Statista tell us that the favourite cat breeds of Sweden are the Ragdoll, Maine Coon and Siberian in that order for the top three.
The selection is very similar to that which you’ll find in the US and other Western countries except for the Siberian, which originates in Russia.
Raggies have to be pliable (physically and mentally) and affable. They have to be like ragdolls; floppy and soppy.
MikeB
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It is interesting that this poll was conducted in 2022, the year during which Russia invaded Ukraine and became a threat to Finland which has now joined NATO. I wonder if the Siberian will be in the top three most popular cat breeds in Sweden when the next poll is carried out.
Both the Ragdoll (Raggie) and Maine Coon (MC) have consistently increased in popularity over recent years for different reasons.
Raggie
The Raggie is considered to be an ideal cat companion in the modern world which pet owners often feel is becoming more dangerous both for themselves and their pets. Keeping their pets indoors all the time reduces pet caregiving anxiety and Raggies are probably the best of the breeds for full-time indoor living. This puts them top.
Plus, their gorgeous, pretty appearance combined with their impressive size. They are not far short of the MC in size and are one the biggest cat breeds.
I don’t know but I would have thought that the weather in Sweden may play at part here too. It might be considered too cold for a cat to wander around outside in the winter. Anyway, if you own a very attractive purebred cat – and the best purebreds always look very classy and refined – you want to keep them safe and away from thieves and injury.
Raggies are made for the indoors because they are one of the few breeds – the only breed? – where selective breeding focuses as much on the cat’s character as their appearance. Raggies have to be pliable (physically and mentally) and affable. They have to be like ragdolls; floppy and soppy.
This, it is believed, makes them the most suitable for lazing around the home all day doing very little which instantly brings to mind the need to make the home interesting for the Raggie as, at heart, they are just like any other domestic cat and all domestic cats have that wildcat character lurking inside them in their DNA.
If you want a purebred cat to be happy ensure that they can express their wild cat desires. They’ll have their ‘raw cat mojo’ at all times in the words of Jackson Galaxy.
MC
The MC has surged in popularity because of huge exposure on social media and the internet generally. Why? Because they can be enormous and people are often fascinated with big cats. Size counts. Both ways as small cats are also interesting although the era of miniature cats is over as there are potential health and breeding issues.
Size is the main reason here and internet exposure to which you can add their artificially created impressive facial appearance with a strong, square muzzle, tall lynx tipped ears, large paws with fur sticking out between the toes and their trademark shaggy, barn cat coat. Yep, they were barn cats until someone in Maine decided that the were too good looking to be wandering around a mucky barn and that they should be spruced up and displayed at the earliest cat shows of America.
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