You wouldn’t be the first to think that cats tend to be more on the…well, aloof side. But much like dogs, they can also be pretty affectionate, cuddly, and downright sweet when they feel like it. Here are 10 friendly cat breeds – and how you can keep them safe.

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10 friendliest cat breeds & how to best care for them

American Shorthair

A cat breed that’s also quite fond of water, American Shorthairs were originally bred to hunt down mice on ships!1 They’re highly curious and love to explore. They’re also quite a long-living cat breed – living up to around 15 years! Your Shortie is likely to enjoy spending time with you and your family and getting up in everyone’s business.

💡American Shorthairs are also highly active cats – you can even train yours to play fetch! You’ll want to ensure you’re getting yours plenty of exercise so they don’t get overweight. (Since they do tend to be a bit food-motivated.)

Burmese Cats

Originating from Myanmar, Burmese cats are a fun-loving, high-energy, friendly cat breed that are even described as “puppy-like”. Much like American Shorthairs, they love to play and climb around – often perching on your shoulder to get a view of their surroundings.

This little fellow might look a bit fearsome – but don’t be fooled. Burmese Cats are among the cuddliest cat breeds and need a ton of attention to stay happy.

Ragdoll Cats

Easily one of the most beautiful of cat breeds, Ragdolls are a bunch of fluffy gentle giants who adapt well to families – both large and small. Much like American Shorthairs, your Ragdoll is likely to follow you around everywhere and even end up curled up in bed asleep next to you! Despite their silky coats, they’re actually quite easy to maintain and need just about two grooming sessions per week.

Ragdolls also tend to be on the bigger side, domestic cats-wise. So if you’ve got other cats at home, your Ragdoll might need larger food portions. (And a bigger litter tray, to boot.)

Bombay Cats

Another one of the friendliest cat breeds, American Bombay Cats are a mix of the Shorthair and Burmese Cats. (And no, they don’t actually originate from India – rather, they’re just named after the Indian city of Bombay – or Mumbai – where the Indian black leopard has its habitat.)5 Here’s one wearing a Tractive GPS tracker for max safety:

black cat wearing blue gps cat tracker standing outside on grass

Much like the Shorthair, Bombays can live up to 15-20 years! They’re highly social and crave attention at all times – especially if you’ve got kids at home. (One of the reasons they’re referred to as “velcro” cats.)

Devon Rex

Probably one of the most interestingly-shaped friendly cat breeds, the Devon Rex is a unique, “pixie-like” cat breed originating from the UK. They’re known to be highly loyal, attach quickly to families and get along famously with other pets, including dogs.

Much like other friendly cat breeds, Devons are intelligent, attention-seeking, and have a ton of energy to burn. They’re quite fond of jumping and perching on to high surfaces – so make sure to keep some cat trees and climbing posts for them around the house.

Tonkinese Cat

A mix between Siamese and Burmese cats, Tonkinese cats are another one of the friendliest cat breeds that love to run and play. Despite being bred in North America, they’re named after the Tonkin region of Indo-China. (From where their ancestors come.)6

Like their parents, Tonkinese are lively, playful, highly vocal cats that love to be around people. They stand out with their distinctive, gentle “quacking” meow – which actually sounds more like a duck! Tonkinese cats are also intelligent and love to stay busy with games like fetch.

cat wearing Tractive Smart GPS Cat Tracker, cat tracking app screenshot and cat tracking collar

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Somali Cat

Somalis are another breed of energetic, lively, social cats that you could easily mistake for a fox with their gorgeous red fur. And no, unlike their name, they’re not actually from Somalia in Africa – they were bred in the US instead.

These cats tend to be highly active – and many take well to walking outdoors on a leash! Make sure to get yours used to a harness and collar in advance, so you can take them out for some supervised outdoor time.

Read more: How To Harness Train A Cat In 7 Easy Steps

Ocicat

Ocicats might look like their wild ancestors, the ocelot – but they’re as tame as tame can be. (Despite their occasional urge to pounce on a moving toy.) They’re another one of the friendliest cat breeds, often described as “dogs in cats’ bodies” – and love to jump around, play, learn tricks, and even walk around outdoors on a leash or harness.8

Ocicats are affectionate, loyal domestic cats and tend to attach pretty quickly to kids and families. They also get along pretty well with other pets, including dogs. Though, much like Tonkinese cats, Ocicats also tend to have strong hunting and exploring instincts that drive them to snoop around outdoors.

Sphynx Cat

Surprised to see Sphynx cats on here? You wouldn’t be the only one. These hairless cats do a look a bit grumpy, after all! But contrary to how they seem, Sphynxes are still one of the friendliest cat breeds – highly intelligent, curious, and affectionate. Don’t be surprised if you find one waiting for you at the door when you return from work or cuddling next to you in bed at night.

Just be extra careful to keep your Sphynx warm in the colder months. (Their lack of fur means they get chilly easily.) It’s also better to avoid exposing them to sunlight for too long, else they’re at risk for developing skin cancer over time.

Birman Cats

Another gorgeous breed from South-East Asia, Birmans are long-haired domestic cats that are known to be gentle, loyal, and deeply attached to their families. In fact, you might’ve heard of Choupette, a Birman cat who was owned by the late Karl Lagerfeld!

Unlike the other active cats we’ve mentioned here, Birmans are a great choice if you’re looking for a chill, low-maintenance cat that’ll be happy to lie curled up at your feet for hours.