I know there are a lot of dog breeds for various traits. Has anyone bred a line of cats designed to act more human friendly? If so, what are they called?
Some people might suggest the Maine Coon, sometimes described as “the cat for dog people”.
First you’ll need to prove that ordinary domestic cats are unfriendly. If you raise them from kittens and they learn to trust people, cats – almost regardless of breed – are very friendly animals.
Maine coon in a natural breed, though, not (at least initially) specifically selected by breeders.
Rag Doll cats are very affectionate.
I find most domestic cats pretty affectionate.
If particular breeders are selecting for friendliness, it’s a personal thing and not part of the “standards” for any particular breed.
That having been said, some breeds are generally recognized as being more affectionate than others.
Male orange cats (just the color) seem to be exceptionally friendly. If you go to any shelter, though, it will be easy to select an affectionate cat. Most of them are super sweet. I’m a dog person, but our cats are really friendly and I love having them around.
Yes. They’re called “cats.” What you’re describing is part of the domestication process, and since well-raised (e.g. not abused or feral) cats of any breed make lovely pets, there’s never been a focused process of breeding a cat strictly for companionship purposes since in essence, they all are.
Dogs like Cavalier King Charles spaniels, the Pekinese and an assortment of other breeds WERE bred to be companions/lapdogs, but that’s to contrast with the fact that many dogs were specifically bred to more violent purposes. Cats never were, so there’s never been a “need” for a separate “friendly” breed, although as has been pointed out, an unusually high degree of playfulness or docility is a breed characteristic of Maine Coons and Ragdolls, respectively.
ETA:
OP seems to be specifying purpose-bred for affection, not just happening to include it among other breed traits.
I’ve lived with cats all my life. I’ve never known an asocial one.
People say cats are aloof. I’ve never experienced it.
It makes me wonder if there’s something wrong with the people who have those cats, that they turn the cats into people-haters. How bad do you have to be to make a cat not like you?
We had one asocial cat that we fostered for a while. She had been a street cat, so I don’t know how her early socialization was, but she was never very friendly to us or to our other animals.
A large fraction of cats are friendly to humans. However, it doesn’t mean they have the *social *sophistication of dogs. Dogs have hierarchies, they treat humans differently depending on that hierarchy, they can be relatively easily trained to perform simple tasks, they can understand simple human language, etc etc.
Cats tend to sleep except when they are hungry or want to maintain their relationship with you, then they rub against your legs or try to cuddle up to you as if you are another cat. Their interactions are much simpler.
This is probably because the dog has a huge chunk of brain tissue that is performing the calculations needed for storing and processing social hierarchies. A house cat is a smaller animal, probably doesn’t have the necessary brain hardware, and it would probably take millennia to evolve it even if the necessary evolutionary pressures were there.
As a matter of fact, cats who are friendly to humans are frequently spayed and neutered by those “friendly” humans. The ones who avoid humans get to breed more often. So, it’s been predicted that over time, the population of cats will become more skittish of humans and not as fun to have as pets.
Cats are social animals. The ones you find in people’s houses that aren’t? It’s because their owners are jerks who don’t pay attention to it.
Cats are individuals… some are more snuggly than others. I would guess as with most critters, it’s a combination of genetics and environment. My friend got two kittens from a litter a few years back. One has always been super friendly, the other, while friendly and cuddly with her, was very timid and shy with new people. Both raised exactly the same way in the same environment, but very different in personality.
I think some breeds, like Ragdolls, are known for being people oriented. My most affectionate and personable cat was a Burmese. Loved to be held and cuddled, even by strangers. If you are going with a purebred cat, your best bet is to talk to the breeder of whatever breed you’re attracted to and see if their cats match what you are looking for.
Or go to a shelter, talk to the staff, and pick the cutest, friendliest one you see.
Well it looks like we know who’s a dog person! Thanks for your valuable opinion on why cats are stupid.
I’d be interested in seeing a source on these “predictions” that cats will become more feral over time. They seem to be made by someone with a poor understanding of genetics and an even worse understanding of how cats are bred and sold.
My wife and I have had five cats over the last 20 years and they have all been extremely affectionate to one or the other or both of us (some choose a specific person for some reason).
I remember reading in a book on cats something like “If you treat your cat as if it were aloof and unfriendly, you will get an aloof and unfriendly cat, etc”
No, it’s because cats know they’re at the top. 
I have two very friendly cats, friendly to me and the neighbors’ cats, but sometime ago a neighbor had a Maine coon and, contrary to the posts I read here, he was not friendly to the other cats. He was friendly to me because i fed him, and he would come into my house as he owned it, making himself comfortable wherever he pleased, much to my consternation. Wilson, one of my cats, did not like him, and that says a lot. He picked fights with other cats in the area (but not Wilson because he is one tough critter).
We have always been a 1 cat house, I have never been a cat person but have always owned exactly one cat. I couldn’t ask for a better addtion to a home. They are always affectionate, sometimes a little pesky about affection. They have always gotten along with my dogs and have never had a problem adapting to the boundaries assigned to them regarding climbing on counters etc. I would say bad cats are in the minority.
Sixteen posts and not a single “Siamese are vicious” comment.
Progress.
Another vote for “how they are raised”.
If you want a loving (and easily handled) cat, start at birth.
As mommy finishes cleaning off the latest kitten, pick it up and place it in the nest box.
Stop by and touch the kittens each day.
p.s. My Maine Coon waits by the window when I leave and greets me upon return.