The best house cats. Which cat is better to have in an ordinary apartment

The Cat Fanciers Association (abbreviated as CFA) annually publishes ratings of the most popular cat breeds in the world. Ratings are compiled by the number of registrations of purebred cats in this international organization. To date, the Cat Fanciers Association has registered more than 2 million cats belonging to 42 breeds (the number of breeds recognized by the CFA).
The next rating was published in February 2016 and is based on data from registrations of cat breeds from January 1 to December 31, 2015. This compilation presents the top 20 most popular cat breeds from the CFA list.

20th place. Ocicat- a cat breed originally from the United States.

19th place. Burmese cat (burmese). The shorthaired breed is from South-East Asia. In Burma (the modern name is Myanmar), such cats were kept in Buddhist temples and were considered the reincarnation of deceased monks.

18th place. Siberian cat - a well-known Russian breed of semi-longhair cats, which got its name due to its place of origin - Siberia.

17th place. tonkinese cat- a hybrid of the Siamese and Burmese cats of the American type.

16th place. Russian blue. The breed originates from the cats of the ancient Slavs. Outside of Russia, this breed became known in 1893, when the English breeder Karen Cox brought two blue kittens from Arkhangelsk. home distinguishing feature breeds - short hair blue color with a beautiful silver sheen. Russian Blue is one of.

15th place. Burmese cat (sacred Burmese)- a breed of semi-longhair cats, which originates from Burma (Myanmar). It should not be confused with the Burmese cat, which is separate breed short haired cats. The Burmese cat is recognizable due to its unusual color, which, after the name of the breed, was called the Burmese color. For cats with this color, the presence of white “gloves” is characteristic with a pointy color of long hair.

14th place. norwegian forest cat- a breed of domestic semi-longhair cats originally from Norway. The ancestors of the breed were ship cats on Viking longships.

13th place. Cornish Rex. The short-haired breed of domestic cats is originally from the UK. Basic distinctive feature Cornish Rex is their coat. It has no guard hairs, and the undercoat is curled into a dense wave, resembling astrakhan fur in structure.

12th place. Siamese cat- the breed comes from Thailand (its old name is Siam).

11th place. Devon Rex- a breed of short-haired domestic cats that originated in the UK. Representatives of this breed have a very extraordinary appearance: a fragile body is covered with soft curly hair, and huge ears adorn the head.

10th place. Oriental cat (oriental). The ancestors of this short-haired breed are from Thailand, but officially it originated in the USA.

9th place. canadian sphynx- a breed of hairless cats, whose history officially began in 1966 in Canada, but there is evidence that these unusual creatures were known during the time of the Egyptian pharaohs and were common in the temples of the Aztecs and Incas in ancient Mexico.

8th place. Abyssinian cat - one of the oldest breeds of cats. Abyssinia is the former name of Ethiopia, where this breed comes from.

7th place. Scottish Fold (or Scottish Fold)- a very interesting breed of cats, the main distinguishing feature of which is presented in a characteristic structure auricles curved forward and down. Such an unusual detail of their appearance is a consequence gene mutation. The first representative of this breed was discovered in 1961 in Scotland.

6th place. American shorthair cat . The ancestors of this breed were brought by the first settlers from Europe to North America.

2nd place. Persian cat. The ancestors of the modern breed were taken from Persia (the modern name is Iran) to Italy in the 17th century. In 2012 and 2013 Persian cat was the most popular breed in the world, but in the last two years it is content with only second place.

Each cat breed has its own characteristics, which it is better to know about in advance, and its own character. If there is a child in the family, of course it is better to choose a cat among non-aggressive, contact, playful breeds. Before buying, familiarize yourself with the features of the breed, prepare for possible difficulties.

If you have decided on the breed, be careful with breeders. Unfortunately, everything is now more people who are trying to make money on breeding, not caring about the health of animals. A low cost may indicate that the animal was raised in poor conditions and fed cheap food, without veterinary control, or the kittens were the result of inbreeding. Such cats can have a number of serious defects and diseases.

