15 Most Curious Cat Breeds That Will Investigate (And Break) Every Fragile Thing In Your Home

Written By

Mathew Abraham

Updated on

Mathew Abraham

Meet Mathew, Cat Dad and Animal Advocate! Mathew is the editor at PawDown, overseeing content strategy and quality. He's in charge of carefully curating the best pet stories, tips, and advice for you.

A Curious Bengal Cat
Irina_kukuts/PixaBay

Curiosity may not always be a cat’s best friend, especially when it leads to mischief! Some cat breeds are naturally more adventurous than others, constantly exploring, climbing, and investigating every corner of your home. Whether it’s knocking over fragile items or pawing through your belongings, these curious cats are always on the lookout for something new to discover. If you own one of these breeds, get ready for a home filled with playful chaos and the occasional broken decoration. Here are the 15 most curious cat breeds to watch out for.

1. Bengal: The Energetic Explorer

Bengal cat with toy
ingusk/123rf

Bengals are famous for their striking, wild-looking coats, but their curiosity matches their bold appearance. These cats are incredibly athletic, always climbing, jumping, and investigating new spaces. They thrive on mental stimulation and physical play, which means your shelves, tables, and countertops become their personal obstacle courses. Bengals need constant entertainment — without it, they’ll create their own, often leaving a trail of chaos behind. To keep them busy, interactive toys and cat trees are essential.

2. Siamese: The Chatty Investigator

A Siamese cat resting
liliy2025/PixaBay

Siamese cats are known for their talkative nature and strong attachment to their owners, but they’re equally recognized for their relentless curiosity. They like to stay close to you, often following you from room to room and inspecting whatever you’re doing. If you’re unboxing a package or rearranging your space, a Siamese will be right there, pawing at everything. Their slender, agile bodies make it easy for them to hop onto counters and explore high places. Whether it’s a glass of water or a delicate decoration, a Siamese’s curiosity may get the best of them — and your belongings.

3. Devon Rex: The Mischief Maker

devon rex cat
miezekieze/Pixabay

The Devon Rex’s quirky appearance — large ears, slender frame, and wavy coat — matches its playful, mischievous personality. These cats are natural climbers who won’t hesitate to leap onto shelves, inspect your plants, or knock over trinkets. They love to interact with their environment, using their paws to bat at small objects, which rarely ends well for your fragile decor. Devon Rex cats are highly social and crave your attention, meaning they’ll often stick close by, especially when you’re busy. 

4. Sphynx: The Social Explorer

Close-up of two sphynx cats
Pet foto/Pexels

Sphynx cats may lack fur, but they more than make up for it with their bold, affectionate personalities. These hairless cats love warmth and attention, frequently curling up on your lap or even your computer keyboard. Their curiosity drives them to investigate everything — from the contents of your desk to the top of your highest shelf. Sphynx cats are known to paw at objects, making anything light or delicate fair game for an accidental tumble. Their need for companionship means they’ll likely follow you everywhere, poking their nose into whatever you’re doing, whether it’s cooking dinner or organizing your space.

5. Turkish Van: The Adventurous Spirit

Turkish van cat
jasmynnewton/Reddit

Turkish Vans are famous for their unique love of water, but their adventurous nature goes far beyond splashing in sinks. These cats are constantly on the move, exploring every corner of your home. They have a reputation for being athletic jumpers and climbers, meaning no surface is safe — from bookshelves to cabinets. Their playful curiosity drives them to knock objects over, either accidentally or on purpose, as they chase imaginary prey or investigate new items. If you have delicate decorations, it’s best to place them somewhere truly out of reach — though with a Turkish Van, that might not exist.

6. Maine Coon: The Gentle Giant

Maine Coon cat playing
Rhamely/Unsplash

Maine Coons are known for their large size and fluffy, majestic appearance, but they’re also remarkably playful and curious. These “gentle giants” love to be involved in your daily activities, often positioning themselves right in the middle of whatever you’re doing. They enjoy exploring countertops, shelves, and tables — and their sheer bulk means even sturdy objects may not stand a chance. Despite their sometimes-clumsy curiosity, Maine Coons are affectionate and loyal companions, always ready to investigate alongside you, whether you’re working, cooking, or cleaning.

7. Burmese: The Playful Shadow

Burmese
Dyadya_Lyosha/Pixabay

Burmese cats are people-focused and love to follow you around like a shadow. Their playful, affectionate nature goes hand-in-hand with an inquisitive streak, leading them to poke, prod, and investigate anything they can reach. They enjoy interactive play and are not shy about exploring countertops, knocking over cups, or pawing at small objects. Burmese cats thrive on attention, and if you’re not giving them enough, they may create their own entertainment — often at the expense of your fragile items. 

8. Cornish Rex: The Agile Acrobat

Cornish Rex
Solstizia/123rf

With their slender bodies and soft, wavy coats, Cornish Rex cats are built for agility. They’re quick, light on their feet, and love to climb, jump, and explore. Their natural curiosity makes anything left on a surface a potential target for investigation — and potentially a fall to the floor. Cornish Rex cats are playful and energetic, and they love interactive toys. Keeping your home cat-proofed is a challenge, but providing climbing structures and entertainment can help redirect their boundless energy.

