Cat Breeds, Photos, and their Characteristics

PetWah
By PetWah 24 Min Read
24 Min Read

There is something special about cats, the way they move, the way they stare. And when you learn how to love them as they deserve groom them, give them good food and scratch them, and offer them a litter box you have created a bond that’s hard to break.

Sure, cats can be fickle they may ungratefully ignore you when they’re having a bad day but when they purr or rest their chin on your finger, they let you know that you really matter in their lives. As cat lovers know, there’s nothing quite like it.

If you’re thinking of adding a feline friend to your family, here are a few cat breeds and the top 10 cat breeds list.

Top 10 Cat Breeds

  • Siamese
  • Persian
  • Maine Coon
  • Ragdoll
  • Bengal
  • Abyssinian
  • Birman
  • Oriental
  • Sphynx
  • Devon Rex

Cat Breeds and their information

Abyssinian

Abyssinian Cat breeds Photo by Petwah
Abyssinian Cat Photo by Petwah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Ticked coat; ruddy, cinnamon, blue and fawn colors
  • Identity: Busy, active, agenda-driven, and affectionate

Abyssinian cats are a domestic short-haired breed of cat with a tabby coat. The individual hairs on their coat are banded with different colors. They are also known as Abys. They get their name from Abyssinia, where they are thought to have originated.

American Bobtail

American Bobtail Cat Photo by Petwah
American Bobtail Cat Photo by Petwah
  • Coat: Longhair and Shorthair
  • Trait: Medium to large, naturally occurring, bobtailed cat
  • Identity: Loving and intelligent

Bobtails are bright and loyal cats with a unique wild appearance. They’re extremely social cats who form an emotional bond with their human family. They can entertain at one moment while also providing their owners a warm, comfortable shoulder to cry on in times of need.

Bobtails are one hundred percent American and are well-loved for their love of games. They can play fetch or hide and seek for hours at a time, and they’re excellent at catching in midair flying insects that make the fatal mistake of entering their territory.

American Curl

American Curl cat photo by PetWah
American Curl cat photo by PetWah
  • Coat: Longhair and Shorthair
  • Trait: Ears curl back, away from the face; available in a variety of colors and patterns
  • Identity: Energetic and affectionate

The American Curl is a cat breed whose ears curl back toward the center of the skull from the face. The breed arose as a spontaneous mutation in Lakewood, California.

American Shorthair

American Shorthair cat photo by petwah
American Shorthair cat photo by petwah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Stocky, working breed: available in a wide variety of colors and patterns
  • Identity: Even-tempered and quiet

The American Shorthair is a breed of domestic cat that derives from European cats brought to North America by early settlers in order to safeguard valuables against mice and rats. In 2020, it was the eighth-most popular pedigreed cat in the world, according to the Cat Fanciers’ Association.

American Wirehair

American Wirehair Cat Photo by PetWah
American Wirehair Cat Photo by PetWah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Crimped, springy coat; available in a variety of colors and patterns
  • Identity: Even temperament

The American Wirehair is a medium-sized cat, but she’s quite strong. She has a lot of muscle on her. When you pick her up, you’ll notice that she is rather round and sturdy.

The Wirehair is a strong cat. She has a powerful neck, jaws, and muzzle, as well as a broad chest. Her legs are robust and thick. This cat should have all parts of her body in proper working order. She resembles the cats that were bred to keep rats out of the barn and home in the past.

Balinese

Balinese cat by Petwah
Balinese cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Longhair
  • Trait: LH variety of Siamese and Colorpoint Shorthair
  • Identity: Vocal, affectionate, active

The Balinese is a longhaired Siamese breed named for the exotically beautiful dancers on the Indonesian island of Bali. It’s possible that the long hair is a spontaneous mutation or a mix between a long-haired breed like a Persian or Turkish Angora, but it’s impossible to know. Although long-haired Siamese

In 1961, the Balinese were recognized by The Cat Fanciers Federation. In 1970, the Cat Fanciers Association also bestowed its blessing on them. They are licensed by the American Cat Fanciers Association and The International Cat Association as well as other cat registries. Balinese may be outcrossed to Javanese and Siamese.

Bengal

Bengal cat by Petwah
Bengal cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Richly colored, highly contrasted coat of vivid spots or distinctive marbling
  • Identity: Curious and athletic

The Bengal is a hybrid cat breed that resulted from crossbreeding domestic cats, particularly the spotted Egyptian Mau, with Asian leopard cats. The name of the breed comes from the taxonomic classification of the leopard cat.

