Updated: 04/22/2021 17:12:39
Expert: Rudenko Irina Sergeevna
*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.
The choice of a cat must be approached with all responsibility. After all, this is not just a pet. This is a friend for many long years - and it depends on the breed whether it will delight you or, on the contrary, bully and frighten you.
We have compiled a rating of the 18 best cat breeds that are suitable for both an experienced breeder and a novice fancier.
Rating of the best cats
Nomination | place | Name of product | price |
The calmest cat breeds | 1 | British Shorthair | 4.9 |
2 | American shorthair cat | 4.8 | |
3 | Ragdoll | 4.7 | |
4 | Scottish lop-eared | 4.7 | |
5 | Burmese cat | 4.6 | |
6 | Persian | 4.5 | |
7 | Selkirk rex | 4.5 | |
The best hypoallergenic cat breeds | 1 | Balinese cat | 4.9 |
2 | Oriental shorthair cat | 4.8 | |
3 | Cornish Rex | 4.8 | |
4 | Javanese | 4.7 | |
5 | Siberian cat | 4.6 | |
The most sociable cats | 1 | Abyssinian cat | 4.9 |
2 | Toyger | 4.8 | |
3 | Bengal | 4.8 | |
4 | Maine Coon | 4.7 | |
5 | Siamese cat | 4.7 | |
6 | Russian blue cat | 4.6 |
Feeding
Temminck's cat is a typical medium-sized predator that, under natural conditions, feeds only on living protein foods. Its prey is usually animals belonging to the following species:
- rodents – rats, mice, gophers;
- hyrax;
- monkeys;
- wild goats;
- small antelopes;
- amphibians and reptiles;
- birds.
Especially large male Temminki even attack buffalo and deer, domestic sheep and calves.
In zoos or home enclosures, these cats should also be fed only fresh raw meat; preference is usually given to poultry, live rodents, and rabbits.
The calmest cat breeds
British Shorthair
Rating: 4.9
"British" cats are one of the most independent cats. Of course, they love their owner very much and are endlessly attached to him, but they can easily get by on their own. You can leave them alone in the apartment for several days and they won’t go crazy. The main thing is to feed.
The “British” are distinguished by their intelligence and aristocracy. They will never allow themselves to attack a person - if that person, of course, respects the boundaries of decency. Not overly affectionate, but charming, they also need to be treated politely, attentively and calmly. They love children, but do not tolerate familiarity.
Advantages
- Independent;
- They love their owners;
- They radiate charm and charm.
Flaws
- Require polite, respectful treatment;
- Not too affectionate towards strangers or just family members.
Should I buy a kitten for breeding or castration?
A purebred kitten can be purchased either for castration or for breeding. Moreover, many kittens are sold ONLY for breeding or ONLY for castration.
As a rule, those kittens that are sold only for breeding, according to the contract, must participate in several matings (if the kitten is a boy) or produce several litters of kittens (2-3) (if the kitten is a girl), after which the owner has the right Spay/sterilize your pet. At the same time, the nursery that sold such a kitten, as a rule, helps with its exhibition career, if necessary. Although in some cases, breeding issues are not discussed separately, and the new owner of the cat is engaged in breeding work solely according to his own understanding and desire.
Sometimes kittens are sold for joint ownership, then the kitten participates in breeding work “in full”, its owner becomes a cat breeder, and the litters obtained from him receive a nursery brand. The breeding of such kittens is supervised by the owner of the cattery, and all issues must be coordinated with him. Naturally, a co-ownership agreement is concluded only with trusted people.
Participation in breeding cats involves joining a club/system, exhibitions, matings, and serious costs for maintaining a pet. You won’t be able to make big money on cats; at best, you will end up with “0” or make a very modest profit. In addition, you will need to take a felinologist course or educate yourself in the field of cat breeding. In general, breeding cats is not an easy matter, you need to think seriously before getting involved in it.
Kittens sold for castration in European systems are sold either without pedigree/metrics (given away after surgery), or with documents containing special notes (no number, “pet” stamp, note “without breeding rights,” etc.). In American systems, such kittens are registered by breeders with appropriate marks, which automatically excludes the possibility of their participation in breeding. In any case, you need to demand at least a look at the documents confirming the kitten’s pedigree (pedigree\metrics\registration form).
A kitten undergoing castration does not have the right to participate in breeding. You may not castrate him and mix him with male cats, but such kittens will not be considered purebred, and no one will give you documents for them. It is better not to engage in such matters, as it borders on fraud.
It happens that the same kitten is sold only for breeding and only for castration. Then, if you buy him for castration, the price of a kitten drops significantly; if you buy for breeding, then it increases accordingly. If you buy for breeding, you get a normal pedigree/metrics; if you buy for castration, you get documents for personal use.
There is an intermediate option: kittens are sold both for breeding and for castration for the same price. Then the choice is up to the buyer what to do next with the kitten. However, usually, special conditions are specified in the contract for such kittens. Let's say you are obliged to sell future kittens of a certain sex and/or color only for castration or to another region; or give one kitten to the nursery, or give the nursery the right of first/second choice of a kitten from the litter, etc.
