Scientists say: cats belong in the house. Research has shown that these furry animals have the ability to heal their owners and relieve stress. But they also have many other advantages that people value.
But there is a difficult choice ahead, because there are dozens of breeds. And then there are “mutts” that are no less “useful” for the body. So which cat is better to have in an apartment ?
Which cat is better to have in an apartment?
Pros of cats
Cat lovers, as lovers of these animals are sometimes called, find many benefits from living under the same roof with furry pets. They replace sleeping pills, helping to sleep soundly, bringing peace of mind, and reducing the likelihood of death from a heart attack. If there is no allergy, the risk of asthma is reduced.
Most cats are completely independent animals that can remain at home completely painlessly while their owners work for a long time. For a busy person, this is also convenient because you don’t need to find a “window” in your busy schedule for a walk twice a day. Many adults, and most children, simply adore cats.
Children love cats very much
Burmese
This short-haired breed is also sometimes called the “eternal kitten.” And for good reason. Representatives of this breed retain the character of a kitten until the end of their lives, which makes them an excellent choice for families with children or small families where they can pay enough attention to this playful and affectionate pet.
These graceful animals are people-oriented.
The weight of a Burmese cat can reach 6 kg. Hence their nickname - “brick wrapped in silk.”
"Apartment" breeds
There are quite a few breeds that are ideal for apartment living.
For small spaces
Such cats should not be very large in size, with an average level of activity. The following breeds meet these requirements:
- Persian;
- sphinxes - Canadian, Donskoy, Peterbald;
- Russian blue;
- British Shorthair;
- Scottish fold and straight-eared.
Our portal contains an interesting article about cats of different breeds with a blue (smoky) color, read it - you won’t regret it.
Scottish Fold is great for small spaces
Attention! You should not take hyperactive Siamese, Abyssinians, Bengals and other similar breeds into a small apartment. Lack of exercise is harmful to their health.
Easy to care for
A common requirement when choosing a cat for an apartment is ease of care. The least problems are caused by sphinxes that lack hair. In addition, they are characterized by reduced sexual activity. This means that you don’t have to be afraid of the smell from the “marks”, as well as the inappropriate behavior of females during the period of “estrus”.
Hairless breeds are incredibly clean
The Scottish Fold breed has a short coat, so it rarely needs to be brushed. She is trainable and quickly gets used to the litter tray. These are pretty clean cats.
Character
Persians are the embodiment of calm. They idolize their owner and follow him everywhere. These cats rarely show aggression, even towards guests and children. Persians are silent and attract the owner's attention with their expressive gaze. Their disadvantage is their long coat, which requires grooming. And you will also have to put up with snoring. This is due to the structure of the nose. Their close relatives are the exotic shorthaired breed, which are somewhat easier to care for.
The Sacred Burma is intelligent, well trained, with “aristocratic manners.” She is affectionate and calm and does not get angry. Burmese get along well with other pets. But it has some disadvantages. For example, these cats are frightened by loud noises and do not tolerate heat well.
The Ragdoll needs the affection of its owner and cannot stand being alone. These are kind and patient cats. They rarely scratch, avoid conflicts, and are easy to train. Ragdolls cannot stand rudeness and are offended by such treatment. One of the disadvantages of the breed is that it must be protected from heights: the cat can be seriously injured if it falls, since it does not know how to group itself.
Ragdoll willingly accepts his owner's caresses
The following also have good character qualities for living in an apartment:
- British Shorthair;
- American Shorthair;
- Selkirk Rex;
- Manx;
- Neva Masquerade;
- European Shorthair;
- Russian blue;
- toyger;
- sokoke.
Sokoke - a gentle native of Africa
You can read more about the various breeds of modern cats, their maintenance and care in a special section on our portal.
Top 8 largest domestic cats
Breeds for children
The choice of cat is narrowed if there is a child in the apartment. The following requirements are put forward for a pet:
- absence of aggression;
- flexible character, strong nervous system;
- sociability almost like a dog;
- ease of care.
Attention! Not all representatives of the breed have the necessary qualities, since cats also have different personalities. Therefore, when buying an animal, it is better to ask the breeder to choose a kitten for the home in which the child is growing up.
The following cats are considered the best according to these criteria:
- The Maine Coon is a real giant that grows up to 1 meter in length and weighs up to 10 kg (females - up to 8 kg). His character resembles a dog, and one of his habits is to meet and see off his owners. Maine Coons are sociable, pick up on the slightest changes in a person’s mood, and love to participate in the most important events of their family.
Maine Coon - house lion
- Canadian Sphynx . The hypoallergenic breed is suitable for families in which children are growing up with hypersensitivity to fur. “Canadians” have a peaceful character and are not prone to aggression. If kids are not afraid of the unusual “naked” appearance, they enjoy petting and hugging the animal because of its warm body and velvety skin. This is one of the most affectionate representatives of the cat world.
The Canadian Sphynx is very affectionate and warm
Attention! Lack of fur does not guarantee protection against animal allergies. Contrary to popular belief, the body’s hyperreaction does not occur to the lint itself, but to proteins in the animal’s biological fluids.
