Abyssinian

Abyssinians can do well with children who already know how to be calm and gentle. Expect an average-sized cat that is high-energy, barely sheds and needs very little grooming. It is independent — affectionate on its own terms rather than yours.

How long is that, really? Cats live longer than most people expect — about 11.7 years on average across every breed, and a well-looked-after Abyssinian can reach 15 years. A kitten you bring home this year will still be curled up somewhere warm long after you have finished school.

Sources: VCA Animal Hospitals · PDSA breed guide · Teng et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2024).

Day to day. High-energy — this is a cat that needs height to climb, things to hunt and someone to play with. A bored one of these gets into everything, and that is not naughtiness, it is boredom. Ten minutes with a wand toy in the evening covers most of what it is asking for.

The coat, honestly. This breed barely sheds and needs very little grooming. Next to nothing to do either way — the odd brush is a treat rather than a chore, and this is about as easy as a coat gets.

Company and noise. This one is independent and quiet. It will choose when to be sociable, which suits some families perfectly and disappoints others. Nobody should buy this one hoping to change it. What it wants instead is territory: height, a hiding place, a tray somewhere private — the setup guide covers where each goes.

• Someone will actually play with it every day, and it can climb high
• You would rather brush and pay a groomer than vacuum every day
• You want a cat whose coat looks after itself
• You would rather share a house with something independent than be followed around
• You want a quiet home

• Nobody has ten minutes twice a day to play with it properly
• You are picturing an animal that curls up on you every evening
• A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year
• A shelter cat would do everything this one does for a fraction of the price

Rough running cost: $$$ (one of the pricier cats on our list) — because there is no single expensive thing about it — just the normal food, vet and insurance costs every cat brings.

Those are relative bands, not live prices. For real numbers across every pet we cover, see the pet cost study and the cost calculator.

Picked for this breed’s coat, size, energy and known health issues, not a generic list.

Rescues do have Abyssinians and Abyssinian crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.

Russian Blue

A fine-boned silvery cat with green eyes, quiet manners and a deep attachment to one or two people.

🐈 Average🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed

Bengal

A muscular, spotted, high-energy cat that looks wild and needs entertaining like a small dog.

🐈 Average⚡ High energy🧹 Some shedding

British Shorthair

A dense, round, dignified cat that likes you very much and would still rather not be picked up.

🐈 Average😌 Low energy🧹 Some shedding