Choose the right cat breed for your family

Cats tend to be a little easier to fit into a household than dogs, as they come in many different shapes, sizes and personality types. Make sure you do your research to get as perfect a match for your family as possible. After all, that cute little kitten might very well be the heart of the household for the next 15 years!

Best for young kids
Busy, noisy households can be great fun for the right breed of cat, but other breeds find the squeals and unpredictable behaviour of young children quite stressful and even frightening. Some of the more easygoing breeds include the British short hair, Balinese, tonkinese, Scottish fold, Turkish van, manx, ragdoll and Norwegian forest.

Best for allergies
There is no true hypoallergenic cat. The primary cause of allergic reactions is due to the allergens found in the sebaceous glands in a cat’s skin. These allergens are also found in their saliva. Therefore, when a cat grooms itself, it spreads the allergen around. Rex cats have been documented as 10 per cent less likely to cause allergies, but there is no guarantee.

Best for busy families
Animals need at least a couple of hours of attention each day, and if you are not able to provide that, then you should reconsider getting a pet at all.
Some of the calm, quiet, undemanding breeds include the Scottish fold, Persian, birman and Russian blue. Persians, however, do require quite a bit of grooming so are not suitable if you are time poor.

Best for homebodies
You can have any cat breed you like – which one you are most suited to depends on your activity levels and interests. For those who want an affectionate lap cat, the Siamese, Persian, Russian blue, Devon or Cornish rex and Scottish fold cats are ideal.

If you want a dog-like cat that can be trained, the manx tops the class. If you’re after a high-energy cat then opt for an Abyssinian, Bengal, Siamese, Oriental or Burmese.

The moggy
Don’t look past the humble moggy from an animal shelter in your search for the perfect feline friend. Of course, it is more difficult to determine their temperament because we don’t know their ancestry. Trained staff at the cat rescue shelter will usually be able to give you an indication of the suitability of a particular kitten for your family.