List of cat breeds

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Domestic cats have been diversified by humans into breeds and domestic and wild hybrids. Many such breeds are recognized by various cat registries. Additionally, there are new and experimental breeds, landraces being established as standardized breeds, distinct domestic populations not being actively developed and lapsed (extinct) breeds.

As of 2023, the International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes 75 standardized breeds,[1] the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) recognizes 45,[2] the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) recognizes 50,[3][4] the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) recognizes 45,[5] and the World Cat Federation (WCF) recognizes 69.[6]

Inconsistency in a breed's 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, "Colourpoint 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 sound exotic and bear no relationship to the actual origin of the breeds;[7] 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 random-bred, non-pedigree "moggy" or "household" cats by coat length, ones that do not belong to a particular breed. Some registries such as the Cat Fanciers' Association allow for domestic short hairs and domestic long hairs to be registered for the purpose of outcrossing.[8] They should not be confused with standardized breeds with similar names, such as the British Shorthair and Oriental Longhair.

Breeds

More information Breed, Image ...
Breed Image Location of origin Type Body type Coat type and length Coat pattern
Abyssinian[9] Abyssinian Unspecified, but somewhere in Afro-Asia, likely Ethiopia[10]NaturalSemi-foreign ShortTicked tabby
Aegean Aegean GreeceNaturalModerate Semi-longMulti-color
American Bobtail[11] American Bobtail United States[12]Mutation of shortened tailCobby Semi-longAll
American Curl[13] American Curl United States[12]MutationSemi-foreign Semi-longAll
American Shorthair American Shorthair United States[12]NaturalCobby ShortAll
American Wirehair American Wirehair United States[12]MutationNormal RexAll
Aphrodite Giant Aphrodite Giant CyprusNaturalLean and muscularAllAll
Arabian Mau Arabian Mau Arabian PeninsulaNaturalModerate and muscular ShortAll
Asian Asian United KingdomCrossbreed between the Burmese and Chinchilla Persians Moderate ShortAll without white and without siamese pointing
Asian Semi-longhair Asian Semi-longhair United KingdomCrossbreed between the Burmese and Chinchilla PersiansModerate Semi-longAll without white and without siamese pointing
Australian Mist Australian Mist Australia[14]Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, Burmese, and Australian short-haired cats[14]ModerateShortSpotted or marbled
Balinese Developed in United States;[12]
foundation stock from Thailand		Mutation of the Siamese Semi-foreignLongColorpoint
Bambino United States[14]Crossbreed between the Munchkin and Sphynx[14]DwarfShortBlack + white hairless
Bengal Developed in United States,[14]
but created in Asia		Hybrid of the Abyssinian and Egyptian Mau × leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)Large ShortSpotted, marbled, or rosetted
Birman Birman Developed in France;
foundation stock from Burma (Myanmar)[12]		The original Birman was crossed with the Siamese and the Persian to create the Birman of today.Cobby Semi-longMitted colorpoint
Bombay Bombay United States and Burma (Myanmar)Crossbreed between the Black American Shorthair and Sable BurmeseCobbyShortSolid black
Brazilian Shorthair Brazilian Shorthair BrazilNaturalNormal ShortAll
British Longhair British Semi-longhair United Kingdom (England)[12]Natural CobbySemi-longAll
British Shorthair British Shorthair United Kingdom (England)[12]NaturalCobbyShortAll[15]
Burmese Burmese Burma (Myanmar)[12]NaturalSemi-foreign or semi-cobby ShortSolid and Tortoiseshell[16]
Burmilla Burmilla United Kingdom (England)[12]Crossbreed between the Burmese and the Chinchilla PersianSemi-cobby ShortSolid with Shaded Silver and Silver Tipped patterns
California Spangled California Spangled United States[12]Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, American Shorthair and British ShorthairModerateShortSpotted tabby
Chantilly-Tiffany
(extinct)		 Chantilly-Tiffany United StatesNaturalCobbyLongSolid, classic tabby, spotted tabby and ticked tabby
Chartreux Chartreux France[12]NaturalMuscular; cobbyShortVarying shades of blue
Chausie Chausie United StatesHybrid of the Abyssinian × jungle cat (Felis chaus)NormalShortSolid black, black grizzled tabby and black ticked tabby
Colorpoint Shorthair Colorpoint Shorthair United Kingdom (England)Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, Siamese and short-haired cats Foreign ShortColorpoint
Cornish Rex Cornish Rex Cornwall, England,

