Good House Cats for Children

Having a cat is an important way to teach children about responsibility. Many children will not know how to handle a cat, so get a sociable animal. Purebred cats will give you predictable behavior, but mixed breeds have less genetic disorders. Teach children how to handle cats gently and wait until children can follow instructions. Choose a cat requiring little physical maintenance and one that is spayed or neutered to help with the adaptation process.

American Shorthairs

American Shorthairs, are, as their names imply, cats with short fur. They are, like their ancestors, the British Shorthairs, muscular and strong cats with affectionate natures. They come in a range of colors from Brown Tabbies with a Mackerel pattern to a Tortoiseshell that is black with cream and red patches. American Shorthairs have a tendency to be overweight so be careful with their diet. You'll need to groom these cats weekly with a soft cat brush or grooming gloves.

Birmans

Birmans are affectionate and loyal cats who have a gentle playfulness. They have fur that requires mild combing every week, but it tends not to mat. Birmans are noted for their soft fur that comes in a variety of colors, such as seal, blue and tortie. There are not many medical problems for Birmans. Occasionally, Birmans develop heart conditions, skeletal problems, corneal disorders, and they tend toward obesity.

Burmese Cats

Burmese are friendly to people, including children, and they are extremely loyal to their owners. They are shorthair cats and require little in the way of grooming, except for the occasional attention with a grooming glove. Burmese cats come in sable brown color, blue, champagne and platinum shades. They tend to be robust and muscular cats, but may have genetic factors that can cause such diseases as cranial defects and eye problems. A consideration for purebred Brown Burmese cats is that they are at risk for Diabetes Mellitus.

Russian Blues

Russian Blues are intelligent and affectionate cats that are good with children. They are also known as Archangel cats from their point of origin of the Russian port of Arkhangelsk on the White Sea.These cats are amiable, but they are also able to entertain themselves with their high degree of curiosity about the world. This type of cat is a shorthair with fur that does not require much grooming except regular attention with a grooming glove and veterinarian-prescribed skin moisturizer for dander in dry climates. These are beautiful cats with a dense coat of blue-grey fur tipped with silver highlights. Russian Blues have a tendency toward polycystic kidney disease so feeding these cats only fish in their diet can cause problems.