A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Top Ten Best cat Breeds

British ​Shorthair​
British ​Shorthair​

Full of British reserve, the Shorthair has a quiet voice and is an undemanding companion. See all British Shorthair Cat characteristics below!

source: cattime.com
Persian cat​
Persian cat​

The Persian is an old breed. To those who love this elegant cat, it will come as no surprise that the longhaired beauty originated in the cradle of civilization: Mesopotamia, which was later known as Persia and is now modern-day Iran.

source: cattime.com
Siamese cat​
Siamese cat​

Learn about the Siamese cat including physical and personality traits, ... intelligent breeds, the Siamese has her own ... will suit your lifestyle best.

source: hillspet.com
Maine Coon​
Maine Coon​

After years of local competitions and adoration, the Maine Coon Cat was chosen as Best Cat at the first major cat show ever held in the United States. “Cosey,” a brown tabby female Maine Coon Cat, was awarded this distinction at the Madison Square Garden show held in NYC in May of 1895.

source: cfa.org
image: all2need.com
Ragdoll​
Ragdoll​

The Ragdoll is a pointed breed, which means that the body is lighter in color than the points (the face, legs, tail and ears). The Ragdoll cat is carefully bred to produce large affectionate animals in three patterns, two with white (mitted and bi-color) and one with no white (colorpoint).

source: cfa.org
image: today.com
American ​Shorthair​
American ​Shorthair​

American Shorthair Cat Breeds American Shorthair Origins The American shorthair’s history dates back around 300 years. The roots of this cat breed began in England as a common domestic cat.

Sphynx cat​
Sphynx cat​

The hairless Sphynx is an example of the cat breeds that come about accidentally. A genetic mutation brought about the birth of a hairless kitten to Elizabeth, a black and white domestic cat in Toronto, Canada.

source: cattime.com
Exotic ​Shorthair​
Exotic ​Shorthair​

The Exotic Shorthair, or Exotic for short, is a Persian of a different coat. The new breed first began to be developed in the 1950s by crossing Persians with American Shorthairs and, later, other shorthaired breeds such as the Burmese and the Russian Blue, then breeding back to Persians once the short coat was achieved.

source: cattime.com
Abyssinian ​cat​
Abyssinian ​cat​

Among the most popular cat breeds, the Abyssinian ... Russian Blue Cat: Facts and Personality Traits ... and which cat breed personalities will suit your lifestyle best.

source: hillspet.com
Birman​
Birman​

Ideally, the Birman is a medium-sized cat, strongly built cat with striking eyes, round face, and a Roman-shaped nose which all result in a pleasing expression. The Birman fur is a single-length (no undercoat) soft, silky, and lush coat; they have a longer ruff around the neck and a fluffy tail.

source: cfa.org
Bengal cat​
Bengal cat​

The first cat association to recognize the Bengal was The International Cat Association, which granted the breed experimental status in 1983, followed by full recognition in 1991. The Bengal is also recognized by the American Cat Fanciers Association, the Canadian Cat Association and the United Feline Organization.

source: cattime.com
Burmese cat​
Burmese cat​

Additionally, the contemporary Burmese bears the brown coat proudly, while the European Burmese sports brighter colors like red. Personality and Temperament. This is a smart cat that is equally comfortable in a shop, home, or office. It is energetic, playful, and keeps its human companions amused with its antics.

source: petmd.com
Russian Blue​
Russian Blue​

The sparkling, silvery blue coat and brilliant green eyes of the Russian Blue draw immediate attention to this shorthaired breed. But it’s the intelligent and playful disposition that makes the Russian Blue a perfect pet for most households.

source: cfa.org
Siberian cat​
Siberian cat​

Siberian cats are a Russian national treasure. They have been documented in Russia for hundreds of years and are mentioned in Russian fairy tales and children’s books. The breed also appears in Harrison Wier’s book Our Cats and All About Them, published in 1889.

source: cfa.org
Scottish Fold​
Scottish Fold​

The Scottish Fold comes in a number of colors and patterns, including solid, tabby, tabby and white, bicolor and particolor. Eye color depends on coat color. For instance, white and bicolor cats can have blue eyes or odd eyes (each eye is a different color).

source: cattime.com
Manx cat​
Manx cat​

Cymric Cat Breed Facts and Personality Traits ... The Manx is one of the oldest known cat breeds. ... and which cat breed personalities will suit your lifestyle best.

source: hillspet.com
Oriental ​Shorthair​
Oriental ​Shorthair​

The Oriental is best described as a color remake of the original “black and white” Siamese. The breed was developed using Siamese as the foundation breed and then crossing them with other breeds. The original intent was to broaden the Siamese gene pool in Britain because so many breeding programs had been devastated during World War II.

source: cattime.com
Himalayan cat​
Himalayan cat​

The Cat Fanciers Association recognized the Himalayan as a distinct breed in 1957, but in 1984 the CFA Board of Directors decided to reclassify the Himalayan as a color variety of the Persian.

