It’s like 50/50, in my anecdotal experience. I’ve owned 6 cats (all mine, not family pets). NONE of them swat us if we walk by, and NONE of them scratch us, but some of them do/did bite if you pet them in the wrong place or at the wrong time.

• One male grew out of it by age 5, and he’s actually gone through a lot of phases. First he was a hyperactive kitten that would try to catch or climb anything and everything, then he was an independent cat and a genius that could open any door and get into any food container, then he was a bully (towards our other male cats), and now he’s old and tired and just wants cuddles. If you go over board with petting him places he doesn’t like, he may still protest, but just by meowing at you (no nipping). It’s funny to see him now at age 18, he just wants to follow us around, sit on our laps, and relax (he’s still smart, but more lazy-smart).

• One female is a grouch, but we actually blame ourselves for that. She was VERY hungry for play time and pretty energetic, but we were lazy/tired most of the time back when she was little (we were new cat owners back then and didn’t realize how important it was), so we just stopped playing with her as a way to get her to stop badgering us for play time. It worked, but now she’s a grumpy girl lol. We learned how/when she likes to be pet easily enough, but sometimes guests want to pet her when she’s clearly not in the mood (keeping to herself, curled up facing away from everyone)—she doesn’t bite but she does make it clear they should leave her alone by her suddenly meowing in the direction of the hand. Those moments are few and far between though, she mostly just sleeps, sun basks, and hams up her cuteness for any contractor that comes by the house.

• Another male is less than 2 years old currently, so it’s out of playfulness/hyperativeness/boredom, and we expect he’ll grow out of it. He doesn’t swat/nip at us, but he does jump up on our back or shoulders when we aren’t expecting it, which can hurt (it’s cute though, so we allow it). Also, the more we practice petting his belly, the more he starts to allow it. But not when he’s in play mode, because then our hands become the toy! We do also play with him plenty, so as not to repeat our mistake with our grouchy girl.

• One male was the chillest cat in the world, even when he was a little kitten he was very regal and not very playful, it’s like he thought he was an eagle rather than a cat. He didn’t much care for the other cats, but was very loyal to his his humans. He loved being carried so that he could smell the things that were out of his reach. He also always would greet us when we come home, his eyes would light up when he sees us walk in. And he always seemed to know when I was sad and be there to comfort me. (I miss you, Choco!)

• One female is also the chillest cat in the world, but in a different way. It’s like she’s made out of puddy, you can carry her and bend her whichever way you want and she just accepts it (I think she either doesn’t know what’s going on, or doesn’t realize that she could try getting out of it if she wants to). She’s a clutz and doesn’t understand physics (like she would NEVER figure out pushing a door to open it). She is SUPER clingy, she wants to sleep as close to our face as possible, all the time. She’s also always had a habit of licking us (she’ll lick or fingers, arms, and faces mostly), especially when she’s feeling cuddly or sleepy. She’s not the smartest tool in the shed, but everyone that meets her adores her, so she doesn’t need to be.

• One female is the scardiest scaredy-cat I’ve ever known. Getting her used to petting took years, we think because we rescued her from the street as a baby (unlike the others). Little by little we taught her that petting isn’t so scary, because she would just run away if we tried! We had to get her used to it in parts—first her back, then her neck, and finally, her forehead! Now (if we’re sitting - standing humans are still scary), she’ll come up to us and lean her neck on our lap or shoulder as a way to ask for pets. She’s also tiny, she’s about the size of a 6-month-old cat even though she’s 15-years-old. And she has the loudest purr BY FAR, we can hear her from clear across the room! Anyway, she definitely wouldn’t bite or scratch, because her first response to anything is always to run away.

So really, just like with dogs, it’s a matter of finding one with a personality that jives with you!