The right cat can make a wonderful companion for kids. They’re tolerant of grabby toddlers, active enough to keep up with kids’ energetic play, and often become loyal family members.
The Manx are a great family cat breed because they don’t have a tail, which can get pulled by kids. They also tend to be calm and enjoy being petted and carried around.
American Shorthair
This calm, loving breed makes a great companion for kids. They’re intelligent, social, and eager to learn tricks. They are also rugged and hardy, meaning they may not be as sensitive to illnesses and diseases that some other cat breeds can be.
They aren’t as active as some other breeds, but they enjoy playing with their family members and often display affection for them. They can entertain themselves by playing with toys or by gazing out the window or clambering up and down a cat tree, but they can also relax with a good snuggle.
A playful, devoted cat from the Isle of Man, this medium-sized, tail-less breed is highly adaptable and friendly with children. These cats are a great choice for kids who are taught to interact with them properly, such as by supporting their back feet and using gentle, firm handling.
Abyssinian
The Abyssinian is a playful and curious cat that typically gets along well with kids who treat them gently. They’re also incredibly active and love to play fetch or other interactive toys with their owners.
They’re not a breed to be handled roughly, though, and do best in households with other cats and/or dog-friendly pets who can keep them entertained (source 1). They’ll often demand the spotlight, but they also enjoy being lap cats and napping alongside their family members.
Their most striking feature is their beautiful coat, which features nuanced bands of lighter and darker shades on top of a wedge-shaped head. Their large ears sit forward on their head and are cupped, giving them a look of alertness. They’re also incredibly intelligent and agile.
Burmese
Full of high-spirited playfulness, Burmese are amusing and engaging companions for the entire family. They are very intelligent and often described as a dog-like breed in their devotion to the people they love. Curious and inquisitive, they love to interact with their people – but they’ll let you know when they’ve had enough and need time alone.
The Burmese were first introduced to the world in 1930 when Dr. Joseph Thompson brought a walnut-brown female cat named Wong Mau from Burma to San Francisco. Affectionately referred to as “Velcro cats,” Burmese remain playful and sociable into their senior years. Their short, silky coats come in a variety of colors including sable, champagne, blue, platinum, lilac and fawn, with or without a tortoiseshell pattern. They live to be about 18 years old on average.
Cornish Rex
This sociable breed adapts easily to a family and seems to retain kittenlike energy throughout their lives. They're incredibly affectionate and friendly to everyone in the household, including children.
A Cornish Rex's coat has bent hairs that give it a distinct curly look, as well as a short body and huge bat ears. The breed came from a natural mutation that occurred in July 1950 when Serena, a tortoiseshell cat, gave birth to five kittens. One of the kittens, named Kallibunker, had a distinctively different coat from his siblings.
The first few litters of Cornish Rex cats had straight coats, but breeding with Siamese, Burmese, American Shorthair and Havana Brown cats eventually produced curly-coated kittens. The result was the breed we know today.
Devon Rex
Like the Cornish rex, Devon rex cats are jacks of all trades, with playful personalities that can be mischievous at times. They're very sociable and love people, including children (as long as the kids know how to interact with pets).
Devon rex cats are active and friendly, remaining playful into their senior years. They're not shy about asking for attention and may follow you from room to room, wanting to know what you're doing.
They get along well with other cats and dog-friendly pets, but if you have another pet that's already in the household, your Devon rex may bond with it more than you. She craves human companionship and doesn't do well if left alone for extended periods of time. She also needs a healthy diet to maintain her lean physique.
