Goats have become a lot more popular as pets in recent years.
They’ve always been our companions, but now more than ever we like to keep them just for their friendship—not their meat, milk, or fur.
With that in mind, then, you may well be thinking about one yourself.
There are plenty of breeds to choose from with goats, so it can be a bit overwhelming to make a decision.
Today, we’re going to look at some of the cutest goat breeds around.
From the smallest to the biggest, the most exotic to the most well-known, if you’re having trouble deciding on a goat breed, then this list will help you make a decision.
So, let’s get started.
Toggenburg
Toggenburgs are a really interesting breed for a couple of reasons.
First and foremost, of all registered breeds of any animal in the world, these have been around the longest.
They have tall, erect ears, and the classic goat face with a long, thin beard.
The regular Toggenburgs are certainly cute, and there is also a mini variety if you’re in the market for something a bit smaller.
Either way, this is one of the cutest breeds out there.
Nubian dwarf
In the U.K., Nubians are also known as Anglo-Nubians.
This is where they originated and are still most common today, though they have spread all over the world.
The dwarf variety of the Nubian, favored for its small stature and cuteness, then originated in west Africa.
They are really popular with children and again, make excellent family pets.
The dwarfs generally stand around 20-23 inches tall, and have a really friendly disposition.
Their long, flowing ears are one of their best features.
Mini saanen
The Saanen is another of the most popular breeds across the world.
They were first bred in the Saane valley in Switzerland, and they are now more widely distributed than any other breed.
As is often the case, these goats have also been selectively bred to produce a mini version popular as pets.
They are pure white, and have the softest, sweetest looking faces.
In the simplest sense, Saanens look like a classic goat.
They’re really cute, and really great as pets.
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Kinder
The Kinder is a less well-known breed, but one look at their faces and you will just fall in love.
They have an almost dopey look, with thin, tiny eyes and a vacant-looking half-smile.
They were bred in Washington as recently as 1986, the result of a cross between a pygmy and a Nubian goat.
They usually stand 20 to 26 inches tall, coming from a pedigree of smaller goats.
They have a really friendly disposition and love to be around people and children.
They are one of the more unusual-looking breeds, but still impossibly cute.
Nigora
Coming in a variety of coat colors and patterns, Nigora goats are often favored by goat farmers for their luxurious fiber.
They are generally used for their soft coats, rather than meat or milk.
This makes them great for petting and really cute!
They’re a bit heavier and can get a bit taller than some of the other breeds we’ve looked at.
So, it’s important to be sure any children are well educated about how to handle animals.
But if you take the right care, these goats make great pets!
Pygora
Another alert but incredibly friendly goat is the Pygora.
This is another descendent of past generations of pygmy goats—this time crossbred with Angora goats.
Again, they are most commonly farmed for their fiber, and come in a few different colors.
They produce luxurious fiber.
The bucks can get around 27 inches tall, although they’re a bit slenderer than something like a Nigora.
They have small heads with cute little smiles, and can have long, short or even ringlet hair.
Nigerian dwarf
Though this breed had been a common sight in petting zoos for many years prior, they were not officially recognized as a breed until 2005.
Despite their size, they are still very popular for meat and milk.
Because of their size, they are also very popular as pets!
They are usually around 22 to 24 inches tall, weighing around 75 pounds.
They have some of the friendliest of all goat dispositions and are one of the most popular breeds for pets.
They are great with kids and even other animals.
Mini alpine
There are dozens of breeds of goat that originated in the European Alps.
The goat which claims the name Alpine was bred originally the French alps, and comes in a wide variety of colors and coat patterns.
They can have grey, white, and black in all different patterns and arrangements.
Again, regular-sized alpines are still really cute if you’re in the market for something bigger.
Doubtless, though, for many of us, the smaller alpine goats are just irresistible!
Mini silky fainting goats
This list wouldn’t be complete without a mention of fainting goats.
These goats have become hugely popular, especially since viral videos on the internet spread the word about their fainting.
There are many kinds of fainting goat, which will, in times of stress, often tense up and simply fall over—or faint.
For our money, the cutest of them all is the mini silky fainting goat.
These little goats have long, flowing, luxurious coats, and their face is covered by almost styled-looking hair.
Mini myotonic goats
The mini myotonic is another, more common breed of fainting goat.
They are among the shorter goats on this list, sometimes as short as 17 inches tall.
They are quite muscular, and can be as heavy as 150 pounds despite their height.
So, again, it’s important to make sure any children know how to behave around them.
They generally have short hair, and they have a very friendly nature that has made them popular s pets.
Lamancha
Another of the most popular dairy breed in the world, the Lamancha was first registered as a breed in North America.
Coming in more or less every color combination with short, glossy hair, these goats look and feel amazing.
They are cute and really soft to pet.
They’re a bit taller, but you can get a mini variety if you would prefer.
The mini versions usually stand just under 30 inches tall.
They’re really relaxed, and prefer to sit back than squabble.
Oberhasli
Another breed of Swiss origin, they also come in a standard or mini variety.
The mini oberhasli will stand, again, just under 30 inches tall.
They typically have a black belly, with a black muzzle, legs, and with a stripe down their back.
The rest of their coat is a rich, fox red.
They are another calm and easy to manage breed that lives great with kids, especially the mini variety.
Again, they are a bit heavier than others, so it’s important to supervise any children playing with them.
Boer
A lot of the goats we’ve looked at have been on the smaller side.
After all, it is, for one reason or another, part of human nature to see smaller things as cute.
But I don’t doubt that many of you are in the market for something bigger, and the Boer goat could be a great choice for you.
These goats have soft, white fur on their bodies and are typically red headed, but they can be of any color.
They have prominent heads with convex noses, and long, floppy ears.
Originating from South Africa, they have become one of the most popular meat breeds in the world—but they’re also great as pets!
Beetal
With some of the most proportionally impressive ears in the animal kingdom, the Beetal goat is a bit more unusual looking, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t cute!
They come in a huge variety of coat patterns, and are even sometimes spotted.
Their ears extend long beyond the bottom of their head, and they have tall, slender bodies.
A more unusual entry on the list but still a great one!
Pygmy goat
Finally, the one you’ve all been waiting for—of course, it’s the pygmy goat.
They have undoubtedly become the most popular goat pet, with their tiny stature enchanting people across the world.
They are very friendly, can adapt to almost any climate, and can stand as short as 16 inches tall.
They can weigh as little as 55 pounds.
They come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, and are simply some of the cutest creatures we’ve ever seen.
And best of all, they can still even produce milk enough for a small household!
I think we can all agree they are one of, if not the, cutest breed of goat in the world.
So, as you can see, you are never short of choice when it comes to goat breeds.
There are countless options for goat pets, and each one is cuter than the last.
We all have our own tastes and desires when it comes to our pets, and I guarantee there will be something on this list for everyone!
Oh my gosh, I can’t handle all this cuteness! 🥰
Reading this article made me want to adopt every single one of these adorable goats!
I mean, who wouldn’t want a Mini Saanen with their soft, sweet face, or a Nigerian Dwarf with their friendly disposition?
It’s like picking out the fluffiest, most lovable stuffed animal from a store!
Thanks for sharing this heartwarming list!