List of cat breeds

The following list of cat breeds includes only domestic cat breeds and domestic × wild hybrids. The list includes established breeds recognized by various cat registries, new and experimental breeds, landraces being established as standardized breeds, distinct domestic populations not being actively developed and lapsed (extinct) breeds.

As of 2019, The International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes 71 standardized breeds,[1] the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) recognizes 44,[2] and the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) recognizes 43.[3]

Inconsistency in breed classification and naming among registries means that an individual animal may be considered different breeds by different registries (though not necessarily eligible for registry in them all, depending on its exact ancestry). For example, TICA's Himalayan is considered a colorpoint variety of the Persian by the CFA, while the Javanese (or Colorpoint Longhair) is a color variation of the Balinese in both the TICA and the CFA; both breeds are merged (along with the Colorpoint Shorthair) into a single "mega-breed", the Colourpoint, by the World Cat Federation (WCF), who have repurposed the name "Javanese" for the Oriental Longhair. Also, "Colo[u]rpoint Longhair" refers to different breeds in other registries. There are many examples of nomenclatural overlap and differences of this sort. Furthermore, many geographical and cultural names for cat breeds are fanciful selections made by Western breeders to be exotic sounding and bear no relationship to the actual origin of the breeds;[4] the Balinese, Javanese, and Himalayan are all examples of this trend.

The domestic short-haired and domestic long-haired cat types are not breeds, but terms used (with various spellings) in the cat fancy to describe "mongrel" cats by coat length, ones that do not belong to a particular breed. Some registries permit them to be pedigreed and they have been used as foundation stock in the establishment of some breeds. They should not be confused with standardized breeds with similar names, such as the British Shorthair and Oriental Longhair.

