17 Best Cat Breeds for First-Time Owners

What are the best cat breeds? If you’re searching for a furry feline friend to join your family, you may be wondering which breeds would suit you the most.

This is a common question among first-time owners. There are many different breeds of cats, and each one has its own unique personality and characteristics. Some are more affectionate than others, while some are more independent. Some are better suited to families with children, while others are better suited to single people.

Fortunately, you don’t need to be a cat expert to appreciate the appeal of having a cat.

As a cat owner for thirty years, I have assisted hundreds of first-time cat owners in selecting the most suitable breeds for them.

In this post, I will provide you with my professional opinion as an experienced cat owner. I will explain which cat breeds are best suited for different situations.

Here are the top 17 cat breeds recommended for first-time owners.

1. Gentel Giant, Playful Friend: Maine Coon
2. The Cuddler: Ragdoll
3. Quite and Sedate: Exotic Shorthair
4. The Couch Potato: Persian
5. Hairless Egyptian Noble: Sphynx
6. The YOLO Athlete: Abyssinian
7. The Classic: American Shorthair
8. Easy Going: Scottish Fold
9. Low Maintaince Furball: Siamese
10. The Curious Kind: Burmese Cat
11. The Cat For Dog People: Bengal Cat
12. The Luxury Beauty: Birman
13. The Affectionate And Loyal: Siberian Cat
14. The Aristocrat: British Shorthair
15. Less Allegenic: Russian Blue
16. Strikingly Handsome: Snowshoe
17. The Poodle Cat: Devon Rex

Note For First-Time Owners

Keeping your cats indoors is advisable as it promotes their longevity, with lifespans reaching up to 20 years. On the other hand, outdoor cats often have shorter lifespans, rarely exceeding 10 years.

Outdoor cats face various risks, including infections from other animals, potential fights or attacks by predators, and the possibility of being struck by vehicles. Additionally, outdoor cats may harm or even kill outdoor birds and other wildlife.

1. Gentel Giant, Playful Friend: Maine Coon

Maine Coons are known for their loving and playful nature.

They are friendly and enjoy the company of humans, which makes them great companions, especially for those who appreciate having such a large cat as a part of their household.

Maine Coon cats are also recognized for their charming and gentle chirping sounds.

Maine Coons have a wide range of colors, offering a great variety to choose from. These colors include white, tortoiseshell, tabby (with or without silver), smoke, and combinations of these colors with or without white patches.

Their eyes can have shades of green, gold, or copper, and occasionally, white cats may have blue or odd-colored eyes. Due to these diverse combinations, each Maine Coon has a unique appearance, making them distinct from one another.

2. The Cuddler: Ragdoll

Ragdolls are curious cats and often show interest in your daily activities. However, they prefer to sit on your books or paperwork or observe from a sunny spot while you garden, rather than engaging in strenuous activities.

There are a lot of talk about Ragdolls being extremely floppy, having a lower pain threshold, and simply collapsing when picked up.

Some people mistakenly believed that this made them perfect playthings for children. However, this is not accurate. They do not tolerate being treated as toys by children or anyone else.

When Ragdolls are born, they have a pure white coat, but as they grow older, their face, ears, and tail start to darken.

There are four different patterns that Ragdolls can have: bi-color, van, mitted, and colorpoint. In terms of colors, Ragdolls come in six variations: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream.

3. Quite and Sedate: Exotic Shorthair

The Exotic Shorthair is slightly more active and playful compared to their long-coated Persian relatives. However, they still tend to be more relaxed and less active than the average cat or the more athletic breeds.

They are friendly and affectionate towards familiar people but may be a bit reserved and cautious around strangers.

The Exotic Shorthair appreciates a calm home environment and doesn’t mind having some alone time occasionally. As long as they are fed regularly and receive affection when they seek it, they are not a demanding or high-maintenance cat.

The Exotic Shorthair breed offers solid colors, silver and gold, shaded and smoke, tabby, particolored, bicolored, and Himalayan. The Himalayan coloration is often the most prevalent, featuring shades such as chocolate, seal, lilac, and blue.

4. The Couch Potato: Persian

The Persian Longhair is a sweet and gentle cat that thrives in a calm and tranquil home environment where they can feel safe and at ease. They are known for their peaceful nature and have a melodious voice, which is more pleasing and gentle compared to loud or distressing cries.

