What Breed of Cat?
 

My son's cat just passed yesterday...maybe day before, I can remember....I am not a cat person and really know nothing about cats...but I know my son simply ADORES cats and so I tolerate his love for cats and allow him to have one.

I always got his cats from SPCA, and we have always lucked out and ended up with wonderful, sweet, loving cats....his cat he just lost, Stacie, was more like a dog that a cat...very family devoted, not aloof or mean....I do not like cats, and I cried my eyes out when that cat died....

So I am now looking for another cat...thought I would get a breed that is KNOWN to be sweet and loving....I found several breeds on line....that Egyptian Mau sounds like such a doll and I am starting to research this breed as well as breeders. Are any of you ladies/gents knowledgeable about this breed of cat? I want short haired....any advice or direction would be appreciated....

I feel like one of those people that come on here trying to learn about Yorkies and where to find them, etc!!!!!

My heart goes out to both Jimmy and you. I don't know much about breeds other than Ragdoll and Maine Coone, which are very friendly, but they have longer hair. Please tell Jimmy that I am very sorry for his loss.

I know nothing about the breed you are looking at. I've owned several cats and the most affectionate, sweet tempered cat who accepted Buddybear right away was my orange tabby I got when he was in Petsmarts rescue when Tigger was 1 1/2 years old. I had Tigger over 11 years when Buddybear came into my life. They would groom each other and play together.
My friends all wanted Tigger if anything ever happened to me. Sadly we had to have Tigger put to sleep earlier this year. I see an orange kitty and my heart skips a beat.

Thank you both....I worked with a lady that had a Maine Coon....HUGE, but soooooooo sweet and lovable....but long hair with shedding.....A friend used to breed some bald cat...but it had an aloof personality....

I had also gotten all three of the cats I have gotten for Jimmy, from the ASPCA....and they all lasted 12-16 years....they were all gray tabbies, I think he called them....they were all three such adorable, loving cats....I just can not believe I could possibly be lucky enough to get another precious loving cat again! My x-husband was cat crazy...that cat stuff is, like my momma used to say, "in the blood" because I left my ex and took my son when he was only 5 years old....my son was not raised around cats at all, but he just always adored cats! So I finally broke down and got him one.....when that one died, we got another one, and then along came Stacie when the last one died....Stacie lived longer than any of them before....all of them strictly indoors, never outside....she was really a precious cat....they all were....I just can not imagine I would ever be that lucky again....I have contacted the president of the club that was listed on line for that "Egyptian Mau"....I am anxious to hear what she has to say/offer/advise.

All my cats have been rescues and they fit in with my dogs very well. You should visit some groups and maybe you will find the right cat for you. If my health was not so perilous I would get a cat. Both my husband and I would love to get a cat but he hasn't a clue how to care for the dogs or a cat. That is a burden for me thinking what will happen if something happens to me.

I am so sorry about Stacie. My husband and I unexpectedly lost our 4 year old cat due to a heart condition that went undetected in February and it was devastating, my heart is definitely with you guys.

I know you said you didn't want long hair but my husband and I have a Turkish Angora and she is so much like a dog that we often joke that she is more of a dog than Sophie! Her body hair isn't as long as the rest of her, the longest part of her hair is her beard and tail. She follows us around, she gives kisses, greets us at the door, knows her name and comes when she is called and she even begs for people food sometimes! She even prefers dogs over cats to play with!

We find that she doesn't shed any more or less than our regular domestic cats and she doesn't have an undercoat like some long haired cats, so her shedding isn't too bad.

We have had her for 6 years and she is likely around 12 years old now. She has slowed down - but that is understandable as she had a pretty rough go for the beginning of her life and she did unfortunately have a stroke this year, but you wouldn't know it by looking at her. She is currently running around with our youngest cat playing and loves to play with all of the stereotypical cat toys!

Sometimes though the SPCA will know cats well enough that they could help you find one with a perfect personality, if you ended up not knowing what breed or couldn't find a breed that was perfect!

I like the idea of going to a shelter to find a cat. In my experience with cats the males are usually sweeter than the females

Right up until I read you wanted a short hair breed, I automatically thought of a Maine Coon. I believe I've had two Maine Coon mixes. Loved em both. Both were more of a dog's temperament, not aloof, one of them retrieved just as a dog should, better than the three dogs I have now.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_Coon

RIP "Big Bad Meow" and "Scooby Doobie Doo"

I've always found Rag Dolls and Persians incredibly affectionate!