United Kingdom

 MutationForeign RexAll
Cymric, Manx Longhair or Long-haired Manx[a] Cymric Isle of Man, United States, and Canada[b][12]Mutation of the Manx (shortened tail)Semi-cobby LongAll
Cyprus Cyprus CyprusNaturalLean and muscularAllAll
Devon Rex Devon Rex Buckfastleigh, Devon, England, United KingdomMutationSemi-foreignRexAll
Donskoy or
Don Sphynx		 Donskoy or Don Sphynx RussiaMutation Semi-foreign HairlessSolid
Dragon Li or
Chinese Li Hua		 Dragon Li ChinaNaturalNormal ShortTicked tabby
Dwelf United StatesCrossbreed between the American Curl, Munchkin and SphynxDwarfHairlessAll
Egyptian Mau Egyptian Mau Egypt[12]NaturalModerate and muscularShortSpotted tabby
European Shorthair European Shorthair Continental Europe[12]NaturalModerateShortAll
Exotic Shorthair Exotic Shorthair United States[12]Crossbreed between the American Shorthair and PersianCobbyShortAll
Foldex[17] Foldex CanadaCrossbreed between the Exotic Shorthair and Scottish FoldCobbyShortAll
German Rex German Rex Germany[12]MutationSemi-foreign RexAll
Havana Brown Havana Brown United Kingdom (England);
foundation stock from Thailand		Crossbreed between the Siamese and black short-haired catsSemi-foreign ShortSolid brown
Highlander Highlander United StatesCrossbreed between the Desert Lynx and Jungle CurlModerateShort/longAll
Himalayan
(Colourpoint Persian)[c]		 Himalayan or Colorpoint Persian United States and United Kingdom[12]Crossbreed between the Persian and SiameseCobbyLongColorpoint
Jianzhou cat Jianzhou cat ChinaNaturalNormal ShortMulti-color
Japanese Bobtail Japanese Bobtail Japan[d][12]Mutation of shortened tailModerateShort/longAll
Javanese or
Colorpoint Longhair[e]		 Javanese or Colorpoint Longhair Developed in United States[12] and Canada;
foundation stock from Southeast Asia		Crossbreed between the Balinese (with some Colorpoint Shorthair), Oriental Longhair and SiameseOrientalLongColorpoint (excluding solid black, blue, chocolate, and lilac)
Kanaani Javanese or Colorpoint Longhair Israel[14]Hybrid of domestic short-haired cats ×  African wildcat (Felis lybica)Semi-foreign ShortBlack, chocolate or cinnamon in spotted or blotched tabby
Karelian Bobtail Karelian Bobtail Ladoga Karelia, Russia[18]Natural, mutation of shortened tail[19]Medium[20] Short/long[21]All Western[f]
Khao Manee Khao Manee Thailand[14]NaturalModerate ShortSolid white
Kinkalow Kinkalow United StatesCrossbreed between the Munchkin and American CurlDwarf ShortAll
Korat Korat Thailand[12]NaturalSemi-foreign or semi-cobby and muscular ShortSolid blue
Korean Bobtail KoreaNatural, mutation of shortened tailModerate Short/longAll
Korn Ja or Konja
[citation needed]		 ThailandNaturalSmall ShortSolid black
Kurilian Bobtail Kurilian Bobtail Longhair Kuril Islands, Russia[14]Natural, mutation of shortened tail[19]Medium[20] Short/long[14][21]All Western[f]
Lambkin United States[12]Crossbreed between the Munchkin and Selkirk RexDwarfRexAll
LaPerm LaPerm United States[12]MutationModerateRexAll
Lykoi Lykoi United StatesMutationModerate Sparse hairedBlack roan
Maine Coon Maine Coon United States[12]Natural, crossbreedLargeSemi-long/longAll Western[f]
Manx Manx Isle of Man[12]Mutation of shortened tailModerateShort/longAll
Mekong Bobtail Mekong Bobtail Developed in Russia;
foundation stock ultimately from Southeast Asia[14]		Mutation of shortened tailModerate ShortColorpoint
Minskin Minskin United States[14]Crossbreed between the Munchkin, Burmese, Devon Rex, and SphynxDwarfHairlessAll
Minuet Minuet United StatesCrossbreed between the Persian and MunchkinDwarfShort/longAll
Munchkin Munchkin United States[12]Mutation of dwarf catDwarfShort/longAll
Nebelung Nebelung United States[14]Natural, mutationForeign Semi-longSolid blue
Neva Masquerade