It is important for parents to remember: no matter what animal they have, it is necessary to carefully monitor the health your pet. Firstly, we are responsible for those whom we have tamed, and secondly, our smaller brothers themselves can become carriers of some diseases that are dangerous to humans, if the elementary rules of prevention are not followed.

Be sure to visit veterinarian with the aim of preventive examination and vaccination at least 1-2 times a year. At least 2 times a year should drive worms by special means: even if the cat is sitting in the apartment without getting out, you yourself can bring helminth eggs on your shoes or dangerous viruses from the street. When going out into nature, do not forget about the treatment of wool against fleas and ticks.

It is also better to immediately discuss with the doctor the method and timing animal sterilization: this will save the cat from a number of diseases and improve her temper. Teach your child to always be hygienic and wash their hands after contact with an animal. healthy cat can become a true friend to you and your children and a full member of the family for many years to come.

Scientists say: cats have a place in the house. Studies have shown that these furry animals can heal their owners and relieve stress. But they also have many other advantages that people appreciate.

But to be difficult choice because there are dozens of breeds. And then there are "mongrels", which are no less "useful" for the body. So what kind of cat is better to have in an apartment?

Cat lovers, as cat lovers are sometimes called, find many benefits from living under the same roof with fluffy pets. They replace sleeping pills, helping to sleep soundly, bring peace of mind, reduce the likelihood of death from heart attack. If there is no allergy, then the risk of asthma is reduced.

Most cats are completely independent animals that can stay at home completely painlessly while their owners work for a long time. For a busy person, this is also convenient because you don’t need to find a “window” in a busy schedule for walking twice a day. Many adults, and most children, simply .

"Apartment" breeds

There are quite a few breeds that are ideal for apartment life.

For small spaces

Such cats should not be very large, with an average level of activity. The following breeds meet these requirements:

• Persian;
• sphinxes - Canadian, Peterbald;
• Russian blue;
• British Shorthair;
• Scottish Fold and Straight.

An interesting article is posted on our portal, read it - you will not regret it.

Attention! You should not take hyperactive, Abyssinians, Bengals and other similar breeds into a small apartment. Flaw physical activity harmful to their health.

Easy care

A frequent requirement when choosing a cat for an apartment is ease of care. Create the fewest problems sphinxes that have no hair. In addition, they are characterized by reduced sexual activity. This means that the smell from the "tags" can not be afraid, as well as inappropriate behavior females during estrus.

Scottish lop-eared the breed has a short woolen cover, so it rarely needs to be combed out. She is trainable and quickly accustomed to the tray. They are pretty clean cats.

Character

Persians- the embodiment of tranquility. They idolize the owner and follow him everywhere. These cats rarely show aggression, even towards guests and children. Persians are silent, and attract the attention of the owner to themselves. expressive look. Their disadvantage is long wool that needs to be looked after. And still have to put up with snoring. This is due to the structure of the nose. Their close relatives are the exotic shorthair breed, which is somewhat easier to care for.

sacred Burma- smart, well trained, with "aristocratic manners". She is gentle and calm, does not get angry. Burmese get along well with other pets. But she has some drawbacks. For example, this cat is frightened by loud noises and does not tolerate heat well.

ragdoll needs the caresses of the owner and cannot stand loneliness. They are kind and patient cats. They rarely scratch, avoid conflicts, and are easy to train. Ragdolls can not stand rudeness and are offended by such an attitude towards themselves. One of the disadvantages of the breed is that it must be protected from heights: the cat can be seriously injured when falling, because it does not know how to group.

Good qualities of character for living in an apartment also have:

• British Shorthair;
• american shorthair;
• selkirk rex;
• manx;
• Neva Masquerade;
• European Shorthair;
• Russian blue;
• toyger;
• sokoke.

More about various breeds modern cats, their maintenance and care you can find on our portal.

Breeds for children

The choice of a cat narrows down if there is a child in the apartment. The following requirements are put forward for a pet:

• lack of manifestations;
• complaisant character, strong nervous system;
• sociability almost like a dog;
• ease of care.

Attention! Not all representatives of the breed without exception have the necessary qualities, since cats have different characters. Therefore, when buying an animal, it is better to ask the breeder to choose a kitten for the house in which the child grows.

