I am not a “cat person”, yet. Looking to adopt a cat, advice please! Looking for dog-like personality, outgoing and good with kids and dogs
Siamese. Mine has an in your face personality, is very noisy, greets people at the door, and plays fetch. Ready to curl up into your lap or tear around the house at a moment’s notice.
Maine Coon. That said, there are so many out there that need homes that will show such gratitude to a rescuer/adopter and fabulous personality comes out as well. I also have a Siamese who is personality plus. But many of my others of undistinguished lineage are also such personalities and comedians! I had a Maine Coon that was just over the top, but have had orange tabbies and solid blacks that are personality plus. Actually, have a beautiful dark grey (pewter) tabby - looks like a ocicat, that is really a personality plus cat. So glad you are looking at cats!!!
Rescue one (or two!)
PennyG
thanks guys! Can a cat be a good buddy for a dog?
You don’t need a “breed,” you just need the right cat. I am a dog person, now heavily converted to a cat person. I would suggest that you spend time at a lot of Petsmart adoptions areas, the shelters, and the humane societies getting to know some cats. Don’t go with the idea that you will be picking one. I looked at over 50 cats before I got my first cat who truly changed me into a cat person. Look for a cat that is friendly, purrs, and can’t wait to fall out of the cage into you. You want a cat who is not timid or afraid of people. If you pick a friendly cat, who really likes you/people you will likely find that if you treat the cat with the amount of attention and respect that you would treat a dog you will have a wonderful relationship, although somewhat different. I am partial to adopting adult cats myself as I think you know a bit more about what you are getting, but kittens are lovely too of course.
My cats great me at the door, follow me around the house, talk with different adorable sounds, and are often good for a cuddle. Two of my cats learned to walk on leashes (not quite so wonderfully as dogs) but they do enjoy getting out and riding in the car. After you have had a good cat (i.e. most of them) your life will never be the same.
I am partial to orange cats and feel that they often have larger than life personalities…but I have or know wonderful cats that are white and grey, black, brown tabby, and tortoiseshell.
The other important cat tip for dog people is the furminator (a brush). It will keep the loose cat hair to a minimum.
Have fun with this adventure!
The right cat can definitely be a wonderful companion to your dog. But…I think you have to have the right dog and the right cat for this to work. We recently got our first dog since I was a child. He is a hoot, I love him dearly, and wouldn’t trade him…but I have still not converted back to a dog person since becoming a cat person.
We fostered some kittens and cats over the summer and ended up keeping one just because he got along with our small dog so well. They play wrestle, play fetch together, sleep in a pile together, etc. Very cute.
Again, I would look for a super outgoing cat!
Siamese. They’re dog-like and very vocal. If you’re relaxing on the couch, they want to be on you AT ALL TIMES. If they find a toy they tear around the house like a dog. They have BIG personalities and bond very closely with their person or select few people. They beg for treats, and the Siamese I’ve had are okay with dogs but not crazy about them (they seem to like calmer dogs.)
I’ve only ever had Siamese and will always have them–you can’t beat that deep bellowing meow.
if the kids are little and inclined to carry them around and dress them up then a ragdoll (many if not most) has the patience and tolerance for little kids.
and then again so do a zillion domestic cats too, but maybe a ragdoll will improve your chances of those traits.
and of course two are way better than one!
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thanks guys! Can a cat be a good buddy for a dog?[/QUOTE]
Yes, they can. I obtained my cat from a stray that a former neighbor took in. She was the runt. My Gordon, Sailor, and the cat, Sophie, good friends and she loved to tease our grouchy English Cocker. Although our EC certainly didn’t seem to avoid her. I think he secretly liked her.
Sophie and Sailor would lie next to each other, although since she had claws and would play with his face when she was young, Sailor wouldn’t let her get too close to his face again. Neither one was into playing with each other, per se, but they were good companions.
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Maine Coon. That said, there are so many out there that need homes that will show such gratitude to a rescuer/adopter and fabulous personality comes out as well. [/QUOTE]
Yes, to the Maine Coon cat. But what? Many need to be rescued? I would have thought these things were in demand, not dumped on the street. However, are you really, really sure that they feel/show genuine gratitude?