source: cattime.com
image: elelur.com
American ​Bobtail​
American ​Bobtail​

The International Cat Association accepted the American Bobtail into its new breed category in 1989 and gave it full recognition in 2002. The American Bobtail is also recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association and the American Cat Fanciers Association.

source: cattime.com
Devon Rex​
Devon Rex​

About the Devon Rex The Devon Rex, the Pixie of the Cat Fancy, sports oversized ears on an elfin face with large impish eyes. This adorable combination only hints at the mad-cap personality within – a cross, some say, between a cat, a dog, a monkey, and Dennis the Menace.

source: cfa.org
Japanese ​Bobtail​
Japanese ​Bobtail​

The Japanese Bobtail has been known in Japan since the 6th century. The Gotokuji Temple and the Niko Temple still display antique Japanese woodcuts and paintings that portray the Japanese people's love for their special bobtailed cat. The Japanese Bobtail is considered to be a naturally occurring breed and was not affirmatively created.

source: hillspet.com
Bombay cat​
Bombay cat​

Through a long, selective process of line breeding and outcross breeding, she was able to consistently produce a black cat unlike any other. Black American Shorthairs and sable Burmese are still allowable breed outcrosses. The Bombay achieved CFA championship status in 1976, and the rest, as they say, is history.

source: cfa.org
Turkish Van​
Turkish Van​

At least a few probably made their way to Europe as “souvenirs” in the past millennium. It wasn’t until the 1970s, though, that a Turkish Van was first brought to the United States. The International Cat Association recognized the breed in 1985, and the Cat Fanciers Association began registering it in 1988.

source: cattime.com
Norwegian ​Forest cat​
Norwegian ​Forest cat​

About the Norwegian Forest Cat Known as the Skogkatt in its native Norway, the Norwegian Forest Cat is a large, semi-longhaired cat whose rugged appearance fits its name. Despite the hardy facade, this breed is very much a homebody that enjoys the company of other pets and particularly their human companions.

source: cfa.org
Cornish Rex​
Cornish Rex​

It was the birthplace of King Arthur, and it was the birthplace of one of the most unusual and interesting cat breeds in existence: the curly-coated Cornish Rex. A curly-coated kitten was born in 1950 to a shorthaired tortoiseshell and white pet cat named Serena, who belonged to Nina Ennismore and Winifred Macalister.

source: cattime.com
American Curl​
American Curl​

The American curl's popularity took off quickly, becoming recognized by all cat breed associations within a short period of time after the initial discovery and development of the breed. The distinguishing trait of the American curl is the appearance of the ears.

Savannah cat​
Savannah cat​

Savannah Cats are a spotted domestic cat breed started in the 1980's. Developed to give the impression of grandeur and dignity of an wild cat with a cheetah type appearance, expressive eyes highlighted by dark tear stains, vibrant coat colors, solid contrasting black spots, huge sonar-like ears and long legs.

Munchkin cat​
Munchkin cat​

A newer cat breed established in the mid-1990s, the Munchkin cat has since followed the yellow brick road into cat lovers’ hearts around the world. The pitter-patter of this cat’s feet on the ends of its shortened legs has only sped it along on its journey, though it has also faced its share of criticism from animal welfare advocates.

source: breedscat.com
Chartreux​
Chartreux​

The Chartreux may be one of The Cat Fanciers’ Association’s oldest new breeds. Chartreux history is steeped in legend, even though the breed was only advanced to championship status in 1987. Recent research has proven that the origin of these cats was in ancient Persia.

source: cfa.org
Tonkinese cat​
Tonkinese cat​

Like all cats, Tonkinese are very particular about bathroom hygiene. It’s a good idea to keep a Tonkinese as an indoor-only cat to protect him from diseases spread by other cats, attacks by dogs or coyotes, and the other dangers that face cats who go outdoors, such as being hit by a car.

source: cattime.com
Ocicat​
Ocicat​

Never before was there such an effort to breed an entirely domestic cat which can offer the spotted beauty of the wild cats while maintaining the lovely, predictable disposition of the domestic cat. The Ocicat originates from interbreeding of Abyssinian, Siamese, and American Shorthair and is the only spotted domestic breed selectively bred to emulate the cats of the wild.

source: cfa.org
Ragamuffin ​cat​
Ragamuffin ​cat​

Learn more about your Ragamuffin cat and read about it ... As a placid cat, the Ragamuffin needs interactive ... that beautiful cat is one of the most popular breeds.

source: hillspet.com
image: cfa.org
Somali cat​
Somali cat​

Showing cats was all the rage in the late Victorian era. One of the unusual breeds exhibited at the Crystal Palace Cat Show in 1871 was an Abyssinian—“captured in the late Abyssinian War”—who took third place.

source: cattime.com
Balinese cat​
Balinese cat​

Although longhaired Siamese appeared earlier, the cats did not begin to be developed as a breed until the 1940s and 1950s. The Cat Fanciers Federation recognized the Balinese in 1961, followed by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1970.

