Quiet Cat Breeds (Ranked by Data)

If you live in an apartment with thin walls, work from a desk in the same room as your cat or simply prefer a quiet house, the breed you choose makes a real difference. This list collects the ones that rarely raise their voices.

Every breed here scores 1 or 2 on Vocalization in our editorial ratings; the list is ranked by the Vocalization score, then popularity. A 1 is a cat that may go a day without a sound; a 2 talks when it has a reason, at mealtimes or when it wants a door opened, and otherwise keeps to itself. The breeds at the other end of the scale, the Siamese among them, are the ones this list exists to steer you away from.

The quietest are the heavy, placid breeds: the Persian, Exotic Shorthair, British Shorthair and Scottish Fold, with the Chartreux the standout among the less common ones. The Ragdoll and Russian Blue sit just behind them.

Vocalization is a tendency, not a guarantee, and it changes with circumstance. Any cat can become talkative when it is hungry, in heat, elderly or unwell; a quiet cat that starts yowling at night is a reason to see a vet, not evidence that the breed page was wrong. A cat can also learn that meowing works, which is how plenty of British Shorthairs end up noisier than the rating suggests. Quiet cats are often the ones that hide their stress rather than voice it, which matters when you go away: a cat sitter should meet the cat beforehand and know what normal looks like, because a silent cat under a bed is not necessarily a content one.