The following cats are considered the best according to these criteria:

• Maine Coon- a real giant that grows up to 1 meter in length and weighs up to 10 kg (females - up to 8 kg). In character, he resembles a dog, and one of his habits is to meet and see off the owners. Maine Coons are sociable, they catch the slightest changes in a person’s mood, they like to participate in the most important events of his family.

• canadian sphynx. The hypoallergenic breed is suitable for families in which children with hypersensitivity "to wool" grow up. "Canadians" have a peaceful character, they are not characterized by aggression. If the kids are not afraid of the unusual "naked" appearance, they like to stroke and hug the animal because of the warm body and velvety skin. This is one of the most affectionate representatives of the cat world.

Attention! The absence of wool does not guarantee protection against. Contrary to popular belief, the overreaction of the body occurs not to the pile itself, but to the proteins in biological fluids animal.

• Exotics. have a playful nature, they are sociable and curious. Such qualities are necessary for a cat to live in a family with a child. Snub-nosed cats are gentle, non-conflict. At aggressive behavior baby, they just go to the side, without resisting. Unlike the Persian breed, they do not need combing.

Should I adopt a purebred cat?

Some people prefer "mongrels". These cats in the family did not have noble ancestors or they have mixed roots. And this has its advantages. For example, mestizos have better health than their brethren. blue blood". This is due to the wider gene pool. Therefore, the risk genetic diseases quite low.

However, such cats often have an independent character, they are more pronounced hunting instincts. Adults like to mark territory, and it is not very easy to wean them from this habit.

However, purebred cats have predictable habits. They honor cleanliness more, because breeders select for breeding those individuals that have less propensity to mark the territory.

At what age is it better to take a cat?

Adult cat or cute baby? This question seems to be secondary, but age is an important factor.

Kitty

As a rule, kittens are taken into the house. It is believed that in childhood the animal gets used to the new environment better.

Attention! The kitten must be at least three months old.

A cat up to the age of three months feeds its cubs with milk. This is important because the baby acquires primary immunity. It is the mother who takes care of health best of all and knows what her “child” needs. Communication with the parent is also responsible for socialization. An early break with a nursing female is fraught with such problems for the offspring:

• mental disorders;
• behavioral disorders;
• weak immunity.

The mother teaches the cubs to unfamiliar food, instills hygiene skills, shows how to use the tray and sharpen claws.

Cats are vaccinated at 8 and 12 weeks (booster). Therefore, after 3 months, the body is maximally protected from infections.

adult cat

Animal older than a year take to the apartment reluctantly because of prejudice. But veterinarians assure: often these are just myths that have no real basis.

Table 1. The most common misconceptions of future cat owners.

Can I adopt a cat from a shelter?

People who decide to take such a step believe that it was done correctly. They argue that there are many reasons why a cat from a shelter will take root well in an apartment.

Table 2. Pros and cons of a cat from a shelter.

As for communication with curators, this is a temporary phenomenon. As soon as volunteers or shelter workers realize that their pupil is in safe hands, they stop disturbing the new owner.

For reference. ADOPTION(from lat. adoptio- adoption), a form of establishing artificial kinship - the inclusion of an individual or several persons in any kindred group or family. The motives for adoption could be different: providing a lonely person with a certain status in the system of social ties ...

Life hack. From several institutions, the smallest are chosen, with the number of inhabitants up to 50 individuals. There cats are more well-groomed, they are better taken care of.

Boy or girl?

When a family decides to take a kitten into the house, among other things, the question arises: ?

Advantages cats(female):

• they are cleaner because they take better care of themselves;
• do not seek to dominate;
• more docile and affectionate.

But with the advent of puberty, the owner has a question: what to do with the offspring? There may be problems with this if the animal was not taken for breeding. same precedes . The cat leaves marks with a specific musky smell, and publishes for a week or even more loud sounds, especially at night, calling the male. It ends by itself or after mating with a cat.

Attention! Cats behave differently with men and women. So, with the representatives of the stronger sex, they can "flirt" - arch their backs, fluff their tails. With women, females are softer and more affectionate.

cats leaders by nature. They control every step of the inhabitants of the house. Most cats are not affectionate, although sometimes they allow themselves to be picked up and stroked. They become if a person does something that they do not like.

