Choosing the Best Cats for Apartments

When you're a pet parent, your space is no longer your own, which means you have to carefully consider a cat that's best suited for your lifestyle as well as your living space. If you live in a small space, it's important to know what the best cats for apartments are.

Some cats thrive in smaller environments (and it's not always dependent upon the size of the cat), and others, such as those with an abundance of energy, will be happier in larger spaces.

The following breeds make great apartment cats, but be sure that the feline friend you choose is compatible with you in other ways, too.

Small Living Spaces

If you and your fur baby will be living in close quarters, look for a cat with an easy-going temperament that is content to be close to her pet parent all the time.

Persians, one of the most popular cat breeds, according to the Cat Fanciers' Association, make great apartment cats because of their gentle, easy-to-adapt personality. If you entertain in your pad, a Persian will go with the flow and won't harass your guests. However, with Persian's, you may want to budget for higher-than-average veterinary expenses as this breed tends to have health issues. The Ragdoll is also a good choice because, although a large cat, she's sociable and laid-back, which means she won't get cranky if you're always around. A short-haired option is the Burmese; she's friendly and gets along well with kids and dogs.

Medium to Large Living Spaces

High-energy cats need room to run around, and cats requiring solitude also prefer spacious living quarters that afford them "me time." A fun and loyal breed is the Siamese (but she's a super scratcher, so look into some DIY scratching post ideas.) Because she's a vocal cat, a larger living space works best with her to keep the noise level down. Other active breeds that thrive in larger spaces are the Russian Blue, that love to play fetch, and the Bengal, a chatty cat that stays high-energy throughout her life — and looks like a leopard!

Adopting a Cat from Shelter

Check with your local shelter on the breeds and types of cats they have. While some purebreds can be more predictable in their nature, adopting a mixed-breed cat can be just as advantageous, and usually with fewer hereditary medical conditions. Often they will exhibit the characteristics of their more dominant breed, but the nice part is that you can really see how the cat interacts in certain spaces. Cats at shelters are often placed in larger rooms for exercise and play. You can see how she interacts with the space to get a better feeling of how she would engage at your place. If she tends to stay close to the walls and hides out in sheltered places, she is probably more suited to a smaller apartment where she feels comfortable. However, if you see her zooming all around the room and climbing on things, she has an adventurous spirit and would probably love the space to spread out and explore a large home. No matter what cat you decide to adopt, you can help her adapt to her surroundings by providing her with the essentials.