List of cat breeds

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The following list of cat breeds includes only domestic cat breeds and domestic and 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 2023, The International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes 73 standardized breeds, the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) recognizes 45, the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) recognizes 50, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) recognizes 45, and the World Cat Federation (WCF) recognizes 69.

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, "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; 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" or "bicolor" 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. They should not be confused with standardized breeds with similar names, such as the British Shorthair and Oriental Longhair.

Breeds[edit | edit source]

Breed Location of origin Type Body type Coat type and length Coat pattern Image
Abyssinian Unspecified, but somewhere in Afro-Asia, likely Ethiopia Natural Semi-foreign Short Ticked tabby
Quiomme's Gustav (Abessinierkater chocolate)
Aegean Greece Natural Moderate Semi-long Multi-color
The Aegean cat can be house-friendly and obedient, taking after the habits of its owners as well as the training it receives throughout its childhood. Pictured is Areta, a juvenile male Aegean cat.
American Bobtail United States Mutation of shortened tail Cobby Semi-long All
American Curl United States Mutation Semi-foreign Semi-long All
American Ringtail United States Mutation Foreign Semi-long All
3rd Generation American Ringtail cat Chunky Monkey
American Shorthair United States Natural Cobby Short All
GC Yatfung's Brown Cobra!!! [AMS] American shorhtair présenté en exposition féline d'Helsinki en 2013.
American Wirehair United States Mutation Normal Rex All
American Wirehair cat sitting in a cat show
Aphrodite Giant Cyprus Natural Lean and muscular All All
Aphrodite's Giant in Larnaca
Arabian Mau Arabian Peninsula Natural Moderate and muscular Short All
Arabian Mau kitten 3 months old. Ginger Tabby
Asian United Kingdom Crossbreed between the Burmese and Chinchilla Persians Moderate Short All without white and without siamese pointing
Asian Cat (Brown Varient)
Asian Semi-longhair United Kingdom Crossbreed between the Burmese and Chinchilla Persians Moderate Semi-long All without white and without siamese pointing
A white male Tiffanie (Asian Semi-longhair) cat presented at TUROK cat show Turku 2008
Australian Mist Australia Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, Burmese, and Australian short-haired cats Moderate Short Spotted or marbled
A Blue-spotted Australian Mist
Balinese Developed in United States;

foundation stock from Thailand

Mutation of the Siamese Semi-foreign Long Colorpoint
Ghislaine of Chrysanthe, Balinese cat, female, colour: chocolate tortoiseshell point. Property of Dizigner cattery
Bambino United States Crossbreed between the Munchkin and Sphynx Dwarf Short Black + white hairless
Bengal Developed in United States,

but created in Asia

Hybrid of the Abyssinian and Egyptian Mau × leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) Large Short Spotted, marbled, or rosetted
Bengal female with rosettes standing
Birman Developed in France;

foundation stock from Burma (Myanmar)

The original Birman was crossed with the Siamese and the Persian to create the Birman of today. Cobby Semi-long Mitted colorpoint
A mature adult Birman cat
Bombay United States and Burma (Myanmar) Crossbreed between the Black American Shorthair and Sable Burmese Cobby Short Solid black
photo de chatte Bombay
Brazilian Shorthair Brazil Natural Normal Short All
Gato Pêlo Curto Brasileiro
British Longhair United Kingdom (England) Natural Cobby Semi-long All
British Longhair Black Silver Shaded
British Shorthair United Kingdom (England) Natural Cobby Short All
British shorthair assis sur fond blanc
Burmese Burma (Myanmar) Natural Semi-foreign or semi-cobby Short Solid and Tortoiseshell
BurMau Vega Star, champagne burmese kitten
Burmilla United Kingdom (England) Crossbreed between the Burmese and the Chinchilla Persian Semi-cobby Short Solid with Shaded Silver and Silver Tipped patterns
A male Burmilla cat in the United Kingdom. His name is Ollie :-) Actually, his official pedigree name is Fandango Oliver Hardy and he comes from a long line of show-winners, but he isn't a show-cat. His official colour is blue.
California Spangled United States Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, American Shorthair and British Shorthair Moderate Short Spotted tabby
A California Spangled Cat
Chantilly-Tiffany United States Natural Cobby Long Solid, classic tabby, spotted tabby and ticked tabby
Photograph of a Tiffany cat called Kumori (曇). Tsukuba, Japan.
Chartreux France Natural Muscular; cobby Short Varying shades of blue
Abbaye du Bleu Royal, jeune femelle chartreux appartenant à E. Lempereur de Guerny
Chausie United States Hybrid of the Abyssinian × jungle cat (Felis chaus) Normal Short Solid black, black grizzled tabby and black ticked tabby
AJ, an F1 male Chausie, photo by Pschemp
Colorpoint Shorthair United Kingdom (England) Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, Siamese and short-haired cats Foreign Short Colorpoint
Tortoiseshell-point Siamese cat.
Cornish Rex Cornwall, England,

