Are Certain Breeds More Affectionate?

I was wondering if certain breeds or female/male cats are more effectionate than others? Or does it just depend on the cat and its surroundings? We have had Female cats all our lives, that have not been very affectionate. We had a male cat that was VERY affectionate. And I've noticed other peoples cats that I know have male cats that are very affectionate? Any suggestions?

I don't really know, but its a good question! I recently got a Manx kitten (well, I think shes Manx. Shes got a bobtail and many of the other manx characteristics, but I got her from a shelter) and my boyfriend has a Manx he got from a breeder. They are both very sweet and affectionate, and can be pretty talkative! Marlee is mine, shes still pretty young, but loves to sit in my lap and purr, and always loves being petted. Mick is my bf's, hes a little over a year old, and is sooo sweet! He doesn't like being held as much, but loves playing with anyone who will give him the time of day. But I really think it would depend more on the cat itself, not on the breed. (Just a guess). Only other cats I've been around is a male persian when I was growing up, very sweet, a huge baby! and a stray we took in when it was a baby, so don't know her breed. I'll be interested to hear some other people's opinions!

This does not go for all cats, but from my own personal experience, Male cats in my life have always been more affectionate, with the exception of one female that I had when I was a kid, she was sweet thing. My sister has two males cats, I have one male, and I used to have a female, and My mom has 2 females and 1 male. My female cat used to be loving until I became pregnant for the first time, then she just kept her distance. Nothing was changed with her, there was no lack of attention, she just became funny with me, and didn't want much to do with me (I don't have her anymore,she went missing ). My moms 2 females, one is friendly, the other can be mean, you could be petting her one minute, and the next she lashes out at you and bites you, she does it to everyone . But my boy Buddy is soooo loving and affectionate, and so are my sisters cats and my moms boy. They are sweet little things. This is not true for all female cats, there are alot of very loving girls, but from my experience the boys in our lives are affectionate. I had one girl named Cindy when I was a kid. She was great, she just loved us kids, my moms still tells stories about her being the only cat that would let me and my sisters dress her up in baby clothes and push her around in the stroller, where she would fall asleep . She was such an awesome cat (RIP ).

I think genetics play a part but ultimately it comes down to how they are raised and their individual personalities. When you read breed profiles, they usually say if the cat is affectionate, playful, curious, aloof, etc...but I think their environments, just like people's, play an important role in making them who they are.

My Zoey is very affectionate she is a bengal cross .... the other afectionate cat I had was a Snowshoe

My Cassi is extremely affectionate, quite needy in fact.
No one knows if she's a purebred or not, she was down as a Siamese mix.
Aside from being pointed, she really doesn't look to me at all like a Siamese, but more like the old Tonkinese (I have no idea if Tonk standards have changed like they did with Siamese).

When she is feeling well, my tortoise-shell calico is very independent, hates to be held, and is almost bratty. From what I've learned this is pretty typical of all torties. Burmese cats are usually very friendly and loving.

I've had a very unfriendly male moggie and a very friendly female moggie. I now have quite an unfriendly female Turkish Angora.

In my personal opinion .. I find that with my cats .. the males are VERY affectionate with me and the females are affectionate with my husband. I have two Ragdolls that I wouldnt trade for the world .. they are overly affectionate with everyone and so calm. Three of my cats were hand raised by me .. my hubby did the occassional tour of bottle and poopie duty .. of the three .. two are male and one is female. The female just loves him to death .. the two males .. love me My persian cross will actually rub her head into my husbands underarms .. yuck!!! She will spend hours grooming his hair .. yuck!! But with me she has little to do with me. I love her all the same.

I have different breeds, two mixed, a Birman and a Somali, and they are all equally affectionate. There are differences between breeds, but those are in other departments, IMO. I think that cats that haven't had bad experiences while in their socialization phase will be affectionate.