source: cattime.com
Egyptian Mau​
Egyptian Mau​

Troubetskoy wanted to ensure that the Mau survived as a breed, so she wrote a breed standard and began breeding the cats under the cattery name Fatima. The breed was recognized in 1968 by the Cat Fanciers Federation, followed in 1977 by the Cat Fanciers’ Association.

source: cattime.com
Colorpoint ​Shorthair​
Colorpoint ​Shorthair​

Colorpoint Shorthair Breed History. The Colorpoint Shorthair was produced in the 1940s, when Siamese breeders wanted to create a new cat that had the same features as a Siamese but with additional point colors. Abyssinians were bred with Siamese cats, as well as red tabby Domestic Shorthair cats. Eventually, the Colorpoint Shorthair was created.

source: petguide.com
image: petsbest.com
Havana ​Brown​
Havana ​Brown​

The Havana Brown’s distinctive color extends even to his whiskers. He is the only cat with a breed standard that spells out whisker color: brown, of course, complementing the coat color. Looking out from all that minky-brown richness are vivid green eyes with an oval shape.

source: cattime.com
Nebelung​
Nebelung​

The Nebelung is the longhaired variety of the Russian Blue. The name is German and means “creature of the mist,” a reference to the cat’s shimmering silvery-blue coat that seems to float over his body. The breed was developed by Cora Cobb of the Nebelheim Cattery.

source: cattime.com
Toyger​
Toyger​

The toyger is a breed of domestic cat, the result of breeding domestic shorthaired tabbies (beginning in the 1980s) to make them resemble a "toy tiger", as its striped coat is reminiscent of the tiger's.

Korat​
Korat​

The Korat is possibly the cat in the fancy that most closely resembles its original look – more than any other breed. Comparing a Korat from the earliest pictures to one from today, one finds little to no difference in the cats. For more information, please contact the Breed Council Secretary for this breed.

source: cfa.org
image: petful.com
Selkirk Rex​
Selkirk Rex​

Newman called the new breed Selkirk, after her stepfather, making it unique among cat breeds in being named for a person. She added Rex to indicate that the coat was curly. To maintain genetic diversity and to give the cats a more pleasing appearance, she and other breeders outcrossed them not only to Persians but also to Exotics, American Shorthairs and British Shorthairs.

source: cattime.com
image: cattime.com
Snowshoe cat​
Snowshoe cat​

While the Snowshoe is a distinct breed, the cats are still sometimes bred back to Siamese or Oriental Shorthairs to maintain their traits. It’s not easy to produce kittens with the desired markings, so the breed is uncommon, despite the ubiquity of Grumpy Cat.

source: cattime.com
Singapura cat​
Singapura cat​

The Singapura cat is one of, if not the, smallest cat breeds in the world with adults rarely reaching 8 pounds. Exquisitely packaged and darling to behold, this cat is something special in every way. It was once believed to be naturally occurring in Singapore, with three individuals exported to the U.S. in the 1970's.

LaPerm​
LaPerm​

Named for its characteristic curly hair, the LaPerm lineage began on a small cherry farm in Dalles, Oregon in 1982, when a kitten with tabby markings and meager fur was born to an otherwise ordinary barn cat. Physical Characteristics. The LaPerm is a rex breed, a term given for the naturally occurring genetic mutation that results in curly or wavy fur.

source: petmd.com
American ​Wirehair​
American ​Wirehair​

The American Wirehair achieved full recognition from the Cat Fanciers Association in 1978. In The International Cat Association, the breed is considered a type of American Shorthair. American Wirehairs are also recognized by the American Cat Fanciers Association, the Canadian Cat Association, and the World Cat Federation.

source: cattime.com
Javanese cat​
Javanese cat​

At first, the Cat Fanciers Association categorized the Javanese as a distinct breed, separated from the Balinese by color, but in 2008 the Javanese was declared a division of the Balinese breed. The International Cat Association also considers the Javanese a variety of Balinese and places both in its Siamese grouping of breeds.

source: cattime.com
Burmilla​
Burmilla​

The Burmilla is another example of the accidental creation of a new cat breed. The unplanned mating between a Burmese and a chinchilla Persian in England in 1981 produced four black shaded female kittens with short, thick coats. The breeder realized how attractive such a breed could be and went on to develop what became known as the Burmilla.

source: cattime.com
European ​Shorthair​
European ​Shorthair​

The European cat, or “European Shorthair”, is as it’s name suggests, from Europe. It is characterised by its natural traits, having never been crossed with other breeds.

Chausie​
Chausie​

My Roots Chausie Cat History. Believe it or not, I descended from the Egyptian Jungle Cat (Felix chaus), a breed of feline that lived in the wild and has been historically recorded to have been around during the ancient times when pharaohs still ruled the land. The ancient Egyptians worshiped the Jungle Cat for its majestic form and powerful physique.

Thai cat​
Thai cat​

20 Best Dogs for Your Golden Years. ... But if you are looking for an extra friendly feline, check out this list of the friendliest cat breeds. RELATED.

source: mom.me
image: imgkid.com