What is the best breed of cat? Like what kind of cat is really good at a specific thing such as cuddling or mousing or looking pretty? just asking
I’m sorry, I think they are all unique to each specific cat.
For cuddling, Ragdolls are most likely.
For Mousing, probably the Maine Coon, who are also awesome in many other ways. But need extra grooming as I recall.
Looking Pretty is to taste of the human involved, so no real answer, but Maine Coons are a decent candidate at least, though they are a large breed.
Several breeds remain small and kitten-like and so might be the cutest to you. Munchkins with their short legs, the slightly alien looking Devon Rex and the Singapura are good candidates.
The Bengal Cat has striking wildcat patterns and ticked fur. They are part Asian Leopard cat. They also like water much more than most breeds.
Of note: The Savannah is a large cat that is pretty trainable. They are part Serval. They take to leash walking better than any other breed.
a dog
The best breed, IMO, is a mixed-breed cat. They are more likely to be free of genetic diseases. Also you’ll be saving a cat who needs a home, rather than (presumably) paying a lot of money for a purebred.
As for disposition, that is more affected by how early and how well they are socialized than any genetic factor. Find a good animal shelter that uses a cat fostering system, which really helps to socialize them early on. My wife has fostered litters of kittens (and sometimes adult cats) that have been rescued for a local shelter for many years now. Our two cats are what the shelter affectionately calls ‘foster fails’: when the foster decides to keep the cats for themselves. They are almost as cuddly, responsive and friendly as dogs.
Of the zillion cats and breeds I’ve owned the one single Chartreux was my favorite.
Unbelievable personality and intelligence.
Super lovey and purry. Super smart.
Over 35 years ago I lost my shit when I found out my wife paid over $200 for that cat (one tenth of what they cost today).
I’d gladly pay $200 just to be able to spend one more day with him.
All we’ve ever had have been mixed-breeds, and plenty cuddly while also deadly, or the perfect combo. Our current cat follows us around like a dog and participates in everything we do, proactively demands cuddling on a daily basis, enjoys “intrusive” human touch very much, and plays and hunts like a daemon. He has Norwegian genes as per fur length / type / distribution etc. Our previous mixed breed of similar disposition had Siamese genes among a sundry of others.
Whenever I’ve picked a cat to get, I’ve looked for personality and have gotten great results. No need for breeds.
I picked the kitten that climbed into my lap when I visited the shelter.
Not much of a mouser, though…
It’s hard to beat a generic striped cat. The one we have now came and sat in our laps at the shelter, and is still a lap cat at 16 or 17.
The best cat is always your cat!
I don’t think I’ve ever had a purebred. The cats in my life have been shelter adoptees, strays who simply decided to move into the household (such as my current two), or offspring thereof (when I was a kid in the 70s, when spay/neuter wasn’t as big a thing).
I agree with @solost that your basic generic cat is less likely to have the genetic issues a more inbred pure-breed is more likely to have, and I do think breeders can be idiots, such as the squashed-face breeds (Persians and similar) who are very prone to respiratory problems. I’m also not a fan of wedge-headed Siamese appearance-wise (I’m sure they’re as nice personality-wise as any other cat) and strongly prefer a more standard cat head shape (just seems healthier for the cat).
This entire post is great and especially this part:
We fostered a lot of kittens and our last two cats were both fosters. Dot we nursed and fostered to adopt. She had a big personality, though wasn’t a lovey dovey cat.
Our current cat Sammy, is our 1 and only foster fail and he is very friendly, a people pleaser and has been trained to do about 7 or 8 tricks. When he was little, he even fetched.
My reply above was based on breed analysis. But the foster system is awesome.
Yep, I think the best breed is “patio kitten”. We’ve gotten all four of ours that way, and they’re all affectionate cats. Only two of them (a tabby and a tuxedo cat) are murder machines, though.
One of our two ‘foster fail’ cats used to love to play fetch too (not so much now that he’s getting on in years, though he still gets the ‘zoomies’ from time to time). He’d initiate games-- I’d be sitting on the couch watching TV and he’d hop up, drop his favorite fetch toy next to me and meow expectantly.
They’re also both great with unfamiliar humans in the house, including little kids, and both do tricks, including doing high-fives and ringing a bell for treats. At a recent get-together, my 3 year old great-niece was absolutely delighted by getting high-fives for treats.
So yeah, the fostering system is a great thing.
The best mouser will always be one who learned from its mother. if that’s what you need I suggest adopting a farm kitten around 6-8 weeks of age. Get a girl, as they will adapt to house living better (no spraying.)
Cutest - British shorthair silver tabby. Makes me sorry I’m so allergic to cats.
Get one around three months, if it’s had at least some human socialization. It’ll have had more hunting practice. And get two, to keep up their cat socialization (and so they can tire each other out playing.)
Get them spayed or neutered young enough, and neither male nor female is likely to spray.
But the best cat is the one that meows at your door.
Cat personalities can be wildly different, even within breeds.
Don’t get purebred Siamese. Definitely don’t get 2.
Unless, you like pain, embarrassment, confusion, being deaf. Poorer and suffering the the two color hair conundrum. Wear black you get white hair. Wear white and somehow the brown hair gets on you.
Bear and Meeko are the bane of my existence and a thorn in my heart. A heart that adores them. 
I have 3 I-don’t-knows as well. They’re very cuddly and lovie dovie.
Love 'em all.
If you get purebred Siamese, get the roundheaded version. There are still a few people breeding them. I think they’re called apple heads.
But if nobody meows at your door, go to a shelter and ask them for two bonded cats. Or, if you’re in farm country, try a few farms in early summer. Especially if you want good hunters.
My family had nothing but applehead Siamese until I was in college. Very sweet, pleasant, smart cats.
My smartest, most bonded cat in adulthood was a Tonkinese (which is a variant from Siamese). Loved that cat.
Most of my cats have been from a humane society, pound, or other shelter. We spend time getting to know the cat before taking it home. A couple have been from local litters. The present pair are unrelated but can’t get enough of each other’s company.
We don’t ask much of them other than gentleness and not eliminating outside the box. Some have been mousers or insecters. A couple have stalked spiders or worms. It’s varied by cat, not by breed.