12 Best Adventure Cat Breeds for Outdoor Enthusiasts

You might not think it, but a cat can be a great outdoor adventure buddy. Check out the best cat breeds for outdoor enthusiasts.

While many people think cats are tough to train and lack a sense of exploration, it's simply not the case.

Just about any cat can become an adventure enthusiast with the right gear and training, but some breeds are more eager to get out into nature than others. 

12 Best Adventure Cat Breeds 

Some cats love to snuggle on the couch, some love to chase their favourite cat toys around the house, and some would love nothing more than getting outside and conquering nature.

This post will cover the top twelve cat breeds that like to travel and are most likely to enjoy some of your favourite outdoor activities.

If you are considering adding a new adventure feline to your family, one of these active cat breeds might be the perfect fit.

1. Maine Coon Cat

Despite their huge size, Maine Coons are incredibly friendly and affectionate. Having a Maine Coon travel with you will fill your trip with meaning and provide tons of positive emotions.

These cute giants are eager to learn and love engaging in fun activities that stimulate them mentally and physically.

Why Maine Coons travel well:

1. Grasp new knowledge fast, which facilitates training
2. Gentle and loving
3. Require much attention and playtime
4. Good listeners stick to their human companion
5. Love exploring new places

2. Siamese Cat

Siamese cats are known for their personality. It's one of the traits of the breed that people note.

The standout part of their temperament is that they are adventurous and have plenty of attitudes. They love playing with toys and scrambling up indoor cat trees.

They love to talk and explore and are known for sticking their nose into every nook and cranny that they can find.

These adventure cats love fresh air and the outdoors and are intelligent and clever. They are so smart that they are known to learn how to open doors with lever handles - showing their strong instinct to get outside.

With that all in mind, the Siamese is a great cat to take with you on your outdoor adventures.

Why Siamese cats are great outdoor adventurers:

1. Very smart
2. Love to learn
3. Naturally adventurous
4. Love the fresh air
5. Plenty of attitudes!

3. Bengal Cat

Image credit: Claudio Schwarz

Bengal cats are known for their agility, intelligence, endurance, and sense of exploration, making them perfect travel companions. 

That's probably why you see so many Bengal adventure cat Instagram accounts. These high-energy cats love exploring nature with their humans. 

They love risks and crave spending their tons of energy on exploring the sights, sounds, and smells of nature.

If you decide to have a Bengal, you really should be expecting to pick up a leash and get your kitty out on an adventure hike with you. As an active cat breed, they need plenty of exercise and stimulation to stay satisfied.

Why Bengal kitties suit travel enthusiasts perfectly:

1. Intelligent and quick learners
2. Love socializing and receiving attention
3. Full of energy and agile
4. Highly adaptable to new environments, including water
5. Have great stamina

4. Turkish Van Cat

Turkish Van cats are a favourite companion of many travellers thanks to their silky and fluffy coats, playful nature, and ability to swim.

If you live near the ocean, don't hesitate to get a Turkish Van that will love spending all day long on the beach swimming, sunbathing, and playing in the sand.

Make sure you provide your cat with fun activities regularly. Otherwise, they will get bored really fast.

Why Turkish Van Cats are a great partner for travelling:

1. Feel good both on land and around water
2. Despite their fancy cashmere-like coat, they don't require much grooming
3. Energetic and fun-loving
4. Loyal companions
5. Smart and sociable, which makes training easier

5. American Bobtail Cat

Quickly adaptable to any kind of weather, easily trained to walk on a leash, and craving adventure, the American Bobtail is the perfect cat breed to consider for your next trip.

Bobtails are famous for their athletic build and somewhat wild appearance that combines ideally with their distinctive bobbed tail.

Why American Bobtail cats travel well:

1. Adventurous and fun-loving creatures
2. Athletic body that makes them great hikers, runners, and climbers.
3. Ability to learn things quickly
4. Water-resistant double coat to withstand any weather conditions
5. Easily adaptable to a new place and new weather

6. American Shorthair Cat

Image credit: Bella Pisani  

While being an independent explorer by nature, the American Shorthair is also family-friendly and people-oriented.

American Shorthairs love roaming and hunting but remain loyal to their human companion and follow them.

This adventurous breed adapts to a new environment effortlessly. It's friendly and social, even with strangers. You will be amazed by its intelligence and desire to learn new things.

Why American Shorthair is a perfect pet for travel enthusiasts:

1. Quickly adaptable
2. Innate explorers and adventure-seekers
3. Highly intelligent
4. Enjoy the human company
5. Outstanding agility and endurance

7. Ocicat Cat

Another cat that loves to travel is the Ocicat. These striking cats take pride in an athletic body that helps them relentlessly climb, hike, jump, and explore the outdoor world.

Aside from a good physique, Ocicat boasts a formidable intellect allowing it to train easily and learn quickly.