One of the problems that cat owners face is territory marking. Often breeders manage to wean their pupils from such behavior. Males smell stronger. But the smell disappears if the animal is properly cared for.

Many problems are solved by sterilization and. But even a castrated male can leave marks. This happens in such cases:

• late castration;
• the presence of another cat;
• stress, anxiety;
• restless situation in the house;
• lack of attention from the owners;
• discontent;
• health problems, bladder infections.

Is it worth getting a cat?

Those who want to get a cat need to know what difficulties they will face, regardless of the breed and sex of the animal. A person who is used to traveling should be aware that a cat is a homebody who does not like traveling. Rare pets agree to share the road with their owner and even go with them to the mountains.

You need to be patient in order to instill elementary skills in a cat - to teach them to walk on a tray and sharpen their claws not on furniture, but on. Training requires perseverance from a person, training takes time and effort. If there is no desire to work with a pet in this direction, then soon a mess will reign in the house.

The cat needs to be taught basic skills - to learn to walk on the tray

Another complication awaits those who do not consider castration or sterilization. pet. Several times a year, you will have to experience a real hassle associated with sexual hunting.

Most cats sleep from morning to evening, especially if the owners spend the whole day at work and do not play with them during daylight hours. They drive night image life. Therefore, you need to be prepared for the fact that the pet can disturb sleep with its nightly fun. These are just some of the inconveniences you have to put up with.

Video - The cat travels with his "parents"

Conclusion

If the potential owner is not ready for such difficulties, then you should not get a cat. It is better to think about acquiring a less demanding pet - for example, fish, a hamster, or guinea pig. If in doubt, you can try to take the animal for overexposure. Time will tell if a person can get along with a cat.

More than 200 cat breeds are officially registered in the world, but not all of them are created for an apartment. Some do not fit well in size, care for others is too complicated, and still others have an overly independent and aggressive disposition. What breed of cats to choose for an apartment? For each family, ideas about the ideal animal will be different.

Not all breeds of cats are well suited for an apartment; some animals will be more comfortable in country apartments. Families with a small child should be especially careful in choosing.

Cats that are undesirable to start in an apartment:

• too large individuals will suffer due to small size dwellings;
• overly active animals feel like in a cage;
• Aggressive cats due to the lack of free space will attack their owners more often.

Such animals will like a country house more than a small apartment.

What breed of cats to choose for a small apartment?

• has a calm disposition;
• tolerates loneliness well;
• not too active;
• has a small size.

Choosing a cat for an apartment is not so easy, you need to be extremely careful and take into account a lot of factors. Give preference to the kid who will be to your liking and will meet the necessary criteria. Communication with a kitten will bring joy, and the house will become more comfortable with its appearance.

The most popular cat breeds for apartments

Most often, owners consider several breeds before buying. For many, not only the character of the animal is important, but also its appearance. People prefer to have cats that will decorate the house.

Most popular breeds to keep in an apartment:

• Scottish;
• Persian;
• Neva Masquerade;
• canadian sphynx;
• burmese;
• oriental cat;
• american curl;
• Ural Rex;
• skiff tai don.

All these cat breeds are great for apartments and will make great friends for both children and adults.

Scottish cat

Calm cat breeds such as the Scottish are ideal for apartment living. Many colors allow you to choose a pet that you like.

Advantages:

• balanced character;
• contact with a person;
• love children;
• easy to get along with other animals.

disadvantages:

• animals from unregistered matings can suffer from osteochondrodystrophy, this disease is incurable, so you can buy cats of this breed only in a cattery;
• tendency to obesity;
• many individuals are afraid of strangers.

Persian cat

The Persian cat is a good breed to keep in an apartment. Their coat is beautiful, but requires increased care. This cat can become the main decoration of the house.

Advantages:

• quiet disposition;
• strong attachment to the owner;
• allowed by the standard a large number of various colours.

disadvantages:

• requires careful grooming;
• prone to diseases of the eyes, respiratory organs and heart;
• demanding on feed;
• do not tolerate heat well.