United Kingdom

Mutation Foreign Rex All
Cornish rex sur fond blanc
Cymric, Manx Longhair or Long-haired Manx Isle of Man, United States, and Canada Mutation of the Manx (shortened tail) Semi-cobby Long All
Cymric, in a cat show focusing on the Norwegian Forest breed. Source Deimos C'est Combien? (Myrtti) [CYM f 09 53]
Cyprus Cyprus Natural Lean and muscular All All
Photograph of Cyprus Shorthair.
Devon Rex Buckfastleigh, Devon, England, United Kingdom Mutation Semi-foreign Rex All
Devon Rex
Donskoy or

Don Sphynx

Russia Mutation Semi-foreign Hairless Solid
Donskoy (Don Sphynx) sur fond blanc
Dragon Li or

Chinese Li Hua

China Natural Normal Short Ticked tabby
Chinese Li Hua Mau or Dragon Li cat
Dwelf United States Crossbreed between the American Curl, Munchkin and Sphynx Dwarf Hairless All
Egyptian Mau Egypt Natural Moderate and muscular Short Spotted tabby
Mau égyptien sur fond balnc
European Shorthair Continental Europe Natural Moderate Short All
Female European Shorthair in Kirkkonummi Cat show. IC Mäkikatin Pointtilli [EUR a 24] female EX1 CAGCIB NOM
Exotic Shorthair United States Crossbreed between the American Shorthair and Persian Cobby Short All
Nipsu-Nappulan Non-Sto, exotic shorthair femelle présentée en exposition féline à Kempele en 2007. Code EMS Nipsu-Nappulan Non-Stop [EXO g 03] female EX1 CAPIB
Foldex Canada Crossbreed between the Exotic Shorthair and Scottish Fold Cobby Short All
Cachorro de Gato FoldEx
German Rex Germany Mutation Semi-foreign Rex All
German Rex cat
Havana Brown United Kingdom (England);

foundation stock from Thailand

Crossbreed between the Siamese and black short-haired cats Semi-foreign Short Solid brown
Havana Brown sur fond blanc
Highlander United States Crossbreed between the Desert Lynx and Jungle Curl Moderate Short/long All
Highlander cat.
Himalayan or

Colorpoint Persian

United States and United Kingdom Crossbreed between the Persian and Siamese Cobby Long Colorpoint
Grand Champion Lilac Himalayan/Colorpoint Persian
Japanese Bobtail Japan Mutation of shortened tail Moderate Short/long All
Blue eyed Female Japanese Bobtail
Javanese or

Colorpoint Longhair

Developed in United States and Canada;

foundation stock from Southeast Asia

Crossbreed between the Balinese (with some Colorpoint Shorthair), Oriental Longhair and Siamese Oriental Long Colorpoint
Female Adult Blue Lynx Point Javanese Cat with Bobbed Tail
Kanaani Israel Hybrid of short-haired cats ×  African wildcat (Felis lybica) Semi-foreign Short Solid black, chocolate spotted tabby or cinnamon spotted tabby
Karelian Bobtail Ladoga Karelia, Russia Natural, mutation of shortened tail Medium Short/long All, except pointed
Khao Manee Thailand Natural Moderate Short Solid white
female Khao Manee "ChaWee", owner: Chrissy Russell Aysha-Zen Cats, Hampshire, UK
Kinkalow United States Crossbreed between the Munchkin and American Curl Dwarf Short All
Kinkalow
Korat Thailand Natural Semi-foreign or semi-cobby and muscular Short Solid blue
Korat sur fond blanc
Korean Bobtail Korea Natural, mutation of shortened tail Moderate Short/long All
Korn Ja or Konja

[citation needed]

Thailand Natural Small Short Solid black
Kurilian Bobtail or

Kuril Islands Bobtail

Kuril Islands, North Pacific Natural, mutation of shortened tail Semi-cobby Short/long All
Lambkin United States Crossbreed between the Munchkin and Selkirk Rex Dwarf Rex All
LaPerm United States Mutation Moderate Rex All
Lykoi United States Mutation Moderate Sparse haired Black roan
Maine Coon United States Natural, crossbreed Large Semi-long/long All excluding chocolate and colourpoint
Manx Isle of Man Mutation of shortened tail Moderate Short/long All
Mekong Bobtail Developed in Russia;