Breeds

Breed Location Origin Body type Coat length Pattern Images
Abyssinian Asia[5][lower-alpha 1]NaturalSemi-foreign ShortTicked tabby
Aegean GreeceNaturalModerate Short/longAll bicolor and calico patterns
American Bobtail United States[5]MutationCobby Short/longAll
American Curl United States[5]MutationSemi-foreign Short/longAll
American Ringtail United States[5]MutationForeign Short/longAll
American Shorthair United States[5]NaturalCobby ShortAll
American Wirehair United States[5]MutationNormal RexAll
Aphrodite Giant CyprusNaturalLean and muscularAllAll
Arabian Mau Arabian PeninsulaNaturalModerate and muscular ShortAll
Asian cat Developed in the United Kingdom (foundation stock from Asia)Natural Moderate ShortEvenly solid
Asian Semi-longhair United KingdomCrossbreed between the Burmese and long-haired catsCobby Semi-longEvenly solid
Australian Mist AustraliaCrossbreed between the Abyssinian and BurmeseModerateShortSpotted or marbled
Balinese Developed in the United States[5] (foundation stock from Thailand)Variety of the Siamese Semi-foreignLongColorpoint
Bambino United StatesCrossbreed between the Munchkin and SphynxDwarfHairless and downyAll
Bengal Developed in the United States, but created in AsiaHybrid of the Abyssinian and Egyptian Mau × leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)Large ShortSpotted, marbled, or rosetted
Birman Developed in France (foundation stock from Burma (Myanmar))[5]The original Birman was crossed with the Siamese and the Persian to create the Birman of today.Cobby Semi-longMitted colorpoint
Bombay United States and Burma (Myanmar)Crossbreed between the Black American Shorthair and Sable BurmeseCobbyShortSolid black
Brazilian Shorthair BrazilNaturalNormal ShortAll
British Longhair United Kingdom (England)[5]Natural CobbyMediumAll
British Shorthair United Kingdom (England)[5]NaturalCobbyShortAll
Burmese Burma (Myanmar)[5]NaturalSemi-foreign or semi-cobby ShortSolid and tortoiseshell
Burmilla United Kingdom (England)[5]Crossbreed between the Brown Tortie Burmese and the Chinchilla PersianSemi-cobby ShortSolid with Shaded Silver and Silver Tipped patterns
California Spangled United States[5]Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, American Shorthair and British ShorthairModerateShortSpotted tabby
Chantilly-Tiffany United StatesNaturalCobbyLongSolid, classic tabby, spotted tabby and ticked tabby
Chartreux France[5]NaturalMuscular but cobbyShortSolid blue
Chausie United StatesHybrid of the Abyssinian × jungle cat (Felis chaus)NormalShortSolid black, black grizzled tabby and black ticked tabby
Colorpoint Shorthair United Kingdom (England)Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, Siamese and short-haired cats Foreign ShortColorpoint
Cornish Rex United Kingdom (England)[5]MutationForeign RexAll
Cymric, Manx Longhair or Long-haired Manx[lower-alpha 2] United Kingdom (Isle of Man), United States, and Canada [lower-alpha 3][5]Mutation of the ManxSemi-cobby LongAll
Cyprus CyprusNaturalLean and muscularAllAll
Devon Rex United Kingdom (England)[5]MutationSemi-foreignRexAll
Donskoy or
Don Sphynx
RussiaMutation Semi-foreign HairlessSolid
Dragon Li or
Chinese Li Hua
ChinaNaturalNormal ShortTicked tabby
Dwelf Crossbreed between the American Curl, Munchkin and SphinxDwarfHairlessAll
Egyptian Mau Egypt[5]NaturalModerate and muscularShortSpotted tabby
European Shorthair Continental Europe[5]NaturalModerateShortAll
Exotic Shorthair United StatesCrossbreed between the American Shorthair and PersianCobbyShortAll
Foldex[6] CanadaCrossbreed between the Exotic Shorthair and Scottish FoldCobbyShortAll
German Rex Germany[5]MutationSemi-foreign RexAll
Havana Brown United Kingdom (England) (foundation stock from Thailand)Crossbreed between the Siamese and black short-haired catsSemi-foreign ShortSolid brown
Highlander United StatesCrossbreed between the Desert Lynx and Jungle CurlModerateShort/longAll
Himalayan or
Colorpoint Persian[lower-alpha 4]
United States and United Kingdom[5]Crossbreed between the Persian and SiameseCobbyLongColorpoint
Japanese Bobtail Japan[lower-alpha 5][5]Natural, mutationModerateShort/longAll
Javanese or
Colorpoint Longhair[lower-alpha 6]
Developed in the United States[5] and Canada (foundation stock from Southeast Asia)Crossbreed between the Balinese with some Colorpoint Shorthair, Oriental Longhair and SiameseOrientalLongColorpoint
Kanaani GermanyHybrid of short-haired cats x the African wildcat (Felis lybica)Semi-foreign ShortSolid black, chocolate spotted tabby or cinnamon spotted tabby
Khao Manee ThailandNaturalModerate ShortSolid white
Kinkalow United StatesCrossbreed between the Munchkin and American CurlDwarf ShortAll
Korat Thailand[5]NaturalMuscular Semi-cobbySolid blue
Korean Bobtail KoreaNatural, mutationModerate Short/longColorpoint
Korn Ja ThailandNaturalSmall ShortSolid black
Kurilian Bobtail or
Kuril Islands Bobtail
Eastern Russia and JapanNatural, mutationSemi-cobbyShort/longAll
Lambkin United States[5]Crossbreed between the Munchkin and Selkirk RexDwarfRexAll
LaPerm United States[5]MutationModerateRexAll
Lykoi United StatesMutationModerate Partly hairlessSolid black roan
Maine Coon United States[5]NaturalLargeLongAll
