Best Cats for Families with Children
Breeds with the temperament and tolerance for a household with children — rated 4 or 5 for family suitability.
← All cat breeds (10)10 entries
Persian
The original lap cat — serene, silky and impossibly beautiful.
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 7–15 lb (3.2–6.8 kg)
- Lifespan
- 12–17 years
Siamese
Chatty, curious and utterly devoted — the cat that thinks it's a person.
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 8–12 lb (3.5–5.5 kg)
- Lifespan
- 12–20 years
Maine Coon
The gentle giant of the cat world — fluffy, friendly and fascinatingly dog-like.
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 9–22 lb (4–10 kg)
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
British Shorthair
Calm, round and deeply dignified — the teddy bear of the cat world.
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 9–18 lb (4–8 kg)
- Lifespan
- 12–20 years
Bengal
Wild at heart, tame in your home — the leopard you can actually live with.
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 8–15 lb (3.6–7 kg)
- Lifespan
- 12–16 years
Ragdoll
The cat that goes limp in your arms — and steals your heart.
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 10–20 lb (4.5–9 kg)
- Lifespan
- 12–17 years
Sphynx
Naked, warm and impossible to ignore — the cat that runs on love.
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 8–15 lb (3.5–7 kg)
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
Scottish Fold
Owl-faced and irresistibly round — the cat the internet loves.
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 6–13 lb (2.7–6 kg)
- Lifespan
- 11–15 years
Abyssinian
Ancient, athletic and always in motion — the cat that never sits still.
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 6–11 lb (2.7–4.9 kg)
- Lifespan
- 14–17 years
Norwegian Forest Cat
A Viking in a fur coat — rugged, independent and breathtakingly beautiful.
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 9–20 lb (4–9 kg)
- Lifespan
- 14–16 years