59 apartment-friendly cats

Best Cat Breeds for Apartments

These 59 cat breeds score 4 or 5 out of 5 for apartment suitability. They're calm, adaptable, and thrive in indoor environments.

American Shorthair - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

American Shorthair

Medium-Large · United States

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-7 kg·15-20 years·Vocal 2/5
Birman - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

Birman

Medium-Large · Myanmar (Burma)

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·12-16 years·Vocal 2/5
Bombay - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Bombay

Medium · United States

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-16 years·Vocal 3/5
British Shorthair - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

British Shorthair

Medium-Large · United Kingdom

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
4-8 kg·12-20 years·Vocal 1/5
Burmese - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Burmese

Medium · Myanmar (Burma)/Thailand

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·10-17 years·Vocal 4/5
Chartreux - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

Chartreux

Medium-Large · France

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-7 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 1/5
Cornish Rex - Small-Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Cornish Rex

Small-Medium · England

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
2-4 kg·12-16 years·Vocal 3/5
Devon Rex - Small-Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Devon Rex

Small-Medium · England

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
2-4 kg·10-15 years·Vocal 3/5
Exotic Shorthair - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

Exotic Shorthair

Medium-Large · United States

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 1/5
Himalayan - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

Himalayan

Medium-Large · United States/United Kingdom

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
4-6 kg·9-15 years·Vocal 2/5
Manx - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Manx

Medium · Isle of Man

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·12-14 years·Vocal 2/5
Persian - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

Persian

Medium-Large · Iran/Persia

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-17 years·Vocal 1/5
Ragdoll - Large apartment-friendly cat breed

Ragdoll

Large · United States

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
4-9 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 2/5
Russian Blue - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Russian Blue

Medium · Russia

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·15-20 years·Vocal 1/5
Scottish Fold - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Scottish Fold

Medium · Scotland

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·11-14 years·Vocal 2/5
Sphynx - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Sphynx

Medium · Canada

5/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-14 years·Vocal 4/5
American Curl - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

American Curl

Medium · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-16 years·Vocal 2/5
American Wirehair - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

American Wirehair

Medium · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·14-18 years·Vocal 1/5
Australian Mist - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Australian Mist

Medium · Australia

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·15-18 years·Vocal 2/5
Balinese - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Balinese

Medium · United States (from Siamese)

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-20 years·Vocal 5/5
Bambino - Small apartment-friendly cat breed

Bambino

Small · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
2-4 kg·12-14 years·Vocal 3/5
Brazilian Shorthair - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Brazilian Shorthair

Medium · Brazil

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·14-20 years·Vocal 2/5
British Longhair - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

British Longhair

Medium-Large · United Kingdom

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
4-8 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 1/5
Burmilla - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Burmilla

Medium · United Kingdom

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·10-15 years·Vocal 2/5
Chantilly-Tiffany - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Chantilly-Tiffany

Medium · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·14-16 years·Vocal 3/5
Colorpoint Shorthair - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Colorpoint Shorthair

Medium · United States/UK

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-16 years·Vocal 5/5
Cymric - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Cymric

Medium · Canada/Isle of Man

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·8-14 years·Vocal 2/5
Donskoy - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Donskoy

Medium · Russia

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 3/5
Dwelf - Small apartment-friendly cat breed

Dwelf

Small · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
2-3 kg·12-16 years·Vocal 3/5
European Shorthair - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

European Shorthair

Medium · Europe

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-7 kg·15-20 years·Vocal 2/5
Havana Brown - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Havana Brown

Medium · England

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·10-15 years·Vocal 3/5
Highland Fold - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Highland Fold

Medium · Scotland

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·11-14 years·Vocal 2/5
Japanese Bobtail - Small-Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Japanese Bobtail

Small-Medium · Japan

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-4 kg·12-16 years·Vocal 4/5
Javanese - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Javanese