Manx United Kingdom (Isle of Man)[5]Natural, mutationModerateShort/longAll
Mekong Bobtail RussiaMutationModerate ShortColorpoint
Minskin United StatesCrossbreed between the Munchkin and SphynxDwarfShort/hairlessAll
Napoleon United StatesCrossbreed between the Persian and Munchkin Dwarf Short/longAll
Munchkin United States[5]MutationDwarfShort/longAll
Nebelung United StatesForeign Semi-longSolid blue
Norwegian Forest Cat Norway[5]NaturalCobby LongTraditional, sepia, or mink
Ocicat United States[5]Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, American Shorthair and SiameseLarge ShortSpotted tabby
Ojos Azules United States[5]Crossbreed Moderate Short All
Oregon Rex United StatesMutationRex
Oriental Bicolor Developed in the United States and United Kingdom, later in Continental Europe (foundation stock ultimately from Thailand)Variety of the Oriental Shorthair OrientalShort Bicolor
Oriental Longhair[lower-alpha 7] or
Foreign Longhair;
Mandarin;
British Angora (obsolete)
Developed in the United States and United Kingdom (foundation stock ultimately from Thailand)[5]Variety of the Oriental Shorthair OrientalSemi-longAll; if colorpoint, this breed is called the Javanese
Oriental Shorthair[lower-alpha 7] Developed in the United States and United Kingdom (foundation stock ultimately from Thailand)[5]Crossbreed between the European Shorthair and SiameseOrientalShortAll; if colorpoint, this breed is called the Colorpoint Shorthair
Persian (modern) Developed in the United States and Europe (foundation stock from Greater Iran)[5]Mutation from the traditional PersianCobbyLongAll but colorpoint
Persian (traditional) Greater Iran[5]Natural, but some crossbreeding with the Turkish AngoraCobbyLongAll but colorpoint
Peterbald RussiaCrossbreed between the Donskoy, Oriental Shorthair and Siamese; before this, it was between the Balinese and JavaneseOrientalHairless/flocked, velour, brush, or straight coatAll
Pixie-bob United States[5]Mutation (falsely claimed to be a bobcat hybrid early on)Medium ShortSpotted tabby
Ragamuffin or
Liebling (obsolete)
United StatesCrossbreed between the Ragdoll with limited out-crossing to the Himalayan, the Persian, and other long-haired catsCobbyLongAll
Ragdoll United States[5]Behavioral mutation in a crossbreed, presumed to be between the Persian or Turkish Angora and the Birman or BurmeseCobbyLongColorpoint, mitted, or bicolor
Raas IndonesiaNaturalShort
Russian Blue Russia[5]NaturalModerate, Oriental ShortSolid blue
Russian White, Russian Black and Russian Tabby Developed in Australia (foundation stock from Russia)Crossbreeds between the Russian Blue and short-haired cats from Siberia, RussiaModerate ShortSolid white, solid black and tabby
Sam Sawet ThailandVariety of the ThaiModerateShortSolid
Savannah United StatesHybrid of the domestic cat × serval (Leptailurus serval)[7]LargeShortSpotted
Scottish Fold United Kingdom (Scotland)[5]Mutation of the bones and cartilage of the earsCobbyShort/longAll
Selkirk Rex United States[5]Mutation/crossbreed between the American Shorthair, Persian, Himalayan, Exotic Shorthair and British ShorthairModerateRex (short/long)All
Serengeti United StatesCrossbreed/hybrid between the Bengal and Oriental ShorthairOrientalShortSpotted
Serrade Petit FranceNaturalSemi-cobbyShortSolid tan, solid orange and solid white
mini-cat Serrade petit.jpg
Siamese (modern)
(for traditional, see Thai below)
Developed in the United States and Europe (foundation stock from Thailand)[5]Mutation of the ThaiOrientalShortColorpoint
Siberian or
Siberian Forest Cat;
Neva Masquerade (colorpoint variety)
Russia, Ukraine[5]NaturalSemi-cobbySemi-longAll
Singapura Developed in the United States (foundation stock from Singapore)[5]Crossbreed between the Burmese, Abyssinian, and a variety of the Australian MistSmallShortTicked tabby
Snowshoe United States[5]Crossbreed between the American Shorthair and SiameseModerateShortMitted colorpoint
Sokoke KenyaNaturalModerateShortTicked tabby
Somali United States, CanadaMutationCobbyLongTicked tabby
Sphynx Canada, Europe[5]MutationOrientalHairlessAll
Suphalak ThailandNaturalModerate ShortSolid reddish-brown
Thai or
Traditional, Classic, or Old-style Siamese;
Wichien Maat[lower-alpha 8]
Thailand[5]NaturalModerateShortColorpoint
Thai Lilac, Thai Blue Point and Thai Lilac Point ThailandVarieties of the KoratModerate and muscularShortSolid lilac and colorpoint (blue point and lilac point only)
Tonkinese Canada, United States[5]Crossbreed between the Burmese and SiameseOriental, moderate ShortColorpoint, mink, or solid
Toyger United StatesCrossbreed/hybrid between the Bengal and short-haired catsModerateShortMackerel tabby
Turkish Angora Turkey[5]NaturalSemi-cobby Semi-longAll
Turkish Van Developed in the United Kingdom (England) (foundation stock from Turkey)NaturalSemi-cobby Semi-longVan pattern
Turkish Vankedisi TurkeyNaturalSvelte LongSolid white
Ukrainian Levkoy UkraineCrossbreed between the Donskoy and Scottish Fold Moderate HairlessSolid gray
Wila Krungthep ThailandMutationOrientalShortSolid brown
York Chocolate New YorkNaturalModerate LongSolid chocolate, solid lilac and solid taupe or any of these colors with white

