Though every cat is an individual with their own quirks and personalities, some cat breeds are thought to be more affectionate and social than others. With that in mind, here's our list of the top 10 most affectionate cat companions of all time!
What Causes Cats To Be Affectionate?
As discussed in our Why Do Cats Like to Cuddle? blog, for most cats the reasoning behind their affection is that it's part of their way of feeling safe and supported, both mentally and emotionally. Also, cats seek affection as a way of bonding with their humans. They share their love in exchange for the safety, shelter, food, and warmth they get from you and their headbutts and other signs of affection help them to show you just how much they appreciate it!
What Does Cat Affection Look Like?
Before we dive into the top 10 most affection cat breeds, let's take a moment to discuss what cat affection looks like (hint: it can be different depending on the individual cat).
In our blog titled, Does My Cat Love Me? (10 Ways Cats Show Love), we cover some of the common ways that our furry friends show their affection. Purring, bunting, hunting and "gifting" behavior, and kneading are but a few of our favorite things that cats express!
Regardless of how your cat currently displays affection, respecting their space and creating positive associations with handling and other physical interaction is key to supporting the emotional well-being of your kitty and earning their trust in the long run. Forcing our feline friends to interact is never a good idea, so creating opportunities for healthy play and engagement with a cat-friendly environment that helps them feel safe enough to connect is a great way to start. Learn more by reading Basepaws' blog titled, Environmental Enrichment - Catification today.
Now, let's learn about all about a few (of many) sweet and affectionate cat companions!
1. Ragdoll
Breed Overview
SIZE: Large
WEIGHT: 10-15 lbs (females), 15-20 lbs (males)
COAT COLOR AND PATTERN: Variety of coat colors including blue, seal, chocolate, lilac, cream, and red. Coat patterns include bi-color, van, mitted, and colorpoint.
LIFESPAN: 18-20 years
The Ragdoll is considered to be a native kitty of the United States. It is said that they originated in California during the 1960s. The breed was created from a long-haired, light-grey cat named Josephine and a black cat. It's believed that Josephine may have been a hybrid of a Persian and a Birman or Siamese.
The elegant Ragdoll is an easygoing kitty. They are calm, placid, and love their cuddles. They're known for their silly behavior such as drinking water from a tap or going limp like a “rag doll” when picked up. Your Ragdoll will be the ultimate lap cat, and because of their very docile persona they make puurfect pets for families with children or other pets.
2. Thai Siamese
Breed Overview
SIZE: Medium to Large
WEIGHT: 7-9 lbs (females), 9-12 lbs (males)
COAT COLOR AND PATTERN: Chocolate, seal, blue, and lilac colors that come in the colorpoint coat pattern.
LIFESPAN: 10-12 years
Ever wonder who the royal feline of the cat world may be? The Thai Siamese, of course! The Thai Siamese has enjoyed this luxurious and royal status for centuries. This outgoing, chatty kitten is famous for its remarkable baby blue eyes, strikingly large ears and sleek, muscular body.
The Thai Siamese are very affectionate and intelligent cats with a distinct outgoing nature. They seek and enjoy the companionship of humans and as well as other cats. They will often strongly bond with their favorite human. These kitties are very vocal and will demand your attention with a loud, low-pitched voice. This adorable characteristic gives name to one of their common nickname – Meezer.
3. Sphynx
Breed Overview
SIZE: Medium
WEIGHT: 7-10 lbs (females), 8-14 lbs (males)
COAT COLOR AND PATTERN: The Sphynx comes in a variety of many coat colors and patterns.
LIFESPAN: 14+ years
Sphynx cats are known as extremely affectionate cats who love entertaining their families, and they treasure meeting new humans. These cats won't shy away or hesitate to demand your attention. Their sweet-nature is accompanied with a high level of energy. They will always find a new way to entertain you.
They are extremely playful and will find diverse activities around the house to keep entertained. When they’re not on the go, they love cuddling and resting on your lap. Sphynx cats serve as excellent therapy pets due to their friendly, warm natured temperament and genuine love for meeting new people.
4. Ragamuffin
Breed Overview
SIZE: Large
WEIGHT: 7-15 lbs (females), 12-18+ lbs (males)
COAT COLOR AND PATTERN: Variety of many coat colors and patterns.
LIFESPAN: Up to 18 years
The Ragamuffin is a variant of the Ragdoll cat. It was established as a separate breed in 1994. Like the Ragdoll, they are notorious for their friendly and affectionate personalities and their thick, dense fur. These beauties come in all colors and patterns.
Ragamuffin is the kind of kitty that will follow you around everywhere and greet you at the door with a meow. They are social and outgoing and get along with most humans, as well as dogs and other cats. They are patient and intelligent, so you can teach them a number of cool tricks. The will gladly snuggle up against you while you're watching TV or reading a book, but they will also cherish any playful activity you can come up with.
5. Scottish Fold
Breed Overview
SIZE: Medium
WEIGHT: 6-9 lbs (females), 7-10 lbs (males)
COAT COLOR AND PATTERN: All colors and patterns of the Traditional and Pointed Divisions.
LIFESPAN: 11-14+ years
Scottish Folds are captivating felines who carry of a distinctive feature of forward-folded ears and bare a reputation of being unusually loving companions. The folded ears of the breed are caused by an autosomal incomplete dominant mutation. Folds come in all coat colors, patterns and lengths.