With their large eyes, Persians have a remarkable ability to express their confusion towards human behavior through a slight tilt of their head and a wise gaze. They also show their contentment through a joyful smile and a soothing purr.

Persians are not inclined to climb or jump, but rather they are considered decorative cats that enjoy basking in sunny spots and gracefully draping themselves across furniture.

Persians have luxuriously long and dense coats, and they come in a wide range of colors and patterns. Solid Persians are available in white, black, blue, red, cream, and lilac. Shaded and smoke Persians come in black, blue, cream, red, and tortoiseshell.

The eye color of Persians varies depending on their coat color. Solid-color Persians typically have dark blue or copper eyes, while Chinchilla Persians can have green or blue eyes.

5. Hairless Egyptian Noble: Sphynx

The Sphynx is an outgoing and lively cat with a high level of intelligence. They are known for being curious, affectionate, and are often described as being as friendly as dogs towards both family members and strangers.

They have a strong desire for attention and will want to be involved in every aspect of your life, sometimes to the point of being a bit bothersome and getting in the way.

One unique aspect of the Sphynx is their sociability. They are extremely gregarious and enjoy the company of other animals, especially other Sphynx cats. However, this doesn’t mean they will keep themselves entertained. Instead, you can expect to have multiple Sphynx cats overseeing and assisting you at all times!

As expected from a hairless breed, Sphynx cats appreciate warmth and can be exceptionally cuddly. Given the chance, they will happily snuggle under the quilt with you.

6. The YOLO Athlete: Abyssinian

Although not inclined to be a lap cat, as they are not typically fond of curling up and relaxing, the Abyssinian is an exceptionally friendly, curious, and inquisitive feline. They take great pleasure in assisting or supervising any activity you may be engaged in.

Described as intensely loyal and playful, this breed requires owners who can provide a significant amount of time and attention.

It is not advisable to leave an Abyssinian alone to entertain themselves without supervision, as they thrive on human interaction and engagement.

The Abyssinian is a visually stunning cat, particularly when in motion. It showcases bands of color along its back, with a darker streak running along the spine.

In addition, the Abyssinian tends to be lighter and more slender compared to typical house cats, which grants it a distinctive sense of agility and elegance.

7. The Classic: American Shorthair

American Shorthairs, as working cats, possess a stocky and muscular build. Their well-developed leg muscles contribute to their agility and endurance.

They have a large head and a full face, along with medium-sized ears and wide, spacious eyes.

The American Shorthair is known for its adaptable nature and amiable temperament, making it an excellent companion for families. While they appreciate attention from human companions, including children, they are not fond of being carried and tends to be fairly independent. While they may occasionally curl up in your lap, they often prefer sitting alongside you.

American Shorthairs generally get along well with dogs that are friendly towards cats, but their hunting instincts may be triggered when in the presence of pet birds and other small animals.

8. Easy Going: Scottish Fold

The Scottish Fold cats are highly adaptable and can easily adjust to various environments. They are not easily bothered by noisy or busy households and can feel just as comfortable in a quiet home with a single person.

Scottish Folds are known to have a pleasant temperament and tend to have a soft, rarely-used voice.

Scottish Folds have a double coat, which means they need regular brushing to keep their fur well-maintained. If they have longer hair, they may require a bit more grooming. Occasional nail clipping and ear cleaning are also necessary for their overall care.

One distinctive feature of Scottish Folds is their folded ears, along with their round face and eyes, which gives them an owl-like appearance.

When Scottish Fold kittens are born, their ears initially appear normal, but as they grow, their ears gradually fold over. It’s important to note that not all Scottish Folds have ears that fold over; some may have straight ears instead.

9. Low Maintaince Furball: Siamese

Siamese cats are incredibly intelligent, affectionate, and opinionated, making them the extroverts of the feline world. They have a tendency to form strong bonds with one person and are often quite vocal, using a loud and low-pitched voice.

Due to their dependent nature and strong attachment to their chosen person, Siamese cats often experience separation anxiety. They may do better when paired with another cat or in households where someone is present most of the time.

Having companionship can help alleviate their anxiety and provide them with the attention they crave.