Medium · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
2-5 kg·10-15 years·Vocal 5/5
Khao Manee - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Khao Manee

Medium · Thailand

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·10-12 years·Vocal 4/5
Korat - Small-Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Korat

Small-Medium · Thailand

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·10-15 years·Vocal 3/5
Kurilian Bobtail - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

Kurilian Bobtail

Medium-Large · Russia/Japan

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-7 kg·15-20 years·Vocal 2/5
LaPerm - Small-Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

LaPerm

Small-Medium · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
2-5 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 2/5
Lykoi - Small-Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Lykoi

Small-Medium · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
2-4 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 2/5
Munchkin - Small-Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Munchkin

Small-Medium · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-4 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 2/5
Nebelung - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Nebelung

Medium · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·15-18 years·Vocal 1/5
Oriental Longhair - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Oriental Longhair

Medium · United Kingdom

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 5/5
Oriental Shorthair - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Oriental Shorthair

Medium · Thailand/UK

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 5/5
Peterbald - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Peterbald

Medium · Russia

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 3/5
Pixie-Bob - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

Pixie-Bob

Medium-Large · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
4-8 kg·13-15 years·Vocal 2/5
Raas - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

Raas

Medium-Large · Indonesia

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
4-7 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 2/5
Ragamuffin - Large apartment-friendly cat breed

Ragamuffin

Large · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
4-9 kg·12-16 years·Vocal 2/5
Selkirk Rex - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

Selkirk Rex

Medium-Large · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-7 kg·15-20 years·Vocal 2/5
Serengeti - Medium-Large apartment-friendly cat breed

Serengeti

Medium-Large · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-7 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 4/5
Siamese - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Siamese

Medium · Thailand

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·15-20 years·Vocal 5/5
Singapura - Small apartment-friendly cat breed

Singapura

Small · Singapore

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
2-3 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 3/5
Snowshoe - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Snowshoe

Medium · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·14-19 years·Vocal 4/5
Sokoke - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Sokoke

Medium · Kenya

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·15-20 years·Vocal 3/5
Thai - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Thai

Medium · Thailand

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-16 years·Vocal 4/5
Tonkinese - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Tonkinese

Medium · Canada/Thailand

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-16 years·Vocal 4/5
Tonkinese Longhair - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Tonkinese Longhair

Medium · Canada

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-16 years·Vocal 4/5
Toyger - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Toyger

Medium · United States

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-7 kg·12-15 years·Vocal 2/5
Turkish Angora - Medium apartment-friendly cat breed

Turkish Angora

Medium · Turkey

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-5 kg·12-18 years·Vocal 4/5
🐱

Turkish Shorthair

Medium · Turkey

4/5
Apartment Score
Energy
Affection
3-6 kg·12-17 years·Vocal 3/5

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cats good apartment pets?
Cats are generally excellent apartment pets. They don't need outdoor access, are quieter than dogs, and can get sufficient exercise indoors. Most cat breeds adapt well to apartment life, especially those with lower energy levels. Indoor-only cats also tend to live longer (12-20 years) than outdoor cats.
Which cat breeds are quietest for apartments?
Persian cats, British Shorthairs, Russian Blues, Ragdolls, and Birmans are among the quietest breeds. They have low vocalization scores and won't disturb neighbors. Siamese and Tonkinese cats are more vocal but still apartment-friendly in terms of space and exercise needs.
Do apartment cats need special enrichment?
Yes. Indoor cats need vertical space (cat trees, shelves), window perches for bird-watching, interactive toys, and regular play sessions. Puzzle feeders help stimulate their hunting instincts. Two cats together can keep each other entertained. Without enrichment, apartment cats may develop behavioral issues from boredom.
How much space does a cat need in an apartment?
Cats don't need much floor space but value vertical space. Even a small studio apartment can work if you provide cat trees, wall shelves, and window access. Most cats are content with a few hundred square feet as long as they have places to climb, hide, and observe.

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