They are normally very attached to their owner and love attention.

Why Ocicats are a good travel companion:

1. Quick learner
2. Require much space and activity
3. Easy to train
4. Enjoy spending time with their human companion
5. Good general health and endurance

8. Persian Cat

This white furball has everything needed to become your perfect travel partner. Persian Cats adapt smoothly to new environments and train easily to fetch and walk on a leash.

A Persian cat is even-tempered, quiet, and docile, but they crave a lot of activity and playtime. The best thing, it is car- and airplane-friendly which makes it ideally suited for a travel lifestyle.

Why Persian cats are perfect for travel:

1. It's easy to teach them new tricks and skills
2. They adapt easily to new places
3. They love outdoor activities
4. Affectionate and docile
5. Suited for long car trips

9. Manx Cat

Image credit: Ali Kazal

Originating on the Isle of Man, the Manx cat has a quiet and composed nature that can easily adapt to cat car trips and cat walks.

It's affectionate and sociable, guaranteeing you good company while travelling. Moreover, Manx cats are avid explorers who love discovering new places.

Why Manx cats are fit for travel:

1. Suitable for car trips
2. Not afraid of water
3. Devoted to their owner, following him everywhere
4. Master new skills, tricks, and behaviours at ease
5. Constantly seek attention

10. Abyssinian Cat

There couldn't be a better travel companion than an Abyssinian cat.

These cats are adventurous by nature; they love to play, jump, run, climb and simply spend plenty of time outdoors. If you love hiking, then the Abyssinian is a great hiking cat breed.

Moreover, Abyssinian cats are extremely smart, which allows them to grasp new skills and behaviours fast, and they also have a robust build which is indispensable in climbing, hiking, and exploring the adventure playground of the outdoors for hours.

Why Abyssinian cats are perfect for travelling:

1. Exceptionally inquisitive
2. Stick to their owner
3. Adore physical activity
4. Quiet and patient, perfect for long and tiring trips
5. Are attention-seekers and love the company of humans

11. Somali Cat

Somali cats are descended from the Abyssinian, so they share a lot of characteristics. In essence, the Somali is a longer-haired Abyssinian.

This medium-sized muscular cat takes a longer than average 18 months to reach full size, but it is a very active cat that loves to jump, climb and play.

The Somali is also very curious, loves to explore, and wants to play while doing it!

They are very affectionate and like to keep company with their human, so won't stray too far when you're off in the wild.

This breed is a perfect cat for outdoor adventures, and when you come home, they like you to comb their easy-to-groom long hair coat and have a delightful quiet murmur habit to accompany their purrs.

Why Somali cats are perfect for travelling:

1. Like to jump and climb
2. Strong human bond
3. Playful and clever
4. Easy to look after
5. Affectionate

12. The Rescue or Shelter Cat

Photo credit: maplexfern 

Perhaps the very best cat you should consider for an outdoor adventure cat is a rescue cat. They have great potential to become great travel companions no matter what breed or breeds they are.

Of course, a cat rescue will offer cats of different breeds and different personalities. The goal is to find a playful and curious feline that is open to learning and can easily adapt to travelling.

Your best bet is to choose a young kitty and teach it to walk on an adventure cat harness and leash and teach it tricks, such as how to fetch, from an early age.

Why rescue cats are great companions for outdoor enthusiasts:

1. Keen on learning new stuff
2. Grateful and affectionate, which helps create strong bonds during trips
3. Mixed breeds can have genes of a travel-prone breed
4. Adult shelter cats might already boast some travelling experience
5. Devoted to their owner, will go with him everywhere

Characteristics of Adventure Cats

There are many adventure cat breeds that are keen on travelling or are predisposed to adopt a travel lifestyle easily.

While each breed has its strictly breed-related characteristics, some traits are common for all travel-prone felines.

Here are some of the character traits you should look for when choosing a furry travel companion

• • Curious
  • Loves roaming around outside
  • Easily adaptable to new conditions
  • Easy to train
  • Energetic and playful
  • A fit body
  • Loyal, docile, and attached to its owner
  • Loves companionship of people

Just about any cat can be an adventure cat with the right tools, practice and training. Of course, having a cat with an affinity for adventure helps, but you may not realize that your lazy bones indoor cat just might be hearing whispers of the call of the wild. 

Tips for Hiking with Cats

Whenever you take your cat outside, there are always some risks. Your cat will experience new terrain, learn to tolerate different weather, and may even encounter some wildlife. 

This experience can be overwhelming for a cat that is new to outdoor activities, so take your time getting them comfortable with going outside, walking on a cat harness and leash, and helping them get familiar with different types of terrain.

To help prepare for whatever nature has to offer, here are some top tips for hiking with your cat:

Best Cat Harness for Hiking with Cats