What Are The Best Cat & Kitten Breeds For Kids?

Maine Coon Cat Breed — Note: While the breeds in this collection tend to be the best cats for kids, individual pets will vary. Please consult the adoption organization for details on a specific pet.

6 Cat Breeds

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Abyssinian

Abyssinians are friendly, curious creatures who always want to get in on the fun. They love to play and have energy to expend. They are loyal and loving but are by no means a lap cat. The Abyssinian cat breed enjoys spending time with their owners, shadowing them around the house. 

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Birman

Loving, gentle, and supremely playful, Birman cats are faithful companion cats that love to shadow their owners. They adore being adored, perhaps thanks to a long history as a temple cat in Burma (Myanmar). Intelligent and people-oriented, they are curious around strangers. They are generally easy cats to care for.

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Burmese

Burmese cats are known for their affectionate and playful personalities. Intelligent and curious, they thrive on human interaction and enjoy being the center of attention. While both males and females exhibit loving and devoted behavior, females tend to be more spirited and emotionally expressive, while males are slightly calmer and more laid-back. Their unique vocalizations add to their charm, though they are not overly talkative unless they have something important to communicate. 

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Maine Coon

These chatty companions are America’s second-most popular breed for a reason—they dole out love and affection in spades. Devoted to their families and incredibly intelligent, these cats are basically kittens in big catsuits. Gentle giants who are playful well into old age, Maine Coons are clever and form strong bonds with their households. Most want to be near you but not on your lap. Maine Coons are true family members and participate in all family routines, whether watching you channel surf from the comfort of the couch or following you from room to room. As befits a former seafarer, Maine Coons are fascinated by water, perhaps because their thick coats are water-repellent and won’t become annoyingly soaked as easily as a thinner coat would. Some will join their humans in the shower briefly, or at least walk around on the wet floor after you get out. They prefer to stand on the edge of the tub, however, and touch the water with a curious paw.

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Manx

Manx cats are social and gregarious furry friends who are gentle and affectionate with people and pets they know. They can be aloof with strangers. They are strongly devoted and loyal to their families. Highly intelligent, playful, and fun to have around the whole family, they can make great family pets, even with smaller children. Manx cats have a strong fascination with water, but by no means do they want to get wet—they just might splash and make a bit of a mess. They also love to climb and are skilled jumpers thanks to their powerful, rounded hind legs. 

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Ragdoll

Ragdolls are docile, sweet, friendly, and renowned for being laid-back cats. They’re always happy to assume the role of your best friend: they want to spend time with you and assist you in your day-to-day activities and routines (though they prefer to watch instead of participate). Working from home that day? They’ll be right there with you curled up on your desk asking for love.  Ragdolls give what they receive. They are very in touch with their owner’s emotions and sense when you’ve had a hard day and will be the first to curl up in your lap to try to make it all better. They are infamous for being food-motivated but have soft, polite voices (even at dinnertime). Ragdolls are curious cats who are always along for the ride, preferring quality owner time over everything else. 

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