OP, Russian Blues are also Big Personality cats. They are those solid grey, short thick fur things. IME, you can find the Big Personality in Russian Blues and also Siamese sometimes fall over that threshold into a tad neurotic.
Best advice ever is to go to the shelter and pick the (big, adult) cat that can’t wait to have you take it out of the cage and hold it. IMO, a cat who will let a stranger hold it for as long as she wants (while at the POW Camp/shelter) is a good candidate. That’s a cat who really likes love, even in a bad situation, and one who is very secure.
Very excited to hear about your new foray into catdom. I hope you’ll let us know what you get.
I have found the orange male tabbies to have big personalities and be more dog like. My first would chase the dog and sleep on him, my current who happens to be a long hair will happily ride in our Kubota with us purring the entire time or ride slung across my son’s shoulder on his bike. He is also a great mouser, as fluffy and goofy as he is.
I can see the Maine Coons being that way as well, Siamese yeah could not handle the noise.
I would say forget the breed, and go for a male. Go to a shelter, get a young (neutered) male. Most of them adapt very well to dogs and male cats typically are easier to deal with than females (who are more likely to have too many opinions 
).
I also second the orange cats - for some reason (maybe its because 90% are males) they are just so much more cat-cool.
definitely a male
Look to siamese or siamese mix
orange tabby
possible polydactyl
My orange barn kitten rescue with butter the pug mix:
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They roll and wrestle and play and snuggle. He also plays with the other cats, but the other cats are not interested in the dogs. The poodles are a bit afraid of him.
My sister and a cousin had Siamese that were sort of neurotic—didn’t like anyone but their person and even then would bite unexpectedly. Purebreds can get this way.
I’d agree with a plain old cat of any color, any size or mix who responds to you with trust and affection when you meet them. Males can be more like this, although my female cat was the most loving cat I’ve ever experienced.
Avoid cats who have not been socialized to humans in the crucial stage as kittens. They may always be shy.
Cats and dogs can be fine friends, as long as neither one of them is strongly close-minded about the other species! Ours touched noses, played with, and looked out for one another.
I agree with what others have said. Males in general tend to be a little more laid back than females (although the friendly females are usually incredibly affectionate). Siamese do have big personalities (although some of them are a little crazy…), Maine Coons are usually VERY sweet cats, as are Ragdolls. If I had lots of money laying around and was going to get a purebred, I’d get a Maine Coon.
But you don’t need to go purebred to get a good one. There are lots and lots of great kitties in the shelter. As others have said, what you really have to do is get the right animal. You can also try some private rescues who might know the personalities of the cats a little bit better, and possibly how they are with dogs.
A big orange tabby male. Can’t go wrong with one of those.
Rex, everyone I know who has one says very dog like. Also said is they get along better with dogs than other cats
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A big orange tabby male. Can’t go wrong with one of those.[/QUOTE]
Sans balls…. and then you have the cat who walks into a bar and buys everyone around, cat, human or dog.
Another vote for Siamese. They can be a little nuts. But nuts in a good way.
Growing we up my sister & I did dress our Siamese up like a doll. He ate it up. He also slept in the doll cradle & had his own chair at the dinner table.
They do tend to be one person cats, much like dogs. Like any animal, if you tolerate a behavior like biting, it will continue. None of the 5 Siamese I’ve been around were biters. Dad’s big long hair mixed cat on the other hand…
Sphynx.
I am a dog person. Cats are sort of just…there. Which doesn’t make them bad, I love my two furred cats, but my Sphynx is on a different level.
She is not a cat, she is an alien monkey dog. She snuggles with me, she talks to me, she plays tricks on me and sleeps under the blanket, curled up close to me. She WANTS to be with me, much in the same way a dog does. She enjoys our time together and makes it clear.
She is awesome with the dogs - she plays with them and wrestles. She greets my husband every day when he returns home and they have their own bonding time. She waits in her cat tree for me to walk by and then will tap my arm to get my attention.
It’s like all the awesome parts of a cat plus many of the awesome parts of a dog.
While I will always have an open home to lost, stray, sick, pregnant, abandoned kitties of all shapes and sizes, I will also be sharing my home with at least one Sphynx cat for the rest of my life.
