-appointed-supervisor streak.
Small · 11–15 years
Havana Brown
Rare, uniformly chocolate-brown cat with green eyes and a habit of touching things with its paws to investigate.
Medium · 12–15 years
LaPerm
Curly, ringleted coat from a spontaneous farm-cat mutation; a gentle, clownish, lap-seeking breed.
Medium · 12–15 years
Burmilla
Chance Burmese and Chinchilla Persian cross with a sparkling silver coat and eyeliner-rimmed green eyes; sweet and easy.
Medium · 10–15 years
Exotic Shorthair
The Persian in a plush short coat: same round face and easygoing nature with far less grooming.
Medium · 12–15 years
Abyssinian
Sleek, ticked-coated athlete that treats every room as a climbing frame and never stops exploring.
Medium · 12–15 years
Scottish Fold
Owl-faced cat whose forward-folded ears come from a cartilage mutation; placid, quiet and fond of sitting upright.
Medium · 11–15 years
American Shorthair
Sturdy, low-maintenance working cat descended from ships' mousers, known for an even temper and a long life.
Medium · 15–20 years
Bengal
Leopard-spotted hybrid descended from the Asian leopard cat, with wild looks, a love of water and boundless energy.
Large · 12–16 years
Birman
Silky, blue-eyed colorpoint with pure white gloves on every paw and a gentle, quietly affectionate disposition.
Medium · 12–16 years
Norwegian Forest Cat
Big, bushy Scandinavian climber with a waterproof coat and a calm, independent streak built for long winters.
Large · 12–16 years
Selkirk Rex
Curly-coated, heavy-boned cat often called the sheep cat; mellow, patient and tolerant of handling.
Medium · 12–15 years
Turkish Angora
Elegant, fine-boned ancient breed with a silky single coat and a lively, strong-willed, people-centred character.
Medium · 12–18 years
Manx
Tailless island cat with a rounded, rabbit-like hop and a loyal, dog-like attachment to its household.
Medium · 9–13 years
Somali
Long-haired Abyssinian with a foxy brush tail and ruff, as athletic and inquisitive as its shorthaired cousin.
Medium · 11–16 years
Chartreux
Blue-grey French cat with a smiling expression, a woolly coat and a quiet, observant, thoroughly unflappable manner.
Medium · 12–15 years
Korat
Thailand's silver-blue good-luck cat with a heart-shaped face and peridot eyes; intense, attentive and territorial.
Medium · 12–15 years
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