But maybe just head to one of your shelters and interact w/ some of the babies there who need a home. At the shelter where I volunteer, there are sooooo many countless super affectionate kitty cats!

Thank you for all your suggestions....I am not a cat person and know NOTHING about all the different breeds....I did contact by email, a breeder of American Shorthairs that is in the Dallas area.....her set up for cats is almost identical to my set up with the Yorkies....even down to the contract!!! I emailed her and am waiting to hear from her. Her site says they wont have any kittens until April/May, which is great for us....

Good luck! I don't know much about any breed of cat apart from Persians who don't shed but you do have to maintain their fur. A lot like Yorkies from that point of view, I guess! They are docile, loving and easy going. Kinda lap cats, I guess :p not demanding in the slightest but definitely entertaining when they play.

Bless your sons heart. I literally grew up in a barn with hundreds of cats. I was known for bringing all the strays I found along the roadsides home and prided myself in that I never met a feral cat I couldn't tame. No matter where momma cats hid their kittens I always found them. We called them barn cats but as hard as my mom tried to keep them out many came in the house with me. I was never without a cat in my arms. I got ringworm from playing with the darn cats when I was very little.

I don't have any experience with exotic breeds, but if you really want to go with a pure breed I think the Egyptian Mau sounds awesome! But, I would also love a Bengal cat too. Gotta love a guy that loves cats. Wish my husband did. Good luck in your search.

Thank you all for your kind words for Jimmy....I will find him a cat he will love....I see people have an aversion to declawing cats....his first cat was playing with my yorkie, and she scratched her eyeball....my poor baby had to have eye drops in that eye twice a day, for the rest of her life (12 years)....I have always gotten these cats declawed to save my dog's eyes, as well as furniture and drapes....seems like declawing is now passe'.....I guess like cropping tails on Yorkies....any other time, this stray female that hangs around the neighborhood would have a litter of kittens she hides in old planter pots behind my garage.....of course, no such luck with that now....this lady I am talking to about this Egyptian Mau is a shower/breeder/judge....her kittens are on a waiting list...looking at maybe a year and half for a kitten...just like MY breeding business!!! Dont know if I can get Jimmy to wait that long.....He does know from our business, it is better to wait for quality, so maybe I can convince him to wait....he is still grieving for Stacie....to be expected.....

I have had a few cats and always found ginger / orange are the friendliest and love to be around people

It is funny but the two cats I have had that have been the sweetest were orange males and my neighbor has an orange male that is her sweetest

Judy first send my condolences to Jimmy with a Hug to both of you. It is so co incidental because I have been thinking about getting another cat. We were at a dog show a month ago or so - and once our breeds were finished showing we wandered over to the cat show. I spent a blissfull hour or so seeing the beautifull Maine Coons. RagDolls and other exotic breeds.
I have not been able to stop thinking about getting another Maine Coone.

Just a note on the Maine Coons - if you keep their hair long they shed like the Blackies do - kind of tufts of hair - easy to pick up But if you keep long you will need to brush n comb out wkly. Otherwise scissor them short. Use a slicker brush and an undercoat rake for their coat. Just like our pups get them used to clipping their nails regularly

But here is one cat I adore Cornish Rex. They to my eye at least are as ugly as hell. They are hairless but so so affectionate. Medium size cat. My hairdresser breeds them and they happily perch on your lap and purr lots to pets. I don't know their health history but it could be a breed to investigate.

I'm sorry your sons cat passed. I know how heartbreaking it is to lose a pet. Just a suggestion, I've had three American Bobtail cats. For the most part they seem to think their dogs. Quite active and entertaining at times. Good luck on your search.

So sorry about your sons cat :( i just wanted to add that i have never been a cat person... Not even a little!!! But i loved the looks of the hairless sphynx... Now if u want a loving affectionate cat this would be my recommendation. We got one .. Oh about 3 years ago now. My husband and i cant get enough of this cat! He has made us both love cats. He loves to be held and has to sleep as close to me as possible. He is more like a dog than i ever thought a cat could be. The only thing is they cannot go outside alone. Only in an enclosed safe area or on a harness. I cant imagine not having a sphynx now. I would highly recommend a sphynx to anyone looking for a cat. We are soo happy we got one. Even people who think he is ugly or creepy looking ... After spending five minutes with him fall in love. Their skin is so soft and warm and they are sooo personable!

