Siamese or Havana Brown.
Maine Coon, Turkish Angora or Birman. The “dog” cats!
My Turkish Angora X (rescue) was best friends with our lab. They even went canoeing together with us. The cat came to a whistle and the lab came to “kitty kitty kitty”
I concur with the Maine Coon or any super-friendly shelter cat. Never thought about the orange tabbies being extra friendly, but now that I think of it, every one that I have known has been!
I am would agree to stay away from declawing - the peeing on soft places (like couches, beds, people taking naps on said couches - ask me how I know THAT), makes it so not worth it even if the cruelty issue does not bother you. As for scratching furniture, I have 6 cats in the house and they do not scratch my furniture - why? Because I have scratcthing posts all over the house and right from the start when bringing a new cat into the house I have sprayed the furniture corners with repellent and have put catnip or Feliway (pheremones to relax the cat) on the scratching posts. I have 3 or 4 scratching posts around the house - mostly the s-shaped ones that are low on the ground.
As for the kids getting bitten or scratched, as long as you teach them how to handle the cat, and make sure you have a friendly cat, you should be all set. I had cats as a kid, and we did not have problems with it.
As for
Like this! 
Ricky is a Maine Coon mix, and the greatest cat. He does love to be the center of attention. We got an Irish Wolfhound after Ricky - took him some time to get used to her, but they ended up being great pals. Toula passed away in November, and Ricky took right over again being the boss of the house. He is extremely affectionate - although it is by his terms! Always has to be right near where you are, and not always on the floor!
He is also really determined and fairly smart. He’s the only cat I’ve had who, after getting scolded, returns right back seeking your acceptance. He definitely gets “good boy”, and “no”! I’ve kept most nail damage away by providing him with a cardboard scratching board. He could care less about the rope ones. 
And I have pet store cat nail cutters that I clip his nails with as well. Just wrap him up in a towel, leaving only the head and subject paw free. 
He is a good mouser, but his affection also includes showing off what he’s caught. Again, however, he understands “no” when hoping to share. He also is an indoor cat. I only take him outside when outside myself. He may be stubborn about coming in, but as long as you eyeball him and tell him to go in the house, he gets the message.
I lived in Maine at the time we got him, so guess there were more Maine Coon mixes. We walked into the room he shared at the cat shelter, and he literally jumped into my arms off the counter. :lol:
[QUOTE=equisusan;7411782]
They even went canoeing together with us. The cat came to a whistle and the lab came to “kitty kitty kitty”[/QUOTE]
lol - I’m sorry…but with the COTH definition of canoeing in my head…well, this post made me laugh out loud. 
[QUOTE=spotteddrafter;7412156]
lol - I’m sorry…but with the COTH definition of canoeing in my head…well, this post made me laugh out loud. :)[/QUOTE]
I thought that too at first! And was like “why did they CALL THE CAT???”
[QUOTE=red mares;7408955]
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…[/QUOTE]
I grew up with Burmese cats and they also were happy to let me dress them up in doll clothes and push around in the baby carriage. God bless them - they were total saints! We had a Siamese too but she was crazy neurotic. Both breeds of cats were also exceptionally loud - especially at night when you were trying to sleep!
I currently have a “dog cat”. Everyone who meets her asks me if I’m sure she’s actually a cat! I just lucked in to her at an adoption event - she pretty much chose me. She walks on a leash, comes running when I call, and follows me around rolling on her back so I can scratch her tummy. She’s definitely one of a kind and the best cat I’ve ever had.