Interestingly, they are notorious for sleeping in very peculiar positions. Scottish Folds are very social and friendly cats who don't do well being left alone. Folds are moderately active and yet very intelligent and agile. They will gladly engage in games with you and follow you around from room to room.
6. Persian
Breed Overview
SIZE: Medium
WEIGHT: 7-11 lbs (females), 9-14 lbs (males)
COAT COLOR AND PATTERN: Variety of colors. Coat patterns include a variety of solid, colorpoint, tabby, tortoiseshell, and calico patterns.
LIFESPAN: 15-20 years
The Persian’s exceptionally beautiful and graceful coat, chubby cheeks, expressive eyes and affectionate personality makes them one of the world’s most popular feline breeds of all time. Sometimes referred to as the "glamorous puss" of the cat world, the Persian is notorious for its calm nature and cuddly personality.
Persians are typically not very athletic nor playful. They prefer a serene environment and long naps on a comfortable sofa. Persians communicate with their expressive, gorgeous eyes, but they will sometimes cheer you up with a quiet, adorable meow. These kitties enjoy the company of their favorite humans, as long as they treat them kindly and gently.
7. Tonkinese
Breed Overview
SIZE: Medium
WEIGHT: 6-9 lbs (females), 7-10 lbs (males)
COAT COLOR AND PATTERN: Four base colors of natural, champagne, blue, and platinum. Coat patterns include solid, mink, and colorpoint.
LIFESPAN: 12-16+ years
A hybrid of the Siamese and Burmese, Tonkinese cats are characterized by their lively, social nature and beautiful pointed coat patterns that can be comprised of four main base coat colors (natural, champagne, blue, and platinum). The personality of the Tonkinese is very similar to its ancestors. They’re energetic, playful and demand attention. The Tonkinese are vocal, but their voices are softer and sweeter than those of the Siamese. Like the Burmese, these felines often engage in dog-like behaviors such as fetching.
8. Burmese
Breed Overview
SIZE: Medium to Large
WEIGHT: 6-8 lbs (females), 8-12 lbs (males)
COAT COLOR AND PATTERN: Many colors including seal sepia (sable), champagne, beige, fawn, dark brown, gray, blue, and variations of these. Coat patterns include solid and tortoiseshell.
LIFESPAN: 12+ years
This is a compact and heavily built cat breed originating from Thailand. They have short, dense and glossy coats that come in a variety of colors such as champagne, platinum and sable. This cat is famous for being strong, elegant and athletic. The Burmese make excellent family pets due to their loving, affectionate and playful nature. Due to their clingy personalities and puppy-like behavior, the
Burmese are often considered to be the dogs of the cat world. These people-oriented cats often maintain their energetic and playful kitten-like personality in older years as well. Like their Siamese ancestors, Burmese are very vocal, affectionate and sweet. They are not independent and don't like being left alone for long periods of time. They get along very well with kids and other pets, including dogs.
9. Birman
Breed Overview
SIZE: Medium to Large
WEIGHT: 10-12 lbs (females), 12-15 lbs (males)
COAT COLOR AND PATTERN: Colors include seal, blue, lilac, chocolate, red, and cream. Coat patterns include solid point, lynx point, and tortoiseshell.
LIFESPAN: 15+ years
The Birman, or famously known as the "Sacred Cat of Burma", is a strikingly gorgeous cat with a soft, silky coat, piercing blue eyes, and elegant, white "gloves" on their paws. The Birman is a docile and patient cat that doesn't cause a lot of trouble. As opposed to the close relative – the Siamese – these kitties are actually very quiet and will often greet you with the softest, most adorable low meow.
Remember, these friendly cats don't cope with solitude well and will easily get lonely if left alone for too long. If you choose the Birman for your new furriend, make sure to spoil it with extra hugs and snuggles.
10. Maine Coon
Breed Overview
SIZE: Large
WEIGHT: 10-15 lbs (females), 15-25 lbs (males)
COAT COLOR AND PATTERN: Variety of colors, but lilac and chocolate are not allowed for pedigree. Variety of patterns, but not colorpoint.
LIFESPAN: 15+ years
Tipping the scales at almost 20 pounds, the Maine Coon is said to be one of the heaviest cat breeds out there. This strong, athletic cat is gentle-mannered, friendly and highly intelligent. Such a unique combination of characteristics led to their affectionate nickname "the gentle giant". The Maine Coon is adored for its playful dog-like nature. They are loyal and obedient, but never clingy.
They often learn many tricks, can be taught to walk on a leash and are known to be one of the few "water-loving cats". Due to their wonderful personalities, they get along very well with kids and other pets. Even though they probably won't fit purrfectly in your lap due to their size, that won't stop them from stealing a few cuddles here and there.
Get To Know Your Cat Better With Basepaws
As a loving cat paw-rent, you want to know everything you possibly can about your own affectionate feline! The Basepaws Breed + Health Cat DNA Test helps you do just that. With a quick and easy swab of your kitty's mouth, you'll learn about the genetics behind their unique breed profile, health, and of course their beautiful appearance. One test unlocks a world of information to help you take care of your cat's daily needs, and helps you get ahead of potential health issues before they become more advanced. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to become a well-informed cat paw-rent!