The best hypoallergenic cat breeds
Balinese cat
Rating: 4.9
Sociable, strong and often too smart cats. “Too much” means that they will easily learn to open the refrigerator or toy drawers. They become attached to people, do not leave them a single step, and play with pleasure. They need attention and love when it is shown to them.
They get along well with children, often play and show parental qualities. But a tandem of a child and a Balinese cat is capable of doing much more mischief than they can do individually. In addition, they are very talkative, often meow, purr - and, again, love to be the center of attention.
Very dependent and not suitable for people who only spend the night at home.
Advantages
- Sociable, playful, sociable;
- Get along well with children and animals;
- Very smart.
Flaws
- Require attention;
- Sometimes they play pranks.
Oriental shorthair cat
Rating: 4.8
A playful cat that needs an emotional connection with its owner. Her attitude towards her owner cannot even be described with the word “love” - rather “dependence”. She is absolutely trusting, misses her owner if he leaves the house for a long time, perfectly understands his mood and is ready to help cope with stress or join in the game.
Loves to be the center of attention, attracting it both through play and communication. It “talks” a lot, so it’s not very suitable for those who like silence. Very energetic, but by the end of the day she calms down and just needs a hug.
Advantages
- Quickly and for a long time becomes attached to the owner;
- Easily determines the mood of the owner;
- He is calm with children.
Flaws
- Demands attention, noisy and playful;
- Does not forgive betrayal.
Difference between classes
As stated above, there are no inexpensive cat breeds. Owners of professional nurseries specializing in breeding a particular breed invest huge sums in the future mother and offspring. First you need to promote your cat at shows and get a certain rating. After that, she is bred with an elite cat, which costs a lot of money. Food and veterinary care costs are expenses. That's why breeders don't like being asked to sell a show-class pet for a low price.
Do you want to get a purebred animal for next to nothing? Choose pet-class kittens. Main differences between classes:
- Show. The kitten fully complies with the breed standards and can take part in exhibitions and breeding. These are stars in felinology and are very expensive.
- Brit (bred). Middle class. Its representatives are allowed to exhibit, but do not carry breeding value.
- Pet. Cats “for the soul” that have serious deviations from the breed standard. The cheapest option for those who want to purchase an animal. Not allowed for exhibitions or breeding, suitable for keeping as a pet.
The most sociable cats
Abyssinian cat
Rating: 4.9
“Abyssinians” are sociable, friendly cats that love to participate in everything that a person does. And if people also gather in a group... That’s it, the cat will be in the very center of this company and will “help” in every possible way.
Abyssinian cats are one of the most curious and active in the ranking. They constantly play, go somewhere, run, do something and simply do not sit still. They actively explore every corner of the apartment, greet guests, catch insects and love to spend time with the owner, especially if he is doing something active.
Advantages
- Active and friendly;
- Constantly spend time with the owner;
- They love guests and groups of people in general.
Flaws
- Not suitable for lovers of a passive lifestyle;
- They need a closed window and balcony, as they can fall out of there.
Toyger
Rating: 4.8
Toygers are both “plush” and very active cats. They happily run, play, and participate in all human activities. Toygers especially love children, because they always have time to play and run around. Cats are friendly and are happy to “make contact” with any person who is ready to play with them.
Toygers will enjoy semi-free keeping - and they will be the first who want to go to the country with you. But they will happily take root in an apartment. The main thing is not to forget to play with them, because these cats remain active until old age.
Advantages
- Active and playful;
- They love walks and generally remain semi-free;
- They are distinguished by good health.
Flaws
- They really need games.
Average price range
The trend for breeding mini cats arose not very long ago. This fashion began with unusually beautiful munchkins; they won the love of millions of fans around the world. The breeders liked his affectionate character and sweet face. Breeders paid attention to the huge demand and created many new breeds with short legs, but the munchkin was initially taken as their basis.
Munchkin
The equivalent of munchkins among dogs are dachshunds. Short-legged dwarfs appeared in the middle of the twentieth century as a result of a natural mutation. Perfectly healthy cats had unusually short legs and first appeared in the US and UK. The name of the breed comes from the name of a small nation in the Magic Land of Oz, the author of the work was Frank Baum. The weight of males ranges from 2.7 to 4 kg, and adult females - from 1.8 to 3.6 kg. The smallest representative of the Munchkin breed was a cat named Liliput. The height at the withers was only 13.34 centimeters. The copy is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
Breed characteristics: elongated body, short legs, blue eyes. The coat can be either long or short. The colors are very diverse, the most popular are color point, Siamese and minky. Animals are distinguished by playfulness, friendliness, and a craving for company. A patient disposition allows you to get along with older people and children. Munchkins are characterized by “magpie syndrome”; they have a desire to steal and hide everything that is out of place. Owners should take care of their belongings and put all necessary items away from the munchkins. They also have extraordinary intelligence and curiosity. If a kitten is interested in any object, he will understand the details with enviable tenacity. For a representative of this breed, the breeder will have to pay from 25,000 to 80,000 rubles.