- Exotics . Exotic cats have a playful nature, they are sociable and curious. Such qualities are necessary for a cat to live in a family with a child. Snub-nosed cats are gentle and non-conflicting. When a child behaves aggressively, they simply move away without offering resistance. Unlike the Persian breed, they do not need to be combed.
Exotics are cute and non-conflicting
British
The British are not a particularly playful breed. They prefer a calmer and more measured lifestyle, so such pets are suitable for adults or families with older children.
Despite some laziness, the British remain patient and obedient animals.
If, according to myths, cats of other breeds have 9 lives, then the British have no less than 20! With proper care, representatives of this breed live on average two decades.
Is it worth adopting a purebred cat?
Some people prefer "mutts". These cats did not have noble ancestors in their family or they have mixed roots. And this has its advantages. For example, mestizos have better health than their “blue-blooded” counterparts. This is due to the wider gene pool. Therefore, the risk of genetic diseases is very low.
However, such cats often have an independent character, and their hunting instincts are more pronounced. Adults love to mark territory, and it is not very easy to wean them from this habit.
The “mongrel” has better health
At the same time, purebred cats have predictable habits. They value cleanliness more because breeders select for breeding those individuals that are less prone to marking territory.
At what age is it better to adopt a cat?
An adult cat or a cute baby? This seems like a minor issue, but age is an important factor.
Kitty
As a rule, kittens are taken into the house. It is believed that in childhood the animal gets used to the new environment better.
Attention! The kitten must be at least three months old.
A cat feeds its cubs with milk until they are three months old. This is important because the baby acquires primary immunity. It is the mother who takes best care of health and knows what her “child” needs. Communication with the parent is also responsible for socialization. An early break with a nursing female is fraught with the following problems for the offspring:
- mental disorders;
- behavioral disorders;
- weak immunity.
The mother accustoms the cubs to unfamiliar food, instills hygiene skills, shows how to use a tray and sharpen their claws.
Temporary immunity is transmitted to the kitten with milk.
Cats are vaccinated at 8 and 12 weeks (booster vaccination). Therefore, after 3 months the body is maximally protected from infections.
Adult cat
Animals older than a year are reluctant to be taken into an apartment due to prejudice. But veterinarians assure: often these are just myths that have no basis in reality.
Table 1. The most common misconceptions of future cat owners.
| Myth | Reality |
| It is easier to train a kitten to the litter box | Adults quickly understand what is wanted from them. And if they are already toilet trained, they will not shit anywhere, with rare exceptions and for “good reasons” (stress, illness, etc.) |
| An adult cat will not accept a new owner | Animals that have experienced cold and hunger appreciate taking care of themselves. Kittens take everything for granted and are spoiled |
| The child needs a kitten | Adult cats are more tolerant of children. Many of them have the talent of a nanny and stoically endure the importunity of children. |
| The owners abandoned the cat because he behaved badly | An animal may be left without owners due to their death, relocation, birth of a child, or other “harmless” reasons. |
| If you take a kitten, it will grow up healthy | This is not a fact due to unformed immunity. Kittens are more prone to serious illnesses and suffer more severely from infections. |
Adult cats are often more comfortable than kittens
Criteria for choosing a cat breed for a family with children
When choosing a cat for a child, parents should take into account several criteria: the animal’s temperament, difficulty in grooming, sociability, “talkativeness,” activity, noise . If your child is allergic but really wants a furry friend, you should pay attention to hypoallergenic breeds.
Having a cat as a child's first animal has a number of advantages.:
- Teaches you to take responsibility for a living being . Children get used to the daily ritual of caring for a pet: changing the water in the bowl, measuring out the amount of dry food, cleaning the tray, caring for the fur.
- Instills skills in proper handling of animals , teaches love and respect.
- Helps cope with stress after a long school day.
- Teaches how to manage aggression .
- Makes children healthy . Scientists have proven that having a cat in the house inhibits the development of asthma. With constant contact with a cat, a protective immune response is developed, which reduces the risk of colds.
The cat does not have to be purebred; you can take a kitten from the street or from an already domesticated yard cat . Such animals are united by a kind and flexible disposition, lack of aggression and thirst for revenge. Of course, some outbred kittens have difficulties with toilet training, but a systematic approach and persistence will help overcome the problem.
It is important not to forget about examination by a veterinarian , timely vaccination and deworming of foundlings in order to prevent children from contracting infectious diseases.
Is it possible to adopt a cat from a shelter?
People who decided to take such a step believe that it was done correctly. They argue that there are many reasons why a shelter cat will do well in an apartment.
Table 2. Pros and cons of a shelter cat.
| Advantages | Flaws |
|
|
As for communication with curators, this is a temporary phenomenon. As soon as volunteers or shelter workers understand that their pupil is in good hands, they stop disturbing the new owner.
Don't be afraid to adopt a cat from a shelter - this has its advantages
Shelters are also found through social networks - usually such organizations have pages. If you couldn’t find an adoption center in your city, you will definitely find one in a neighboring town.
