What are the fluffiest cat breeds?

TOPICS

• Maintenance of a long-haired cat

• The most popular fluffy cats

Maintenance of a long-haired cat

Before deciding to adopt a specific cat breed, it's important to know that as fluffy and cuddly as they are, the long-haired cat breeds usually have high grooming and maintenance needs. As both shorthair and longhair cats can shed a lot, you should be prepared to find your cat’s hair around your house. To avoid that, or at least minimise the shedding, regular grooming is necessary. The other solution would be to choose a hairless cat breed.

The layers of cat’s coat

To understand why some breeds have higher grooming needs than others, you need to know that a cat’s coat can consist of up to three layers:

• Topcoat – as the name suggests, this is the top layer of cat’s coat that protects them against the elements. These hairs are usually the thickest.
• Undercoat – a soft and fluffy coat layer that works as insulation.
• Awn hairs – depending on the breed, these hairs are the cat’s normal coat.

Some long-hair and fluffy cat breeds, like Ragdoll or Ragamuffin, don’t have the undercoat layer, which makes their coat maintenance easier.

Grooming needs of fluffy cats

There are several tips on grooming your long-haired cat that you may want to use to make the process easier and more pleasant, both for you and your furry friend. Remember that regular grooming is not only to prevent excessive shedding, but it is also necessary to keep your cat’s skin healthy and clean. Apart from all that, it can become a fun and bonding experience for the two of you.

• Brush your cat often – depending on the breed and the type of coat, your cat may need to be brushed even once-twice a day. Regular grooming can also be a chance for you to check your cat for injuries, pests in fur, or other conditions.
• Choose the right brush – use only the brush that is dedicated for cats and adapted especially for your cat’s type of fur.
• Be gentle - be mindful of any knots in your cat's fur and remove them gently, using a wide-tooth comb to avoid hurting your feline friend. Apart from that, brush in the direction of the fur, not the opposite. If your cat has a lot of hairs, you may need to comb them into smaller sections.
• Be patient and consistent - regular combing might require a lot of patience and consistency from you, especially at the beginning, but if you wish to be an owner of a long-haired cat, there's no shortcut. If your cat seems not to enjoy the process of grooming, you may want to convince them with special treats.

The most popular fluffy cats

Maine Coon

Maine Coons are among the most popular cat breeds in the world mainly known as one of the larger cat breeds. Maine Coon can also boast with their long bushy tails and thick, silky coats. The cat’s coat was supposed to keep them warm during cold winter months and protect them against snow and climate in Maine, where they were originally bred. Because of their long and thick coats, Maine Coons have to be groomed regularly and should be avoided if you have cat allergies. Luckily, their sociable and friendly nature makes this chore a pleasant task.

Ragdoll

Ragdolls are a perfect choice for those who would like to have an adorably fluffy cat, but don’t have enough time for daily grooming. The breed characterises with plush and silky fur without undercoat, which makes it easier to maintain and less likely to knot or get matted. It is perfectly sufficient to brush your Ragdoll only once or twice a week, but make sure to use a special soft brush, as no undercoat gives a closer access to the cat’s skin. If it comes to their character, Ragdolls are well-mannered, and they get along perfectly with kids and other pets. They are also very sweet and calm, and their tendency to go limp when held makes them look even more adorable.

Persian

Persians have an amazing long and thick coat all over their bodies, but their tails and necks are particularly impressive. However, this beautiful fur comes with a price, which is regular daily grooming, necessary to maintain its good condition. Persians can have a vast variety of colours and patterns, and their short noses and faces make the breed more prone to sneezing. Personality-wise, Persians are usually calm and laid-back, which makes them great family cats.

Norwegian Forest Cat

Another large and extremely fluffy cat on the list, Norwegian Forest Cat’s plush coat is also waterproof with thick insulation. It is all due to the cat’s origins going back to wild cats from Norwegian Forests. Because of their shedding in the spring and fall, you may need to groom your cat more often during these times. Probably because of their roots, these big cats are very athletic, curious, and playful, at the same time maintaining a sociable and people-oriented nature.

Birman

Similarly to Ragdoll, Birman cat has no undercoat, which makes its incredibly soft fur relatively low maintenance. Interestingly, Birmans are born completely white, and their markings and points are developed only at the older stages of their life. This breed combines an active and playful nature with gentle and people-oriented demeanour, thanks to which Birmans are great for families.

Ragamuffin

Very similar to Ragdoll, Ragamuffin was created by breeding Ragdolls with Persians, Himalayans and other domestic long-haired cats, thus giving the breed a variety of colours and patterns. Their silky coat, which makes them resemble a teddy bear is also tangle-resistant, thanks to which brushing your cat once a week is sufficient. The breed is known to have a puppy-like personality, which makes them easy to be trained. They are also perfect family cats, as they get along well with children and other pets.

Himalayan

Himalayan, originated as a mix of a Siamese with Persian, is the last on our list of fluffy cats. The breed has long and glossy hairs with characteristic ruff around their neck. The coat of Himalayans is very fine and soft, which also makes it very easy to tangle. For that reason, these cats require daily brushing to prevent excessive tangling. A combination of attention-seeking, affectionate temperament and playfulness means that Himalayans are great family members.

If none of these breeds sounds like a 100% match for you, you might also consider looking into such breeds as the Munchkin, the Manx, the Siberian Forest Cat, the Exotic Shorthair, or the British Shorthair, which by no means lack anything in the fluffiness department.