I think there is a difference how males and females express their affection. It is like a male lets you know he needs you, whereas females tend to be more like divas, they like you, they like attention, but they wont let you know they need you. Being needy seems to be beneath the ladies. This holds true for my own cats and other cats I know. The breeder of my kittens had only queens, when she got her first stud she told me: "now I know why people say males are more affectionate". I'm happy to read that I'm not the only one who thinks cats seem to display (oedipal) role patterns. Our female is a daddy's girl, the males treat me like their mommy. My boyfriend seems to charm each female cat he meets anyway, so funny.

I've heard too that torties have attitudes and can be big brats. My coworker has one she nicknamed 'demon cat' because she is such a wench. However my tortie Tsali is the biggest love in my house. She loves EVERYONE and will spend hours grooming and kneeding and showering kisses on anyone who will give her attention, be it human, cat, or dog.

Of the eight cats in my house, two females are very affectionate, two of the males are very affectionate, and the rest are more or less indifferent, taking it when its offered but not actively going to find it.

Castrate (=neutered) males are known to often be affectionate, more then females. How they were upbringed is also important. If they were handled and cuddled by several people as small kittens helps much!
If they handled and cuddled by one or two people - or by several...
The severals will tend to be affectionade to all friendly people.

the age of kittenhood is very important.

Monarda - When she is feeling well, my tortoise-shell calico is very independent, hates to be held, and is almost bratty. From what I've learned this is pretty typical of all torties. Burmese cats are usually very friendly and loving.

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I may be wrong, cause I'm fairly new to the site, but isn't a tortie a color, not like a breed? I wouldn't think that really had anything to do with it, but who knows! Marlee is a Manx, and I think she has tortie coloring (so does the vet) and she is just the sweetest thing! She loves to sit on my chest, lap, arm, shoulder, etc., anywhere she can find to sit and purr, and rub on my face. I love it!

Yes, tortie is a colour not a race. Right.
But there is a myth about torties somewhat different than others.
It the myth is true - dunno, but it exists bland many people.

I have a black and white Manx and two black shorthairs. The younger of the two black ones looks more Siamese in the shape of her face, but she's still pretty much a baby so she might fill out later.

The Manx is definitely the most affectionate, and will sit on my lap and cuddle close when she naps, etc. The middle cat is more independent although she is the most talkative. She doesn't like being picked up or held, although she will lie next to me and let me rub her tummy.

The youngest one has only been with me for a couple of weeks, and the first few nights she was very clingy, but as she's gotten more settled into my apartment, she shows a more independent streak. She'll let me pick her up, but if she doesn't want to stay in my arms she lets me know it. LOL And she will sit on my lap sometimes, but not as much as the Manx.

Originally Posted by Goomba

My persian cross will actually rub her head into my husbands underarms .. yuck!!! She will spend hours grooming his hair .. yuck!!

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That's scent mingling. Kittens want to mingle scents with their mama. Humans' underarms are a place of strong scent concentration.

My Josie is what I call "bipolar". She'll let a stranger pet her a few times and then turn around and hiss at them. She loves to be praised, but like the other poster said, neediness is beneath her. The only times she'll be cuddly is sometimes hopping into my lap if I'm going to take a nap, and she's cuddly at night. She'll knead my shoulder or arm and curl up in my armpit (scent mingling).

Torties and Calicos are the spazzes of the cat world. At the vet at least they have this wonderful tendency to become psychotic. Love you one moment, claw your face off the next. They're different at home, of course, but aiyee at the vet they're horrible.

I've found the siamese-types to be very friendly... and the Abbys, once they get to know you. My favorite cat at work is an abyssinian named Bugs. She'll hiss and growl the first day or two, but you can still pet her and confuse her. "I hate youupurrrrprr-wait! No! I hate y-purrrrr-Argh!" After that she'll rub up against the front of the cage demanding the pets. My own Mallorn is like that, minus the grumbling. He just looks nervous at new people. ^_^

Originally Posted by Monarda

When she is feeling well, my tortoise-shell calico is very independent, hates to be held, and is almost bratty. From what I've learned this is pretty typical of all torties. Burmese cats are usually very friendly and loving.

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This is what my cat is too. She is very Independent also and does not like to be held..