For reference. ADOPTION
(from Latin
adoptio
- adoption), a form of establishing artificial kinship - the inclusion of an individual or several individuals in any related group or family. The motives for adoption could be different: providing a lonely person with a certain status in the system of social connections...Lifehack. From several institutions, the smallest ones are chosen, with the number of inhabitants up to 50 individuals. The cats there are more well-groomed and better cared for.
Choose a friendly animal
To answer the question of which cat is best to have in an apartment so that both you and your new friend can live comfortably, you need to take into account the character traits inherent in felines.
When choosing a cat for your apartment, make sure it is not too noisy
For the conditions of a comfortable city apartment, it is important to expect from a cat:
- flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to new things;
- so that the animals are not too noisy;
- the ability to calmly endure loneliness for more than 8 hours;
- sociability;
- that she does not have a strong attachment to a particular place.
When getting a pet, also take into account your lifestyle, for example, some cat breeds cannot tolerate noise and the owner’s constant guests, take this fact into account.
Boy or girl?
When a family decides to adopt a kitten, among other things, the question arises: is a boy better or a girl?
Advantages of cats (females):
- they are cleaner because they take better care of themselves;
- do not seek to dominate;
- more flexible and affectionate.
But with the advent of puberty, the owner has a question: what to do with the offspring? There may be problems with this if the animal was not taken for breeding. Pregnancy is preceded by estrus. The cat leaves marks with a specific musky odor, and for a week or more makes loud noises, especially at night, calling for a male. This ends on its own or after mating with a cat.
Attention! Cats do not behave the same with men and women. Thus, they can “flirt” with representatives of the stronger sex - arching their backs, fluffing their tails. With women, females are softer and more affectionate.
Cats like to flirt with their owners
Cats are leaders by nature. They control every step of the inhabitants of the house. Most cats are not affectionate, although sometimes they allow themselves to be picked up and stroked. They become aggressive if a person does something they don't like.
One of the problems that cat owners face is marking their territory. Often, breeders manage to wean their pupils from such behavior. Males smell stronger. But the smell disappears if the animal is properly cared for.
Many problems can be solved by sterilization and castration. But even a castrated male can leave marks. This happens in the following cases:
- late castration;
- the presence of another cat;
- stress, anxiety;
- uneasy situation in the house;
- lack of attention from the owners;
- dirty tray;
- discontent;
- health problems, bladder infections.
Cats show aggression if they don't like something.
Siamese
And although for many Siamese are associated with aggressiveness and a bad character, this does not prevent these animals from remaining one of the most successful cats for an apartment.
Representatives of this breed are very intelligent, playful and affectionate. It is better to give preference to males; they are believed to be more loyal and gentle than females.
Is it worth getting a cat?
Those who want to get a cat need to know what difficulties they will have to face, regardless of the breed and gender of the animal. A person who is used to traveling should realize that a cat is a homebody who does not like traveling. Rare pets agree to share the road with their owner and even go to the mountains with them.
You need to be patient in order to instill basic skills in your cat - teach him to go to the litter box and sharpen his claws not on furniture, but on a scratching post. Training requires perseverance from a person; training takes energy and time. If there is no desire to work with your pet in this direction, then soon the house will be a mess.
The cat needs to be taught basic skills - to learn to use the litter box.
Another difficulty awaits those who do not consider the possibility of spaying or neutering their pet. Several times a year you will have to go through the real hassle associated with sexual hunting.
Most cats sleep from morning to evening, especially if their owners spend all day at work and do not play with them during daylight hours. They are nocturnal. Therefore, you need to be prepared for the fact that your pet can disturb your sleep with its nightly activities. These are just some of the inconveniences that you will have to put up with.
Video - A cat travels with his “parents”
The family is expecting a new addition, but the cat doesn’t know...
A fairly common situation is when a young family first gets pets and later thinks about children. Or they buy a pet for older children, and later wait for a new addition.
There will be no difficulties if, in addition to traditional preparations for the appearance of a new member of the family, the mustachioed and striped one is also prepared for this event. It is worth noting that cats are more demanding animals than dogs and most often have difficulty adapting to any changes. To prevent your pet from experiencing stress and showing negative emotions, you can do the following:
- let the cat periodically listen to a recording of a baby crying;
- before playing or interacting with your pet, you can apply baby cream or lotion to your hands; the pet will associate the new scent with pleasant moments;
- You shouldn’t wait until the last minute to decorate the nursery; it is advisable for the cat to get acquainted with new things in advance;
- and yes, cats and cats also love comfort, so many of them try to sleep in cribs and strollers; such attempts should be stopped immediately, even when the baby is not yet there, and the sleeping places should be equipped with curtains;
- You shouldn’t place furniture and children’s supplies where your pet’s place was; he definitely won’t like it and may cause a protest.
Naturally, the pet will immediately feel that changes are coming, but if everything is done correctly, the pet will be positively disposed towards them.