Birman

Birman cat by Petwah
Birman cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Longhair
  • Trait: Stocky body with white feet and point color pattern; easy to groom coat of intermediate length
  • Identity: Sweet and affectionate

The Birman, often known as Burma’s “Sacred Cat,” is a domestic cat breed. The Birman is a long-haired, color-pointed cat with silky fur, deep blue eyes, and white gloves on each paw that is distinguished by a silky coat, deep blue eyes, and contrasting white “gloves” on.

Bombay

Bombay cat by Petwah
Bombay cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Glossy, black coat
  • Identity: Playful and affectionate; lap cats

The Bombay cat is a short-haired cat created by mating sable Burmese and black American Shorthair cats, resulting in a cat with a sleek, panther-like black coat. The term “Bombay” refers to black cats from Asia.

British Shorthair

British Shorthair cat by Petwah
British Shorthair cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Stocky, sturdy, plush coat; blue is very popular but also come in other colors
  • Identity: Calm and quiet; enjoy people

The British Shorthair is a stocky, dense-coated cat with a broad face and thick head profile. The most prevalent color variant is “British Blue,” which has a pure grey-blue coat, orange eyes, and a medium-sized tail.

Burmese

Burmese cat by Petwah
Burmese cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Stocky and well-muscled; sable, also champagne, blue, and platinum
  • Identity: People-oriented, affectionate

The Burmese cat is a domestic cat breed originating in Burma that has been developed in the United States and Britain. The majority of present-day Burmese cats are descended from one female cat known as Wong Mau, who was brought from Burma to America in 1930 and bred with American Siamese.

Burmilla

Burmilla cat by Petwah
Burmilla cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Longhair and Shorthair
  • Trait: Sparkling silver coat, and distinctive “makeup” lining the nose, lips, and eyes
  • Identity: Sociable, playful, and affectionate

The Burmilla is a domestic cat breed that was first developed in the United Kingdom in 1981. It is a mix of the Chinchilla Persian and Burmese cats. In 1984, standards were established, and the breed became eligible for championship in Great Britain during the 1990s.

Chartreux

Chartreux cat by Petwah
Chartreux cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Blue only, well-muscled, medium woolly coat
  • Identity: Quickly become attached to their family

The Chartreux is a French cat breed with several registries throughout the world. The Chartreux has large and muscular features, as well as short, fine-boned limbs and incredibly quick reflexes.

Colorpoint Shorthair

Colorpoint Shorthair cat by Petwah
Colorpoint Shorthair cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Non-traditional point colors
  • Identity: Vocal, affectionate, active; can be insistent

Domestic cats with a unique coloring are called Colorpoint Shorthairs. They may be considered a distinct breed of the cat if accepted at all, or they may be considered a variant of an existing one if accepted at all. These cats have the ability to conform to a wide range of 16 different point colors, in addition to the four basic Siamese

Cornish Rex

Cornish Rex cat by Petwah
Cornish Rex cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Soft, wavy, curly coat; many colors and patterns
  • Identity: Active, racy, affectionate

The Cornish Rex is a domestic cat breed. The Cornish Rex has no hair aside from down. The majority of cat breeds have three distinct types of hair in their coats: the outer fur, or “guard hairs,” which cover the entire body except for the face and paws; a middle layer known as “awn hair” that lies between the

Devon Rex

Devon Rex Cat by Petwah
Devon Rex Cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Naturally curly, wavy coat; many colors and patterns
  • Identity: Pixie look and personality

The Devon Rex is a long-haired, tall-eared cat with intelligent features that appeared in England in the late 1950s. They are recognized for their delicate frames, wavy coats, and enormous ears. This cat breed is predisposed to learn difficult skills but can be challenging to encourage.

Egyptian Mau

Egyptian Mau Cat by Petwah
Egyptian Mau Cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Spotted pattern in silver, bronze, and black smoke
  • Identity: Athletic and active

A small to medium-sized short-haired Egyptian Mau is a cat breed. They are one of the few naturally occurring cat coat color varieties. The Mau’s hues appear only on the tips of its hair follicles. It’s considered a rare breed because of this characteristic.

European Burmese

European Burmese cat by Petwah
European Burmese cat by Petwah
  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Moderate type with gently rounded contours
  • Identity: Highly intelligent, affectionate, and extremely loyal

The Burmese cat is a domestic cat breed derived in Burma that has been traced to the Thai-Burma border and created in the United States and Britain. Most current Burmese cats are descendants of one female cat, Wong Mau, who was imported from Burma to the United States in 1930 and bred with American Siamese.

Exotic

  • Coat: Longhair and Shorthair
  • Trait: Body and head type like a Persian but with a short plush coat; available in the same colors and patterns as the Persian
  • Identity: Sweet, affectionate, quiet

The Exotic Shorthair is a short-haired variant of the Persian that was bred by breeders. The Exotic has many traits in common with the Persian, including temperament and structure, with the exception of a flat nose and face.