Neva masquerade cat

Blue-eyed Siamese cats are very beautiful and are great for living in an apartment. Neva masquerades are in excellent health, very affectionate and sociable.

Advantages:

• animals of this breed are very beautiful;
• playful;
• love children.

Disadvantages:

• touchy;
• do not get along well with other animals;
• special care is required.

canadian sphynx

Unusual appearance and lack of wool makes canadian sphynx best breed cats for the apartment. They are very attached to the owner and are able to replace the dog.

Advantages:

• unusual appearance, kittens look like aliens from outer space;
• strongly attached to the owner;
• non-aggressive.

disadvantages:

• due to the lack of wool, cats often freeze;
• prone to skin diseases;
• malnutrition can cause an allergic reaction.

Burma

If the question arose about choosing a cat breed for an apartment, then take a Burmese. They get along well with other pets, have a friendly disposition and are very attached to the owner.

Advantages:

• unusual color and soft coat;
• sociability;
• devotion to the owner.

disadvantages:

• demanding on food
• susceptible to genetic diseases.

oriental cat

Unusual cats with big ears attract attention. They have friendly character and love to talk to people.

Advantages:

• devoted to the owner;
• likes to play;
• easy to get along with other pets.

disadvantages:

• talkative;
• does not like loneliness;
• sometimes these cats are intrusive.

american curl

The American Curl breed is perfect for a small apartment. They possess unusual ears, beautiful coat and meek disposition.

Advantages:

• affectionate;
• have a stable psyche;
• easy to learn tricks.

disadvantages:

• demanding on feed;
• sometimes overly active;
• prone to gaining excess weight.

Ural rex

The Ural Rex is a Russian native breed. She was received naturally without artificial selection. These cats stand apart from other Rex breeds, as they have a different coat structure.

Advantages:

• almost any color is acceptable in the breed;
• affectionate and very attached to the owner;
• are in good health.

disadvantages:

• require careful grooming;
• picky about food;
• the breed is very rare and it is difficult to find free kittens for sale.

Skif tai don

It is very difficult to choose an affectionate and quick-witted cat for a small apartment. Take a closer look at dwarf breed from Rostov-on-Don. The weight of adult Scythian ty-dons does not exceed 2.5 kg, and they look like 5-month-old kittens.

Advantages:

• charming appearance;
• small size;
• affectionate disposition.

The cat family is quite large and has an impressive diversity. And this applies not only to everything from the cat family, but also to domestic cats.

Among this tribe of small predators, everyone can choose for themselves such a representative of it, which will correspond to the individual preferences of its owner. After all, someone loves hairless cats, someone is large and short-haired, and someone likes fluffy and small ones.

Truth external signs- this is only half the battle, and it is much more important whether you can get along with your pet day after day while staying in the same territory. And this issue is most acute for those who live in a city apartment. It is the choice of the most suitable cat for apartment maintenance that this article is devoted to.

The best cats for a city apartment

british shorthair cat

Almost the ideal option for urban housing is the British Shorthair cat. This incredibly beautiful and, as a rule, gray cat He gets along well with his owners in apartment conditions, has a moderately active and very friendly character.

"British" are very easy to train, and due to the short coat they reduce grooming issues to a minimum.

It can be safely attributed to the type calm cats designed specifically for apartments, since British Shorthair cats are distinguished by calmness from the very early age, are alien to hooliganism and do not require either excessive care or any worries.

Persian cat

Representatives of this breed are loved by many for their long fluffy coat and snub nose. Persians can be of two types:

• owners of a moderately snub-nosed and, by the standards of the Persian breed, a relatively long nose, are considered representatives of the classical type;
• those cats that have an upturned and very small nose are considered representatives of the extreme type.

A nervous Persian is either nonsense or the result of extremely unfavorable conditions.

Both of these types are characterized by muscular short legs. In the United States, the extreme type of Persian is more popular, while in Europe, most cat lovers prefer the classic type. Persians from birth are distinguished by calmness, affectionateness and serenity.

Representatives of this breed need attention from the owner, are distinguished by a developed intellect and need daily care otherwise, mats form very quickly in their coat.

Peterbalds are an ideal option for those owners who don't want to bother looking after their pet.

