Cat Breeds Guide
Temperament, Care Needs and Health Questions for Popular Breeds

Start With Your Lifestyle

Ask how much time you have for play and grooming, how much space you can offer, whether you have children or other pets, and what health costs you can plan for. A breed tendency is a tendency, not a promise.

Domestic Shorthair and Longhair

Most cats are mixed breed, and shelters are full of them. Personality is the best guide, so meet the cat. A good shelter can tell you how a cat behaves around people, kids and other pets.

Popular Pedigree Breeds

• Maine Coon: large, sociable, with a heavy coat. Ask the breeder about heart screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hip health.
• Ragdoll: large and relaxed. HCM screening is also worth asking about.
• British Shorthair: calm and sturdy. Watch weight, and ask about heart screening.
• Siamese: very vocal and social. Needs company and attention.
• Bengal: athletic and clever. Needs climbing space and lots of play.
• Persian: quiet, with a long coat that needs daily care. Flat faces can mean breathing and tear problems. Ask about screening for polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
• Sphynx: hairless, warm and people-oriented. Needs regular skin care and protection from cold. Ask about heart screening.
• Abyssinian: active and curious. Ask the breeder about inherited eye and blood conditions.
• Scottish Fold: the folded ear gene is linked to painful bone and cartilage disease. Many veterinary and welfare groups advise against breeding folds, so we recommend choosing another breed.

Questions to Ask a Breeder

• Which genetic and health screenings do the parents have, and can I see the results?
• How long have you bred, and how do you socialize kittens?
• What health guarantee and return policy do you offer?
• Can I meet the mother and see where the kittens live?

Walk away from sellers who will not answer or who sell kittens before 8 weeks of age. A screening test lowers risk but does not rule out disease.

Costs to Expect

Purchase price is the smaller part. Plan for food, litter, vet care, vaccines and emergencies. Read the Cat Insurance Guide and Cat Nutrition Guide. Insurance usually excludes conditions that appear before coverage starts.

Coat and Grooming Needs

• Short coats need weekly brushing. Shedding still happens.
• Long coats such as Persians and Maine Coons need brushing several times a week, and daily for some. Mats can be painful.
• Hairless cats need regular skin care and may need sun and cold protection.
• All cats benefit from nail trims and dental care.

Health Screening, Explained

Some breeds have common inherited conditions, and breeders may screen for them.

• HCM: a heart muscle disease. An echocardiogram by a veterinary cardiologist is the main screening tool. A few breeds also have DNA tests for specific mutations, but a negative result does not rule out disease.
• PKD: polycystic kidney disease in Persians and related breeds. Ultrasound and DNA tests exist.
• Hip and joint issues: seen in larger breeds. Ask about imaging results.

Screening reduces risk but cannot remove it. Ask what was tested, when, and who did the test.

Adopting: Where to Start

Local shelters and rescues, including breed-specific rescues, have kittens and adult cats. Adult cats show you their personality, and many are litter trained and calm. Ask about the cat's history, health, and how it behaves with people, kids and other pets. Ask whether the cat has been tested for FeLV and FIV and what vaccines it has received.

Good Fits for Small Homes

Many calm cats do well in apartments, including British Shorthairs and some mixed breeds. Highly active breeds can also thrive if you give them vertical space and daily play. A cat's energy and your routine matter more than the size of your home.

Sources and Further Reading

• American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP): cat owner resources and feline guidelines
• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
• AVMA pet owner resources