Laid-back Cats: Best Breeds for Kids and Laps

When I was a kid, I knew only three breeds of cats: shorthair, longhair, and Siamese. Today there’s a multitude of both well-known and exotic breeds from which to choose. The choices are seemingly endless: big cats, small cats, cats with short legs, cats with folded ears, and even cats with no hair. While outward looks are important to some cat owners, the true measure of any pet is its personality and temperament.

Each breed of cat has its own inherent characteristics, created by generations of breeding. Some breeds, for example, excel at mousing, while others are aloof and independent. The average pet owner wants a cat for companionship and enjoys a furry friend snoozing on her lap or engaging in some spirited play with the kids. There are several breeds that display these endearing traits, but I’ve highlighted five here.

Lap kitties

Persian The Persian is an ancient breed from present-day Iran. The first Persian cats were brought to the U.S. in late 1800s, and Americans fell in love with the long-haired cats with the sweet flat faces. Persians have short, sturdy bodies and are heavily boned, with relatively large round heads. They’re calm, loving and quiet, and they love affection from their humans. These are one of the most placid of all cat breeds and are definitely lap cats. The average Persian will sit on a comfy lap for hours, reveling in the attention.

Persians come in a wide variety of colors and patterns and generally get along well with everyone, including the family dog. To learn more about Persians, visit www.persian-cats.com .

Ragdoll The Ragdoll was developed in California in the 1960s. It’s a large, muscular breed with beautiful blue eyes and thick, plush fur that doesn’t normally matt. Some cat fanciers say that the breed gets its name from the manner in which it totally relaxes its muscles and “goes limp” when it’s calm and content. The breed loves people and gets along well with children and other pets. Ragdolls love any attention from their humans, especially snoozing in laps while being stroked. These cats are so docile that they will rarely even defend themselves against attack from another cat or dog, so it’s recommended that they be inside cats only. They remain kittens for a long time, too, and don’t reach full maturity until the age of three or four years. Ragdolls come in gorgeous shades of seal, chocolate, tortoise shell, blue, cream, and lilac, with contrasting points like a Siamese. Visit www.ragdoll-cats.com to see photos of these wonderful felines and to read more about them.

Playful breeds

American Shorthair The American Shorthair’s ancestors came to America in the 1600s with the Puritans, who prized the cats for their rodent-killing skills. By using selective breeding, the popular cat we know today emerged. Originally known as the domestic shorthair, the name was changed to American Shorthair in 1985. The cats are sturdy and muscular and come in all cat colors. They are usually very playful, intelligent and curious; the perfect ingredients for a child’s playmate. These active felines seem to never tire of games. The cats usually have even temperaments and get along well with kids and dogs. This is a long-lived breed that with proper care will give its human family about twenty years of companionship. For more information and photos visit www.ashclub.org .

Abyssinian The oldest breed of domestic cat, the Abyssinian was first brought to England in 1868 by soldiers returning from Abyssinia, which is now known as Ethiopia. These are medium-sized cats with muscular, agile bodies and exotic-looking almond eyes. Their coats are of medium length and dense. Abyssinians come in solid colors like blue-grey, red, chocolate, fawn and cream, and in tortoiseshell patterns of varying shades of blue, chocolate, fawn and silver. The cats are inquisitive, active, loyal, and intelligent. These lively cats actually seem to have a sense of humor and enjoy a lot of interactive play with kids, dogs and other cats, but they don’t usually want to be still long enough to sit on your lap for long periods. To read more about the Abyssinian and to view pictures, visit www.abyssiniancatclub.com .

Maine Coon The Maine Coon was developed in New England in the 1700s and 1800s. It’s a large, hardy breed with a broad chest and a thick, water-repellent coat able to withstand the harsh northern winters. Purebred Maine Coons are allowed only five basic color classes: solid, tabby, tabby with white, parti-color, and other Maine Coon colors. Many of these cats have a bushy ringed tail, much like a raccoon’s. These cats are real “players” throughout their entire life. They love to chase objects and can even be taught to fetch. The Maine Coon gets along well with kids, dogs and other cats. They love hanging out with their human family, but they’d rather be playing than spending time on your lap. The Maine Coon has a large “vocabulary” consisting of a large variety of chirps, meows, and trills. To see pictures of these beautiful cats and to learn more, go to www.mainecooncatz.com .