Havana Brown

  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Chocolate brown
  • Identity: Busy, affectionate

In the 1950s, a group of cat fanciers in England created the Havana Brown by crossing Siamese cats with ordinary black cats. A Siamese-type Russian Blue was introduced early on by breeders. However, it’s thought that almost none remain in the gene pool due to current genetic testing.

Japanese Bobtail

  • Coat: Longhair and Shorthair
  • Trait: Short pom-pom tail; many colors and patterns available
  • Identity: Active, intelligent, and affectionate

The Japanese Bobtail is a domestic cat breed with a unique bobtail that resembles the tail of a rabbit more than other cats’ tails. The breed is native to Japan, although it may now be found all across the world.

Khao Manee

  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Pure, glistening white cat with luminous, vibrant eye color
  • Identity: Curious and Intelligent

The Khao Manee cat, also known as the Diamond Eye cat, is a Thai breed of cat with an ancient history dating back hundreds of years. They are mentioned in Tamra Maew or Cat Book Poems, which recounts the tale of a white kitten born from a Siamese mother and Bengal father. Khao Manee cats are

Korat

  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Thai “good luck” cat; silver-blue coat and a heart-shaped face; muscular
  • Identity: Energetic and affectionate

The Korat cat is a small- to the medium-size, short-haired breed of domestic cat with a low body fat percentage and a high proportion of lean muscle. Its body is semi-cobby and extremely hefty for its size.

LaPerm

  • Coat: Longhair and Shorthair
  • Trait: Medium-sized, curly-coated; many colors and patterns
  • Identity: Affectionate, gentle, and while very active, enjoy sitting on a comfortable lap

The LaPerm is a breed of cat. The fur of the LaPerm is curly, with the most tightly curled locks on the throat and base of the ears. LaPerms come in a variety of colors and patterns. LaPerms are typically kindhearted individuals.

Lykoi

  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Partial hairlessness, and unique “roan” patterned coat
  • Identity: Fun loving and intelligent

The Lykoi is a natural variation of a house cat. Over the last 20 years, domestic cats have been afflicted with this phenomenon. UC Davis has utilized DNA testing to verify that the felines do not contain the Sphynx/Devon Rex gene. The breed was formed in Vonore, Tennessee, and means “wolves” in Greek.

Maine Coon

  • Coat: Longhair
  • Trait: Large, rugged cat; many colors and patterns are available
  • Identity: Gentle, easy-going yet active

The Maine Coon is a large and popular domesticated cat breed. It is one of the first natural breeds discovered in North America. The breed was developed in the state of Maine, where it became the official state cat.

Manx

  • Coat: Longhair and Shorthair
  • Trait: Tailless cat from the Isle of Man; thick, dense coat; heavy cat; many colors and patterns are available
  • Identity: Quiet and gentle

The Manx cat is a domestic cat breed indigenous to the Isle of Man, whose tail has been naturally shortened.

Norwegian Forest

  • Coat: Longhair
  • Trait: Stocky and hardy with a heavy coat
  • Identity: Active and sweet

The Norwegian Forest cat is a domestic cat developed in Northern Europe. This natural breed is suited to a particularly cold environment, with a long, glossy, water-shedding topcoat and a warm woolly undercoat for insulation.

Ocicat

  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Spotted hybrid; athletic and muscular
  • Identity: Strong, active, and social

The Ocicat is a domestic cat breed that has the disposition of a domesticated animal and markings comparable to those of a wild cat. The breed is named after its resemblance to the ocelot owing to its wild cat-like markings.

Oriental

  • Coat: Longhair and Shorthair
  • Trait: Siamese style cat without the point markings; over 150 colors and patterns are possible
  • Identity: Vocal, affectionate, active; can be insistent

The Oriental Shorthair is a breed of a domesticated cat that has been developed from and closely resembles the Siamese cat. It has the modern Siamese head and builds, but it comes in a wide variety of coat colors and designs.

Persian

  • Coat: Longhair
  • Trait: Stocky body, long full coat, round head with a short nose; broad face; available in a variety of colors and patterns
  • Identity: Sweet, affectionate, quiet

A Persian cat is a long-haired breed of cat with a round face and short muzzle. It is also known as the Persian Longhair in countries that use English as their official language. Around 1620, Persia’s first documented ancestors were brought to Italy from Persia by Italian merchants.

RagaMuffin

  • Coat: Longhair
  • Trait: Large size, large expressive eyes, all colors except pointed
  • Identity: Docile, people-loving, and affectionate

The Ragamuffin is a domestic cat breed. It was once considered to be a variant of the Ragdoll cat, but it was recognized as its own breed in 1994. Ragamuffins are known for their pleasant dispositions and thick rabbit-like fur.

