The Most Affectionate Cat Breed In The World

You love your cat, because your cat loves you — unless you're unfortunate enough to have one of those ankle-biters who really doesn't care about humans beyond their ability to provide kitty kibble and a window with decent sunbeams — which is like 90 percent of cats, actually. Who are we kidding, except for a select few breeds, most cats are bad at showing love. 

If you're sick of the ankle-biting and the ungratefulness and the general showing of the butt, well, you might want to look at getting a ragdoll cat to supplement your collection of cats that don't care about you. Now, it would be impossible to definitively title the ragdoll as "the most affectionate breed in the world," because that's a totally subjective title. But ragdolls were specifically bred for their docile nature, and for the fact that they actually seem to enjoy human company. 

According to the Cat Fanciers Association, the ragdoll is a fairly new breed — it was developed in the 1960s from a population of feral cats in a Riverside, California neighborhood. The pioneering members of the ragdoll breed were selected for their temperament as well as their appearance. The first ragdoll litters had an unusual quality — they were so relaxed that they would go limp when picked up, like a ragdoll, hence the name. 

Not all ragdolls flop, but they do have a calm and quiet demeanor and most of them are truly affectionate, almost approaching dog-like in personality. Some ragdolls greet their owners at the door and follow them around the house, and some can even be taught to play fetch. Ragdolls play with their claws retracted, and they also like to cuddle. 

A ragdoll will happily climb into bed with you, too, so if you don't like cat hair in your blankets you might want to stick with a breed that bites ankles and shows the butt whenever you're feeling the need for feline affection.