How does the cat breed quiz work?

It crosses your answers with the temperament and needs ratings of every breed in the catalogue (activity, how vocal it is, how it copes alone, with children, dogs and other cats, shedding, brushing and health) and ranks the five that fit best. The whole calculation happens in your browser.

Are there hypoallergenic cats?

No. The protein that causes the allergy is mainly in saliva and skin, not in the hair. Some breeds seem to produce less of it, but there are no guarantees, so spend time with the cat before deciding.

Should I choose a pedigree cat because of the result?

Use it as a starting point. For most homes an adult non-pedigree cat from a shelter is the most sensible option: its personality is already formed and the shelter can tell you how it gets on with children or other cats.

Which cat breed fits your life?

Nine questions about your home, the play time you can give, who you live with, the hours it will spend alone, your experience, how much hair and how much meowing you can put up with and how much room you have for vet bills. We work out the match with every breed in the catalogue and give you the top five.

What exactly this quiz does

It crosses your answers with the temperament and needs ratings of each breed in the catalogue and ranks the five that fit best. There is no magic behind it: it weighs what you have said about your home (flat, balcony, outdoor access), the hours the cat will spend alone, whether there are children or other animals, your experience, how much meowing you can take, the time you have for brushing, whether there are allergies, your vet budget and the play you can offer. From that it works out a match with each breed and shows you the ones that come out best.

Why these are the questions

Because they are the ones that best predict whether living together will go well. The hours alone matter more than people think: cats cope with being alone better than some other animals, but breeds such as the Siamese, the Burmese or the Sphynx handle it badly and get bored. Meowing is the most common complaint with some Oriental breeds. Daily brushing of a long coat is a fifteen-year commitment. And on allergies it pays to be clear: there are no hypoallergenic cats, because the protein that causes the allergy is mainly in saliva and skin, not in the hair; some breeds produce less of it, but with no guarantees.

What to do with the result

Take it as a starting point, not a verdict. If any of the five breeds surprises you, read its profile before ruling it out: the surprise often comes from a mistaken idea about the breed. If what you expected comes out, you have confirmation backed by data. And if your first choice is further down, look at which questions it loses points on, because that is exactly what it would cost you day to day. The sensible next step is to compare the finalists side by side and then see who is up for adoption.

What no quiz can tell you

Whether that particular cat is going to suit you. Within a breed there are individuals of every kind, and what it went through in its first weeks matters as much as its genes. That is why, for most homes, the most sensible option is usually a non-pedigree cat from a shelter, ideally an adult one: its personality is already formed and the shelter can tell you whether it is sociable, tolerates other cats or likes children, instead of guessing how a kitten will turn out. The quiz is for knowing what kind of cat you are looking for, so you recognise it when it is in front of you.

An educational tool from Michipedia. It gives estimates, not a diagnosis: for anything to do with your cat’s health, ask your vet.