Advantages:
- resistance to shedding;
- ease of care;
- playfulness and affectionate nature;
- strong immunity;
- unpretentiousness in food.
Flaws:
- tendency to obesity.
Singapura cat
The Singapura is a short-haired breed and is native to Singapore. The breeders took stray cats that lived on the city streets as a basis. Around the 70s of the last century, the breed was brought to America, and by the mid-80s, some specimens found their way to Europe. Adult females weigh about 2 kg, males weigh from 2 to 3 kg.
The popularity of Singaporean women is growing from year to year. Their character is sociable and affectionate, they quickly win the hearts of pet lovers. Their appearance often resembles that of frightened ferrets, but despite this, their charm is endearing. The unique golden-cream color is called sepia agouti, it is found only in representatives of this breed. Cats are active and playful, but at the same time they are not obsessive and have no aggressive behavior. Animals quickly get used to their owners and other inhabitants of the home. They cannot stand loneliness. Owners should not leave their pets at home alone for long periods of time. Simple care boils down to periodic combing of the coat and trimming of the nails. Price - from 60 to 120 thousand.
Advantages:
- clean;
- affectionate and calm;
- beautiful;
- sociable;
- trainees;
- do not require special care;
- They hardly shed.
Flaws:
- No.
Skif-tay-don
Another name is skiff-toy-bob. It is considered the smallest breed. Adult animals can weigh from 0.9 to 2.5 kilograms, which corresponds to the weight of a three-month-old kitten of ordinary cats. Individuals have a short, strong body and well-developed muscles. The tail, 3 to 7 centimeters long, has a straight or slightly rounded spiral shape. The front legs are shorter than the hind legs.
The history of the emergence of this variety is noteworthy. In 1983, Elena Krasnichenko bred Thai bobtails; she picked up a Thai cat of the Old Siamese type on the street of the city of Rostov-on-Don. The foundling received the nickname Mishka. The animal had 4 kinks on its tail. In 1985, a breeder acquired a Thai cat named Sima with a short, curly tail that did not fit the standard. A year later, the couple had kittens, one cub was quite unusual, it had a short tail and was miniature. The kitten was named Kutsy, and the new breed started from him. The skif-tay-don standard was approved in 1994. This happened at a seminar of WCF felinologists from Russia and the CIS. Initially, this breed was called Scythian-tay-toy-don. “Scythian” - place of origin (the land was once inhabited by Scythians, due to the external resemblance to the Thai cat, the particle “tai” appears in the name, “toy” - from English (toy) - toy, “don” - the river on which Rostov is located (the birthplace of this species of dwarf cats).
Appearance is similar to 4-5 month old kittens. The coat color, eye color and character are reminiscent of Thai cats. Miniature cats inherited their short tail from Japanese bobtails. Weight: 0.9 – 2.0 kg. Price - from 70 - 90 thousand.
The owners really like their playful character. Cats love children. It is advisable to provide animals with special toys so that the pets can have fun in the absence of their owners. Otherwise, active kids will play with some things and may ruin them. Features: cats do not tend to mark territory at all, and cats are very playful. Toy beans can be trained: for example, you can easily teach a kitten to fetch a mouse or perform another simple command. Sometimes you can hear sounds from kittens that resemble a dog barking. Adult animals do not make much noise and are usually silent; occasionally they can give signs of presence.
Advantages:
- strong skeleton and powerful muscles;
- thick coat;
- beautiful appearance;
- ease of training.
Flaws:
- high price;
- capricious character.
Economic significance for humans
Positive
The meat of Temminck cats is considered a delicacy, and their bones are used for medicinal purposes. Their skin is sold, although this is considered illegal. According to local superstitions, setting fire to the skin of cats drives away tigers.
Negative
Asian golden cats are known to prey on domestic animals such as birds, sheep and goats.
Features of character and lifestyle
Photo: Golden cat Temminka
Little is known about the behavior of Temminck's cat. It was once thought to be primarily nocturnal, but recent evidence indicates that the cat may be more crepuscular or diurnal. Two radio-collared Temminck cats in Thailand's Phu Khieu National Park showed mostly diurnal and crepuscular activity peaks. Additionally, most of the Temminka cat photos were taken during the day in Kerinci Seblat and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Parks in Sumatra.
The range of two Temminck radar cats in Thailand in Phu Khieu National Park was 33 km² (female) and 48 km² (male) and overlapped significantly. In Sumatra, a radio-collared female spent much of her time outside the protected area in small patches of remnant forest located among coffee plantations.
Fun fact: Temminck cat vocalizations include hissing, spitting, meowing, purring, growling and gurgling. Other communication methods observed in Temminck cats in captivity include scent marking, urine spraying, raking trees and logs with their claws, and head rubbing against various objects, very similar to the behavior of a domestic cat.