The Siamese cat has a distinctive coat that sets it apart. It has a light-colored body with darker markings on the face, paws, ears, and tail. The fur is short, soft, and silky to the touch.

The most commonly recognized colors for Siamese cats are seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac. However, some associations also accept other colors such as red, cream, fawn, caramel, apricot, and cinnamon.

Their eyes are one of their most striking features. They are large, almond-shaped, and a vibrant blue in color. Siamese cats have a slender and muscular body with a long neck. Their legs are long and lean, complemented by small, oval-shaped feet. The tail is long and thin, resembling a whip in appearance.

Overall, their physical attributes contribute to their elegant and graceful appearance.

10. The Curious Kind: Burmese Cat

The Burmese cat is a curious, clever, and friendly companion. According to the breed standard, they have a sweet expression that matches their gentle nature when properly raised and socialized.

They are highly playful and love to engage with their family. Burmese cats can even be trained to retrieve toys, providing endless entertainment.

Their inquisitive nature may sometimes lead them into trouble, as they have a tendency to explore any open doorway, whether it leads to another room or even a car or delivery van.

However, they are also incredibly personable and sociable with both family members and visitors. They enjoy attention and will make it known if they feel they are not receiving enough.

The Burmese cats have short and silky coats that require minimal maintenance. They come in a range of beautiful colors, including sable, champagne, platinum, and blue.

One of their notable features is their wide-set, large eyes that exhibit shades of yellow and amber. The eyes add to their charm and contribute to their expressive and captivating look.

11. The Cat For Dog People: Bengal Cat

Bengals are wonderful companions, but they are best suited for experienced cat owners who appreciate an active, curious, and dog-like cat. If you enjoy engaging with your pet through toys, games, and providing plenty of environmental enrichment, then the Bengal is a perfect match.

Although Bengals are generally not known for being loud, they have a vocal side and can produce a loud and strident cry when they’re unhappy or seeking attention.

Bengals come in two main patterns: spotted and marbled. These patterns can be found in a variety of colors, with the most common ones being brown, snow, silver, and blue.

However, there has been a growing popularity for colors such as chocolate, charcoal, and cinnamon in recent times. This range of colors adds to the beauty and diversity of Bengal cats, allowing potential owners to choose the color that appeals to them the most.

Overall, Bengals are energetic and entertaining cats that require an engaged and active owner to keep up with their adventurous spirit.

12. The Luxury Beauty: Birman

With their extensive background of carefully choosing specific traits through breeding, the Birman is an extremely friendly and calm pet, perfect for companionship.

Birmans thoroughly enjoy being around humans, engaging in playtime, and lack a strong desire for hunting. They are quite sociable and tend to get along nicely with other cats and dogs if introduced and familiarized properly.

Though not particularly known for being loud or noisy, Birmans can be quietly vocal and enjoy engaging in soft conversations.

Birmans have a body shape that is rectangular, with a wide face and a nose that has a Roman shape.

They have round and deep blue eyes. Their fur is relatively long and silky, and what sets them apart is the absence of an undercoat, making their fur less likely to tangle or mat. The accepted color pattern for Birmans is either pointed or solid white. Point colors include seal, chocolate, blue, lilac, red, or cream.

Additionally, there are variations with tabby and tortoiseshell patterns available. When Birmans are born, they are completely white and their fur color develops gradually as they grow older.

13. The Affectionate And Loyal: Siberian Cat

The Siberian Forest cat is a social and intelligent breed, capable of independent behavior when required. They have a curious nature and possess clever problem-solving abilities.

Despite their large size, they exhibit agility and athleticism, effortlessly leaping to obtain their desired objects, whether it’s a hidden toy, a bowl of food on a countertop, or simply a favorable viewpoint.

With their family, Siberian Forest cats are friendly and affectionate. However, they can be somewhat reserved around unfamiliar people, yet quick to take advantage of anyone offering them affectionate scratches, toys, or food.

As the Siberian cat grows, their stunning and thick coat undergoes further development. Around the age of one year, they experience the growth of hair around their neck, resembling a majestic lion’s mane.

Additionally, they develop tufts of hair between the pads on their paws and from their ears.

The coat of a Siberian cat continues to evolve over time, with the colors often fading as the cat gets older.

