Burmese

Burmese are one of the better choices for a family with children. Expect an average-sized cat that is moderately active, barely sheds and needs very little grooming. It is a committed lap animal, so expect company whether or not you asked for it.

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 Burmese can reach 20 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. Moderately active — a couple of proper play sessions a day and somewhere to climb keeps this one content. It is worth being fussy about which toys you buy: most cats ignore a whole basket and chase exactly one thing.

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 a committed lap animal and fairly chatty. Expect it on your lap, your keyboard and your chest at six in the morning — a cat bred for closeness does not negotiate. Give it a warm, high place to land in whatever room you are in; where you put things matters more with this one than what you buy.

• You want a cat that will put up with being picked up by a child
• You would rather brush and pay a groomer than vacuum every day
• You want a cat whose coat looks after itself
• You want an animal that actually sits on you, not just near you

• You want a pet that entertains itself while you get on with things

Rough running cost: $$ (middle of the pack) — 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 Burmese and Burmese crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.

American Shorthair

A sturdy, healthy, good-tempered working cat — the pedigree version of the everyday tabby.

🐈 Average🙂 Moderate🧹 Some shedding

Scottish Fold

The cat with folded ears — sweet-natured, and carrying a genuine welfare problem you should read about first.

🐈 Average😌 Low energy🧹 Some shedding

Siamese

Sleek, clever and extremely talkative — a cat that expects to be part of the conversation.

🐈 Average⚡ High energy✨ Low shed