I really do thank you all for the wonderful concern and resulting input/suggestions for a wonderful cat for my son. I am in the middle of having dental work done.....MAJOR dental work done, HUGE bucks, so we are taking our time getting the right cat breed for him. There was a cat show here in the area, and I had a breeder bringing an adorable short hair cat....then I had a mess up with elevated blood pressure in the dental office, and that threw up road blocks and caused full stops in my treatment....we were not able to get to the cat show to get the kitten. When we get the kitten, whatever it is, it has to be very loving and attention loving breed.....I do not know how in the world we have ever managed to stumble on cats that have worked perfectly for our situation....they have all be very loving and wonderful, attention seeking cats-more-like-a-dog pets. OMG! A hairless cat!! Have I really died and gone to heaven???!!! I have to check those out! As much as I am NOT a cat lover, I have never been unkind to them....and they have never been allowed to run loose outside....strictly indoor animals......Jimmy's cat Stacie had never been outside, and she lived a wonderful, long, loving life, perfectly well adjusted and loving....couldnt have asked for a more perfect, well suited "therapy animal" for Jimmy, and I cried every bit as much as Jimmy did when Stacie died. I am making a list of the cat breeds all of you have been kind enough to suggest/mention, and I am looking closely at all of them......I am liking these hairless cats, as regardless of how much you love them and fool with them, the cats I am familiar with shed hair.....and since the cat is not allowed outside at all, hairless will not be an outside environmental/weather issue for the cat! Thank you all for your suggestions....I am completely stupefied about cat breeds and I appreciate all the input you have been kind enough to spend time educating me about! I am making lists and learning about each breed!

I am sorry for your and your son's loss, I am glad you are looking for another. I am a former cat owner, for years and I love them but had to stop with my last one going to the rainbow bridge because the allergies med just were not working so well.

Honestly the best cats I have owned where just plain old mixed breed rescue cats from the shelter. I have had them all, orange cats, tabby cats, big cats, kittens. Some were great cats, some were aloof jerks who only liked me (but that is okay that was acceptable for me).

I miss having a cat but know I needed to stop when meds and vacuuming twice a day were not helping.

Good luck and keep us updated on what you get.

Looking forward to hearing what cat you will be getting. I have had all kinds of cats...tabbies, Persian, Himalayan, Maine Coon/Himalayan mix, black cat...they each had their own personality. My black cat Charlie was by far the most friendliest as being raised in a family beforehand from birth.

What about the Egyptian Mau. I used to breed and show persian and himalayans but there long haired we lost our last cat just before christmas he was 20 . Take in a cat show or two cat people can be a bit strange LOL it would be a fun excursion . Or maybe just a good old orange tabby. Have a fun time with your search.

Judy first send my condolences to Jimmy with a Hug to both of you. I was given a white Persian at age 40 with all the things a cats needs and wants, she had papers and all. I have never been a cat person but when I seen those baby blue eyes I fell in love!~ She was with me 19 years and after I rescued my little JR terrier she knew it was ok to go to Rainbow Bridge. She knew I would have another to love me. She passed in my arms one morning.
Yes she was long hair BUT she didnt shed hardly at all , I did brush her twice a day and would keep her hair short. Her hair would be in neat little clumps that were easy to pick up. She was my first and last indoor cat.
However I have 3 outdoor cats that both my little JR , Sugar and my baby yorkie Spice , absolutely love to pieces. When we go outside for walks and potty I have to stop so they can play!They are just little tabbies but they are so sweet and playful with my girls. Of course I keep them flea ed etc as I dont want my girls to catch anything LOL But they do not come in the house. So I am thinking a rescue may work for you .
Whatever you decide let us know . And I am so sorry about the dental business! I had some of that work done and am just now getting it paid!

Still researching breeds and breeders.....soooooooooooo many cats!!! Found some almost hairless cats, some with hair so short they LOOK hairless.......hairless seems to me to be a GREAT option for a cat....but loving and personality is top of the list! Had some wonderful, loving breeds recommended....still researching....appreciate all the recommendations and help and input.....I will be sure and let you all be the first to know when we get a kitten! I check this post often for any input....thanks again to all of you that are interested and taking the time to help me get my some the perfect breed cat!