9. Oriental Shorthair: The Clever Companion

Oriental shorthair cat with a green background
Alexvol2014/123rf

Oriental Shorthairs are sleek, slender, and known for their intelligence and social nature. They form strong bonds with their owners, often following you around and watching everything you do. Their curiosity is relentless, and they won’t hesitate to climb onto furniture, peek into open cabinets, or investigate any new object in sight. Their clever, playful demeanor means they require a lot of stimulation — interactive toys and climbing trees can help keep their minds and paws busy (and hopefully away from your favorite decorations).

10. Savannah: The Wild Wanderer

Savannah cat
cat 823/pixabay

Savannah cats are an exotic hybrid, blending domestic cats with the African Serval. Known for their striking appearance and energetic personalities, Savannahs are incredibly curious and adventurous. They have a strong urge to explore every inch of their environment — climbing, jumping, and knocking over anything in their path. If you own a Savannah, keeping delicate items safe requires serious strategy. These cats need plenty of space to roam and play, so providing vertical climbing areas and interactive toys can help satisfy their endless curiosity.

11. Scottish Fold: The Curious Cuddler

scottish fold
photo/ alenazamotaeva123rf

Scottish Folds are adored for their unique folded ears and sweet, gentle nature. Despite their calm appearance, they have a surprisingly playful, inquisitive side. They love to investigate their surroundings, especially if it involves sitting on your desk or pawing at small objects. Their curiosity can turn into distraction, particularly when you’re busy. While they’re less destructive than some other breeds, their fascination with new items and tendency to explore still makes them prone to knocking things over. Offering soft toys and cozy napping spots can help redirect their attention.

12. Abyssinian: The Agile Explorer

abyssinian-cat
maxoidos/123rf

Abyssinians are sleek, athletic cats known for their boundless energy and love of adventure. They’re natural climbers and explorers, often found scaling bookshelves or inspecting the tops of cabinets. Abyssinians are highly intelligent and thrive on mental and physical stimulation. They’re less likely to cuddle and more likely to be found investigating new objects or following you from room to room. To keep your Abyssinian entertained (and your fragile items safe), provide climbing trees, puzzle toys, and plenty of interactive playtime to satisfy their insatiable curiosity.

13. Russian Blue: The Quiet Observer Turned Investigator

Russian Blue cat with a green bowtie
VS_star/Pixabay

The Russian Blue is known for its gentle demeanor and stunning blue-gray coat, but an inquisitive nature lies beneath its quiet exterior. These cats may initially appear reserved but are keenly interested in their surroundings, often observing quietly before deciding to investigate further. Russian Blues are particularly sensitive to environmental changes, noticing new objects or rearrangements and cautiously exploring them. Their intelligence matches their curiosity, making them quick learners who enjoy interactive toys and puzzles. 

14. Turkish Angora: The Elegant, Spirited Adventurer

Black Turkish Angora cat lying on gravel ground.
Pezibear/Pixabay

The Turkish Angora is a breed that combines elegance with a spirited curiosity. Known for their silky coats and expressive eyes, these cats are also incredibly adventurous, often leading them to explore high places and open waters. Their curiosity is not just about exploration; Turkish Angoras are highly interactive, engaging with their human companions in games and conversations. They have a knack for getting into things, using their paws to open cabinets or turn on faucets, showcasing their intelligence and desire to understand how things work. 

15. Japanese Bobtail: The Playful Problem Solver

Japanese bobtail
Cong H/Pexels

The Japanese Bobtail, known for its short, pom-pom-like tail, is a breed bursting with curiosity and intelligence. These cats are natural problem solvers, often figuring out how to open doors, drawers, or even puzzle toys with impressive determination. They love exploring new spaces, inspecting every box, bag, or cabinet they can find. Japanese Bobtails are also highly social and playful, frequently joining in on whatever you’re doing — whether you like it or not. With their agile, athletic build, they’re excellent jumpers, so no high shelf is safe from their inquisitive nature.

Love Pets as Much as We Do?

Cat Follow
Giant Design/Canva.com

Scroll up and click the ‘Follow’ button to stay updated with the latest heartwarming, hilarious, and helpful pet posts from Pawdown, delivered straight to your Microsoft Start feed and MSN homepage!

Related Posts

Discover the 6 key personality phases every Ragdoll cat goes through as they grow, from playful kittens to calm, affectionate seniors.
These 9 adorable cat breeds are dominating 2025 with their charm, fluff, and purr-fect personalities. Find out which breeds are stealing hearts this year.
Learn how bobcats contribute to our health and why, despite their benefits, they’re still not suitable as pets.
You might think bobcats are elusive and harmless, but their instincts, strength, and stealth make them much more dangerous than they appear.
Discover the world’s largest dog and cat breeds—majestic, massive, and full of personality in every paw and wag.
Living in bobcat territory? Discover the 12 states where encounters are common—and what every pet owner should know to stay safe.
Discover the 12 most popular cat breeds in the U.S., each with unique traits that make them beloved companions for many.
Think your cat’s just quirky? They might be totally bored. Here are 12 signs your cat’s looking for trouble (and fun), from late-night zoomies to surprise attacks.
Discover why Maine Coons make ideal emotional support cats with their calm, affectionate, and intuitive nature.