(colorpoint Siberian)[g]

 Neva Masquerade Russia[14]Crossbreed between the Siberian and a colorpoint cat[23]Cobby[14]Long[14]Colorpoint
Norwegian Forest cat Norwegian Forest Cat Norway[12]NaturalCobby LongAll Western[f]
Ocicat Ocicat United States[12]Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, American Shorthair and SiameseLarge ShortSpotted tabby
Ojos Azules
(extinct)		 Ojos Azules United States[12]Crossbreed Moderate Short All
Oriental Bicolor Oriental Bicolor Developed in United States and United Kingdom, later in Continental Europe;
foundation stock ultimately from Thailand		Color variety of the Oriental Shorthair OrientalShort Bicolor
Oriental Longhair[h] Oriental Longhair Developed in United States and United Kingdom;
foundation stock ultimately from Thailand[12]		Crossbreed between the Oriental Shorthair and long-haired cats OrientalSemi-longAll; if colorpoint is considered to be a separate breed, it is called the Javanese
Oriental Shorthair[h] Oriental Shorthair Developed in United States and United Kingdom;
foundation stock ultimately from Thailand[12]		Crossbreed between the European Shorthair and SiameseOrientalShortAll
Persian

(modern)

 Persian, modern Developed in United States and Europe;
foundation stock from Greater Iran[12]		Mutation of the Traditional PersianCobbyLongAll but colorpoint
Persian

(traditional)

 Traditional Persian Greater Iran[12]Natural, but some crossbreeding with the Turkish AngoraCobbyLongAll but colorpoint
Peterbald Peterbald RussiaCrossbreed between the Donskoy, Oriental Shorthair and Siamese;
before this, it was between the Balinese and Javanese		OrientalHairless, velour, brush, or straight coatAll
Pixie-bob Pixie-bob United States[12]Mutation (falsely claimed to be a hybrid of the domestic cat and the bobcat (Lynx rufus) early on)Medium ShortBlack spotted tabby
Ragamuffin

or Liebling

(obsolete)

 Ragamuffin United StatesCrossbreed between the Ragdoll with limited out-crossing to the Himalayan, the Persian, and other long-haired catsCobbyLongAll
Ragdoll Ragdoll United States[12]Behavioral mutation in a crossbreed, presumed to be between the Persian or Turkish Angora and the Birman or BurmeseCobbyLongColorpoint, mitted, or bicolor
Raas Raas Raas Island, IndonesiaNaturalModerateShortSolid black, blue, chocolate, lilac
Russian Blue Russian Blue Russia[12]NaturalModerate, Oriental ShortSolid blue
Russian White, Russian Black and Russian Tabby Russian Blue 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 Russian Blue ThailandColor variety of the ThaiModerateShortSolid
Savannah Savannah United States[14]Hybrid of the domestic cat x serval (Leptailurus serval)[24]LargeShortSpotted
Scottish Fold Lilac-coated Scottish Fold United Kingdom (Scotland)[12]Mutation of the bones and cartilage of the earsCobbyShort/longAll
Selkirk Rex Selkirk Rex United States in 1988[12]Mutation/crossbreed between the American Shorthair, Persian, Himalayan, Exotic Shorthair and British ShorthairLarge and cobbyShort/long (semi-long to long)All
Serengeti Serengeti United StatesCrossbreed/hybrid between the Bengal and Oriental ShorthairOrientalShortSpotted
Siamese