14. The Aristocrat: British Shorthair

The British Shorthair is an affectionate, playful, and loyal feline companion. They thrive in the company of their family and close friends, although, similar to many cats, they may require some time to become comfortable with strangers.

Despite their calm nature, they can be quite sociable and enjoy the company of other cats, making them a good fit for multi-cat households.

They are also known to form friendships with other pets in the household, especially dogs that are cat-friendly. The British Shorthair is generally a quiet cat, adding to their serene and amiable demeanor.

The British Shorthair has a single, short, and dense coat that feels luxuriously plush to the touch. While the blue coat color is commonly recognized and highly favored, British Shorthairs come in a variety of other hues as well.

These include black, white, red, cream, silver, golden, tortoiseshell, cinnamon, and fawn. Certain associations may also accept chocolate and lilac coat colors.

In terms of their eyes, British Shorthairs can have deep gold, orange, or copper-colored eyes, which beautifully complement their coat.

15. Less Allegenic: Russian Blue

The Russian Blue is a captivating and graceful companion. They tend to be reserved with strangers, choosing to watch from afar and assess whether a new person is worthy of their friendship before engaging in head rubs and lap-time.

Once a Russian Blue has evaluated and approved someone, they become highly affectionate and expect their every need and desire to be met.

The Russian Blue cat possesses a remarkable coat that is distinctively bluish grey in color, setting them apart. One of the defining features of the Russian Blue is their deep, mesmerizing bottle green eyes.

It is important to note that while some cats may have a similar physical appearance, the presence of green eyes is a crucial characteristic that confirms their Russian Blue lineage. Without the green eyes, a cat cannot be considered a true Russian Blue.

Although blue is the most popular color for Russian Blues, they can also come in white and black variations. However, it is worth mentioning that black and white Russian Blue cats are exceedingly rare.

The Russian Blue cats are known for their loving demeanor, making them delightful and relatively low-maintenance feline companions.

16. Strikingly Handsome: Snowshoe

The Snowshoe cat, influenced by its Siamese heritage (as they are frequently bred with Siamese cats to maintain these bloodlines), tends to lean towards the more adventurous and spirited end of the feline personality spectrum. They have the potential to form strong bonds with their owners and can exhibit a bossy demeanor.

Snowshoe cats are naturally inquisitive and curious, sometimes venturing into risky situations, but their cleverness typically helps them find their way out of trouble.

Some Snowshoes are more sociable and friendly, while others may prefer to be loners. Some even assume a caring and nurturing role towards their human companions. Regardless of their specific personality, Snowshoes are certainly far from being dull or boring feline companions!

The Snowshoe cat is recognized for its bi-color pattern, specifically point coloring, which is characterized by darker points on the ears, face, paws, and tail.

One of the most notable and distinctive features of the Snowshoe cat is its white “socks” on the feet. These white markings on their paws bear a striking resemblance to snowshoes, which is where the breed derived its name. This unique feature adds to the charm and allure of the Snowshoe cat.

17. The Poodle Cat: Devon Rex

The Devon Rex cat is known for its incorrigible, curious, mischievous, and highly active personality. They have an insatiable desire to be involved in whatever you’re doing, even if it’s deemed inappropriate.

These cats are incredibly people-oriented and enjoy curling up on your lap or draping themselves around your shoulders to quietly observe as you read, cook, or even use the restroom. They don’t really mind what activity you’re engaged in; they simply want to be near you.

While not particularly vocal, Devon Rex cats will chirp and chirrup to gain your attention if they feel ignored.

It’s important not to leave them unsupervised for extended periods as they are skilled climbers and can become destructive if they feel bored or lonely.

Their coat is silky and displays elegant waves. The Devon Rex comes in various color variations, offering a wide range of options. These include colorpoint, solid, shaded, tortoiseshell, calico, bi-color, harlequin, smoke, and tabby patterns. All colors are accepted within this breed, allowing for a diverse and beautiful array of choices.

When it comes to their eyes, the Devon Rex showcases a wide range of colors and variations, adding to their individuality and charm.

The bottom line

We hope that the information above provides you with a clearer picture of how to choose the right cat breed for you.

Your cat is part of your family, so it’s important to choose a breed that is compatible with your lifestyle and personality.

REMEMBER: THERE’S NO WAY TO PREDICT PERSONALITY — All cats are different - and we like it that way.