Cat Breeds

Want to adopt a pedigreed cat? Take a look at the different breeds of domestic cats

There are many cat breeds and types. Indeed, domestic cats come in a wide variety of shapes and forms as well as colors and sizes.



Some breeds, like the Siamese or the Persian, are better known than others. And then there are the cat types, which some people confuse with actual breeds of cat. Calicos, for instance, are not a breed, but a unique cat type.

Cats of different breeds will obviously have different physical characteristics. But did you know that cats from different breeds may also have different personalities and behavior patterns?

Before you buy a pedigreed cat, make sure you do your due diligence. In order to find the perfect breed for you, you must inform yourself. Fortunately, there’s a lot of information about breeds out there. You can find books, websites, magazines, and organizations that have a great deal of information about each cat breed.

Different breed registries have different breed standards. These organizations include: ACFA, CFA, TCA, TICA, and UFO. Their websites are very informative, so you may visit them if you want additional information.

If you’re thinking about adopting a purebred cat, or just want to learn more about the different breeds and types of cats, you will find a list of the different breeds below.

Breeds in alphabetical order

A

  • Abyssinian
  • American Bobtail
  • American Curl - The cat with the curled-back ears.
  • American Shorthair
  • American Wirehair
  • Asian Semi-longhair
  • Australian Mist

B

C

  • California Spangled Cat
  • Chantilly-Tiffany cat
  • Chartreux - A gorgeous blue-grey feline.
  • Chausie
  • Cheetoh
  • Colorpoint Shorthair - The Siamese's beautiful siblings.
  • Cornish Rex

D

  • Devon Rex
  • Don Sphynx

E

  • Egyptian Mau - Beautiful spotted cats.
  • Exotic Shorthair

    H

    • Havana Brown
    • Himalayan

    J

    K

    • Korat - Another blue-gray feline beauty.

    L

    • LaPerm

    M

    • Maine Coon
    • Manx Cat - All about this unique tailless cat
    • Munchkin cat
    • Norwegian Forest Cat

    O

    • Ocicat
    • Ojos Azules
    • Oriental Longhair
    • Oriental Shorthair

    P

    • Persian
    • Pixie-Bob

    R

    • Ragamuffin - Learn about these furry and sweet felines.
    • Ragdoll
    • Russian Blue
    • Russian White, Black and Tabby

    S

    • Savannah
    • Scottish Fold
    • Selkirk Rex
    • Serengeti cat
    • Siamese - Elegant, angular, and gorgeous. You may also want to learn about the Traditional Siamese.
    • Siberian
    • Singapura
    • Snowshoe cats - These are the original cats in boots (and gloves!). Learn about them here.
    • Somali
    • Sphynx
    • Tonkinese
    • Toyger
    • Turkish Angora

    Breeds by coat type

    Long Hair

    If you love long-haired, furry felines, consider these beauties:

    • American Bobtail

    • American Curl
    • Balinese
    • Birman
    • Himalayan cat
    • Javanese
    • Maine Coon
    • Norwegian Forest Cat
    • Oriental Long Hair
    • Persian
    • Ragdoll
    • Siberian
    • Somali

    Short Hair

    Easier to take care of (well, relatively speaking), here's a list of the short hair breeds:

    • Abyssinian
    • American Short Hair
    • Bengal cat

    • Bombay cat
    • British Shorthair
    • Burmese

    • Chartreux
    • Chausie
    • Colorpoint Shorthair

    • Egyptian Mau
    • Exotic Shorthair

    • Havana Brown

    • Korat

    • Manx
    • Munchkin cat

    • Ocicat
    • Ojos Azules
    • Oriental Shorthair

    • Pixie-Bob

    • Russian Blue

    • Savannah
    • Scottish Fold
    • Siamese
    • Somali
    • Sphynx

    • Tonkinese

    By the way, the Japanese Bobtail cat comes in both short and long hair versions.

    Curly Hair

    If you want something more exotic, check these out:

    • American Wirehair
    • Cornish Rex
    • Devon Rex
    • LaPerm

    Want to see some pictures? Here's a gallery of illustrations of different breeds of cat.

    Choosing the right breed

    As you can see there are many breeds of cats to choose from. So how do you choose the right breed? Before selecting a pedigreed cat, consider the following factors:

    • How much care the cat will need (each breed has different needs)

    • The cat's temperament and personality. Some breeds are more active than others.

    • The available time you have to take care of your cat (long-haired breeds require more attention than short-hair breeds, for example)

    More About Feline Breeds

    Popular feline breeds - Wondering what are the most popular breeds of felines? Here are two popularity lists.

    Large domestic feline breeds - Visit our page about the largest domestic breeds of cat to learn more.

    Small cats - Lots of feline love in a tiny body. Check out this list of some of the smallest of felines.

    Non shedding cats - Check out this list about felines that shed little.

    Hypoallergenic cats - Allergic to cats? Read about these hypoallergenic feline breeds.

    Rare breeds of cats - Learn about the rarest of cats here.

    Exotic breeds of cats - The strange, the unusual, the extraordinary...the world of exotic breeds of cats.

    Black breeds of cats - Are there any cat breeds that only produce black cats? Find out here.

    More information on each individual breed will be added periodically, so check back often.

    Learn more about the breeding of cats and the different breeds of cats

    --Introduction to Cat Breeding - A plain English guide for a budding cat breeder, or even an accidental one.

    --For additional info about cat breeds from around the world visit www.catbreedsjunction.com.

    And to learn about Ragdolls, visit...

    --Floppycats.com - This is an informational website about floppy Ragdoll cats - specifics about their breed, other cats and much more!

    Do you fancy Himalayan and Persian cats? Then check out the following site:

    --Meow House - Persian and Himalayan kittens at meow house! We are a teeny CFA breeder dedicated to bringing healthy, happy and beautiful Himalayan and Persian kittens to loving homes. Come visit us and see what all the furry fuss is about!

    And for further reading:

    --The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds by Angela Rixon

    --The Ultimate Guide to Cat-Breeds by Louisa Somerville

    These books make great gifts for cat lovers too.

    Gifts by Cat Breed

    If you love a particular breed or type, check the links below for gift ideas:

    Bengal cat gifts - Find ideas inspired by the wild Bengal.

    Calico cat gifts - This article is filled with ideas to help you find unique calico cat gifts.

    Siamese cat gifts - Do you love this gorgeous cat breed? Visit the Siamese cat gifts page to find several gift ideas.

    Tuxedo cat gifts - If you love these black and white felines, you'll love the gift ideas presented here.

    All the colors of the rainbow

    And if you are wondering about the color of your cat, visit our cat colors page, here.

    Visit our page devoted to white felines to learn about the beautiful white cats.




    Related Links

    Bengal Cats

    Bengal Cat Gifts

    Egyptian Mau

    All about Manx cats

    Choosing the right cat-breed


    Leave Cat Breeds and return to Home Page

    Share this page:
    Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

    Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

    1. Click on the HTML link code below.
    2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.


  • Our Cats

    Mia (1998-2010)

    Mia the CatMia was lovely, courageous, and one of the wisest cats I've ever met. This site is dedicated to her memory.

    Max

    Max the CatMax is our very own magical cat. He loves big mouse toys and is an avid bird watcher.



    Sponsored Links



    Coupon Code ECOFRIEND - 10% Off Eco-Friendly Dog &

    tumblr visitor stats