(modern)

(for traditional, see Thai)

 Siamese Developed in United States and Europe;
foundation stock from Thailand[12]		Mutation of the ThaiOrientalShortColorpoint
Siberian or
Siberian Forest Cat

(for colorpoint, see Neva Masquerade)

 Siberian Siberian Tundra, Russia.NaturalCobby[14]Long[14]All Western[f][22]
Singapura Singapura Developed in United States;
foundation stock from Singapore[12]		Possibly a mutation of a crossbreed (excluding the Munchkin), solving why they are so smallSmallShortTicked tabby
Snowshoe Snowshoe United States[12]Crossbreed between the American Shorthair and SiameseModerateShortMitted colorpoint
Sokoke Sokoke Kenya[14]NaturalModerateShortTicked tabby
Somali Somali United States, CanadaMutationCobbyLongTicked tabby
Sphynx Sphynx Canada, Europe[12]MutationOrientalHairlessAll
Suphalak Suphalak ThailandNaturalModerate ShortSolid reddish-brown
Thai,
Wichien Maat[i]

(Traditional, Classic, Old-style)

 Thai Developed in Europe;[14]
foundation stock from Thailand[12]		NaturalModerateShortColorpoint
Thai Lilac, Thai Blue Point and Thai Lilac Point Thai Lilac ThailandColor varieties of the KoratModerateShortSolid lilac and colorpoint (blue point and lilac point only)
Tonkinese Tonkinese Canada, United States[12]Crossbreed between the Burmese and SiameseOriental ShortColorpoint, mink, or solid
Toybob Thai Lilac RussiaMutationDwarfShortAll
Toyger Toyger United States[14]Crossbreed/hybrid between the Bengal and short-haired catsModerateShortMackerel tabby
Turkish Angora Turkish Angora Turkey[12]NaturalSemi-cobby Semi-longAll
Turkish Van[j] Turkish Van Developed in United Kingdom;
foundation stock from Turkey[14]		NaturalSemi-cobby Semi-longVan pattern
Van cat[j](not recognised) Van cat foundation stock from Lake Van region, Turkey[14]NaturalSvelte LongSolid white
Ukrainian Levkoy Ukrainian Levkoy UkraineCrossbreed between the Donskoy and Scottish Fold Moderate HairlessSolid gray
York Chocolate New York, United StatesNaturalModerate LongSolid chocolate and solid lilac or any of these colours with white
Close

See also

Explanatory notes

  1. [a]
    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 GCCF.
  2. [b]
    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.
  3. [c]
    Some registries, such as CFA and TICA, classify the Himalayan as a colorpoint variety of the Persian. Others classify it as a long-haired sub-breed of the Siamese. WCF has combined the Himalayan, the Colorpoint Shorthair and the Javanese/Colorpoint Longhair into a single breed, the Colourpoint.
  4. [d]
    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.
  5. [e]
    "Colorpoint Longhair" has multiple meanings and "Javanese" has been used for at least one other breed; WCF uses the "Javanese" name for the Oriental Longhair (not colorpointed). 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 CFA and TICA, and some other registries, the Javanese/Colorpoint Longhair has been merged back into the Balinese as a breed division.
  6. [f]
    All Western means all colours, except chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, and fawn, and the colourpoint pattern
  7. [g]
    The Neva Masquerade is classified as a separate breed in several (inter)national registries, such as FIFe.[22] However, other registries classify the Neva Masquerade as a natural colorpoint variety of the Siberian cat.
  8. [h]
    In some registries, including the CFA, the Oriental Shorthair and Oriental Longhair are a single breed, the Oriental, with two divisions (shorthair and longhair).
  9. [i]
    Thai is an established new name since the 1980s for the traditional, rounder-faced, thicker-bodied Siamese.
  10. [j]
    The Turkish Van breed, and especially its "Turkish Vankedisi" nickname, are often confused with the Van cat (Van kedisi in Turkish), a landrace (not breed) of cats native to the Lake Van region of Turkey. The Turkish Van has no known connection to cats from this region, but they are often confused due to the name similarity and incorrect claims sometimes made by breeders.

References

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