Ragdoll

  • Coat: Longhair
  • Trait: Large cat with color at the points
  • Identity: Docile, placid, and affectionate

The Ragdoll is a cat breed with a silky, long-haired coat and color point eyes. Its physique is big and muscular, and its coat is silky smooth and semi-long hair. Ragdolls were created by American breeder Ann Baker in the 1960s as a result of her interest in cats that didn’t shed much

Russian Blue

  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Short, dense silver-tipped blue coat
  • Identity: Graceful, playful, and quiet

The Russian Blue Cat is a cat breed that has a wide range of colors, including silver and slate grey. For more than a century, the short, dense coat that stands out from the body has been the breed’s trademark.

Scottish Fold

  • Coat: Longhair and Shorthair
  • Trait: Ears fold forward and down; large round eyes; also available with straight ears; many colors and patterns are bred
  • Identity: Affectionate and laid back; sweet expressions

The Scottish Fold is a domestic cat breed with a natural dominant gene mutation that affects cartilage throughout the body, resulting in the ears folding forward and down toward the front of the head, giving the animal an “owl-like” appearance.

Selkirk Rex

  • Coat: Longhair and Shorthair
  • Trait: Naturally curly coat; rounded, stocky body
  • Identity: Quiet

The Selkirk Rex is one of the newest natural breeds, originating from a housecat named Miss DePesto of Noface found in a shelter in Montana. Newman was given the cat by Persian breeder Jeri Newman of Montana, who bred her to PhotoFinish of Deekay, a black Persian.

Siamese

  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Long, slender body with color at the points – chocolate, seal, blue, and lilac; long slender legs; long wedge-shaped head
  • Identity: Vocal, affectionate, active; can be insistent

The Siamese cat is one of the first well-known Asian feline breeds. The original Siamese was one of the most successful cat breeds in Europe and North America during the 19th century when it was derived from the Wichianmat landrace, one of Thailand’s numerous types of cats.

Siberian

  • Coat: Longhair
  • Trait: Russian native breed; rare outside of Europe
  • Identity: Large and powerful

The Siberian is a centuries-old landrace of domestic cats in Russia that has recently been formalized as a recognized breed worldwide since the late 1980s. Siberians range in size from medium to medium-large.

Singapura

  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Warm beige, ticked coat; large expressive eyes; small cat
  • Identity: Sweet, demanding, affectionate, and occasionally bossy

The Singapura is a tiny cat breed characterized by its enormous eyes and ears, ticked coat, and blunt tail. According to legend, the cats were imported from Singapore in the 1970s as part of a “drain cats” shipment from the US that included three other breeds.

Somali

  • Coat: Longhair
  • Trait: Longhaired variety of the Abyssinian and available in the same colors
  • Identity: Busy, active, agenda-driven, and affectionate

The Somali cat is a cross between the Abyssinian and another breed. Because they inherited two copies of the recessive gene for long hair, unlike their Abyssinian cousin, they have a distinctive thick coat.

Sphynx

  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: The “hairless” cat; rare
  • Identity: Active, affectionate

The Sphynx cat is a type of cat that lacks hair. Hairlessness in cats is a naturally occurring genetic defect, and the Sphynx was created through careful breeding of these animals starting in the 1960s.

Tonkinese

  • Coat: Shorthair
  • Trait: Originally developed from Burmese and Siamese; strikes a balance between the two parent breeds
  • Identity: Can be vocal, people-oriented

Tonkinese cats are a domestic cat breed derived from the Siamese and Burmese breeds. The breed has many of its parents’ lively, playful personality traits as well as a variety of color variations in their pointed coat pattern.

Toybob

  • Coat: Longhair and Shorthair
  • Trait: Naturally small, bobtailed cat originating in Russia
  • Identity: Affectionate, active, playful, and agile

The Toybob is a small and compact cat breed with short kinked tails that was first identified in Russia in the late 1980s. Because of a spontaneous variation, it is frequently referred to as “the smallest breed of cat.”

Turkish Angora

  • Coat: Longhair
  • Trait: Originated in Turkey; silky intermediate-length coat; long body; several colors and patterns
  • Identity: Busy, curious

The Turkish Angora is a domesticated cat breed. The Turkish Angora is one of the ancient, native cat breeds that originated in central Anatolia. The description of the breed dates back to the 17th century. The Angora or Ankara cat is another name for this breed.

Turkish Van

  • Coat: Longhair
  • Trait: All white except for color on head and tail
  • Identity: Sweet and interested; enjoy water

The Turkish Van is a domestic cat breed that has evolved in the Lake Van region of Turkey, part of the Armenian Highlands. The hair on the Van is semi-long, but it has two distinct lengths at different times of the year. In the winter, the hair is thick and long.

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