See also

  • Felidae – the entire cat family
  • Felinae – the subfamily of all smaller cat species
  • Lists of domestic animal breeds
  • Wildcat – the ancestor of the domestic cat

Notes and references

  1. It is possible that the Abyssinian originated in Ethiopia (formerly known as Abyssinia) but there is no record of agouti cats in Ethiopia. It is likely that they originated from somewhere in Asia, but there is no solid record.
  2. The Cymric is often classed as a long-haired variety of the Manx rather than a separate breed, e.g., as the "Semi-longhair Manx Variant" in the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF).
  3. There may be some dispute to the exact origins of the Cymric. The specific dominant autosomal gene (M) that causes the short tail of the Cymric was found in the cats living on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. However, the breed itself was developed by a Canadian breeder named Blair Wright and an American breeder named Leslie Falteisek in the 1960s from the Isle of Man population.
  4. Some registries, such as the CFA and the TICA, classify the Himalayan as a colorpoint variety of the Persian. Others classify it as a long-haired sub-breed of the Siamese. The WCF has combined the Himalayan, the Colorpoint Shorthair and the Javanese/Colorpoint Longhair into a single breed, the Colourpoint.
  5. Due to artifacts and prints dating from as early as the 11th century found in many Eastern countries, there is some likelihood these cats may have originated in China, then were brought to Japan. However, the first known importation of Japanese Bobtails was from Japan in the 1960s.
  6. "Colorpoint Longhair" has multiple meanings and "Javanese" has been used for at least one other breed; the WCF uses the "Javanese" name for the Oriental Longhair (not colorpointed). The WCF has also merged the colorpointed Javanese/Colorpoint Longhair, the Himalayan and the Colorpoint Shorthair of other registries into a single breed, the Colourpoint. In the CFA, the TICA and some other registries, the Javanese/Colorpoint Longhair has been merged back into the Balinese as a division.
  7. In some registries, including the CFA, the Oriental Shorthair and Oriental Longhair are a single breed, the Oriental, with two divisions (shorthair and longhair).
  8. Thai is a recently established new name for the original, rounder-faced, thicker-bodied Siamese.
  1. "The International Cat Association - TICA Breed Standards". Archived from the original on 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  2. Cat Fanciers' Association - CFA Breed Standards
  3. Fédération InternationFéline - FIFe Breed Standards
  4. Somerville, Louisa (2007). The Ultimate Guide to Cat Breeds. Edison, New Jersey: Chartwell Books. p. 44. ISBN 9780785822646. There is a lot of confusion surrounding the use of this name in the cat world, although it is always used to describe cats of distinctly Oriental type. It has been adopted simply because of the tradition which has grown up for using the names of countries and islands from south-eastern Asia for other Oriental breeds, such as the Siamese and Balinese.
  5. "The Royal Canin Cat Encyclopedia", Aniwa Publishing: Paris, 2005.
  6. "The Foldex". showcatsonline.com. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
  7. http://f3savannahcat.com/
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