This hairless cat is distinguished by amazing elegance. Since Peterbalds do not have wool, there is no hassle associated with it. However, it must be admitted that the health of these animals cannot be called powerful, and the forces that will be saved on caring for the animal can then be wasted on maintaining its health.

Be that as it may, it is not worth acquiring a representative of this breed, being driven solely by laziness and unwillingness to spend time combing. It would be much wiser to just get a cat with very short hair - they are not much more of a hassle.

In terms of character, Peterbalds are calm, patient and quick-witted. Petersburg sphinxes are friendly towards all family members, undemanding in care, not vindictive and generally not conflict. Their nature is such that the Peterbald does not create practically any inconvenience, maintains an even relationship with all family members, without singling out one person, but needs love and tenderness.

Calm cats for apartment maintenance

ragdoll

This cat is well suited for a large apartment. Her character is submissive and laid-back, able to add a touch of holiday to the daily worries of her owner.

The Ragdoll is calm, not prone to isolation or tantrums, does not need special care, obeys the rules very easily, but does not like loneliness and therefore, as a rule, follows its owner like a “tail”. It has a good appetite but not obese. Playful, but within reason.

Scottish fold

Outwardly, these animals are very similar to the British shorthair cat, but the ears hang forward. The character is calm and balanced, but not without cunning and playfulness. This is a purely apartment breed, since Scottish folds do not experience much cravings for walks on the street: they like the comfort of their home and the company of the owner much more. With other households (both bipedal and quadrupedal), the Scottish Fold gets along very easily and is well trained.

shorthaired exotic

The Exotic Shorthair was the result of a cross between an American Shorthair and a Persian. It has a calm character and the same calm and good manners and habits. Exotic cats do not belong to the number of talkative cats and, as a rule, prefer to remain silent. Exotics are very obedient to their master, they are quite easy to care for, they react carelessly to the actions of the owner and, at the same time, are friendly and faithful.

Russian blue cat

This is a submissive and gentle, but at the same time independent cat. She can safely remain alone, despite all her love for the owner. Russian Blue is great for those owners who spend a lot of time at work, appearing at home only in the evening.

The Russian blue cat has a developed intellect.

In relation to her master, she is kind and gentle, but in relation to strangers she is quite suspicious. Outwardly elegant, and the short coat and good constitution makes this cat very easy to care for. Good manners it absorbs effortlessly.

sacred burma

It is friendly and affectionate cat who had both Persian and Siamese cats. The character of the Burmese is friendly and gets along with other pets without any effort. They also get along well with small children. The Burma has rather graceful features and a medium length coat that needs careful grooming. Otherwise, representatives of this breed are undemanding in care and maintenance.

What does an apartment cat need?

Future owners of these animals need to remember that when choosing a cat, they choose a friend with whom they will live for 10-15 years. For this reason, the choice of breed should not be made in a hurry, under the influence of a momentary mood, or, even worse, under the influence of fashion for a particular breed. At first, you should slowly think over your sympathies, opportunities, availability of free time and funds, as well as your lifestyle, and based on this, make assumptions about what kind of the breed will do this owner is the best.

When everything is decided with the breed, you should also not rush to run to the breeder. First you need to equip the house in such a way that the cat has everything it needs immediately upon arrival at the house. That is, the house should have:

• tray;
• filler for him;
• bowls for food and water (preferably several ceramic);
• couch and / or house;
• scratching post (required!);
• toys and, preferably, a climbing frame;
• carrying;
• vitamins;
• feed supply (if preference is given to ready-made feed);
• brush-comb;
• nail clipper.

It is also worthwhile to equip a cat's first aid kit in advance, since this item is often neglected when preparing for the kitten's arrival in the house, and after that, the first aid kit is completely forgotten. If the owner has chosen such a breed as the Exotic Shorthair, you should immediately prepare for the fact that he may have special needs in terms of eye care. The same can be said about all breeds with short and snub noses. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare pet eye care products in advance.

In general, before bringing a kitten home, you should carefully study all the information regarding the care of representatives of this breed, and about its health. And only after that you can take the next step - choosing a good breeder, from whom the kitten will be bought.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.