foundation stock ultimately from Southeast Asia

Mutation of shortened tail Moderate Short Colorpoint
Minskin United States Crossbreed between the Munchkin, Burmese, Devon Rex, and Sphynx Dwarf Hairless All
Minuet United States Crossbreed between the Persian and Munchkin Dwarf Short/long All
Munchkin United States Mutation of dwarf cat Dwarf Short/long All
Nebelung United States Natural, mutation Foreign Semi-long Solid blue
Neva Masquerade (colorpoint Siberian) Russia Crossbreed between the Siberian and a colorpoint cat Cobby Long Colorpoint
Norwegian Forest Cat Norway Natural Cobby Long Chocolate or orange and white bicolor
Ocicat United States Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, American Shorthair and Siamese Large Short Spotted tabby
Ojos Azules

(extinct)

United States Crossbreed Moderate Short All
Oriental Bicolor Developed in United States and United Kingdom, later in Continental Europe;

foundation stock ultimately from Thailand

Color variety of the Oriental Shorthair Oriental Short Bicolor
Oriental Longhair Developed in United States and United Kingdom;

foundation stock ultimately from Thailand

Crossbreed between the Oriental Shorthair and long-haired cats Oriental Semi-long All; if colorpoint is considered to be a separate breed, it is called the Javanese
Oriental Shorthair Developed in United States and United Kingdom;

foundation stock ultimately from Thailand

Crossbreed between the European Shorthair and Siamese Oriental Short All
Persian (modern) Developed in United States and Europe;

foundation stock from Greater Iran

Mutation of the Traditional Persian Cobby Long All but colorpoint
Persian (traditional) Greater Iran Natural, but some crossbreeding with the Turkish Angora Cobby Long All but colorpoint
Peterbald Russia Crossbreed between the Donskoy, Oriental Shorthair and Siamese;

before this, it was between the Balinese and Javanese

Oriental Hairless, velour, brush, or straight coat All
Pixie-bob United States Mutation (falsely claimed to be a hybrid of the domestic cat and the bobcat (Lynx rufus) early on) Medium Short Spotted tabby
Ragamuffin or

Liebling (obsolete)

United States Crossbreed between the Ragdoll with limited out-crossing to the Himalayan, the Persian, and other long-haired cats Cobby Long All
Ragdoll United States Behavioral mutation in a crossbreed, presumed to be between the Persian or Turkish Angora and the Birman or Burmese Cobby Long Colorpoint, mitted, or bicolor
Raas Raas Island, Indonesia Natural Moderate Short Solid blue, solid cinnamon, or cinnamon colorpoint
Russian Blue Russia Natural Moderate, Oriental Short Solid 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, Russia Moderate Short Solid white, solid black and tabby
Sam Sawet Thailand Color variety of the Thai Moderate Short Solid
Savannah United States Hybrid of the domestic cat x serval (Leptailurus serval) Large Short Spotted
Scottish Fold United Kingdom (Scotland) Mutation of the bones and cartilage of the ears Cobby Short/long All
Selkirk Rex United States in 1988 Mutation/crossbreed between the American Shorthair, Persian, Himalayan, Exotic Shorthair and British Shorthair Large and cobby Short/long (longhair, sometimes in early generations, can appear to be semi-long) All
Serengeti United States Crossbreed/hybrid between the Bengal and Oriental Shorthair Oriental Short Spotted
Siamese (modern)

(for traditional, see Thai)

Developed in United States and Europe;

foundation stock from Thailand

Mutation of the Thai Oriental Short Colorpoint
Siberian or

Siberian Forest Cat

(for colorpoint, see Neva Masquerade)

Siberian Tundra, Russia. Natural Cobby Long All; except chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, and fawn
Singapura Developed in United States;

foundation stock from Singapore

Possibly a mutation of a crossbreed (excluding the Munchkin), solving why they are so small Small Short Ticked tabby
Snowshoe United States Crossbreed between the American Shorthair and Siamese Moderate Short Mitted colorpoint
Sokoke Kenya Natural Moderate Short Ticked tabby
Somali United States, Canada Mutation Cobby Long Ticked tabby
Sphynx Canada, Europe Mutation Oriental Hairless All
Suphalak Thailand Natural Moderate Short Solid reddish-brown
Thai or

Traditional, Classic, or Old-style Siamese; Wichien Maat

Developed in Europe;

foundation stock from Thailand

Natural Moderate Short Colorpoint
Thai Lilac, Thai Blue Point and Thai Lilac Point Thailand Color varieties of the Korat Moderate Short Solid lilac and colorpoint (blue point and lilac point only)
Tonkinese Canada, United States Crossbreed between the Burmese and Siamese Oriental Short Colorpoint, mink, or solid
Toybob Russia Mutation Dwarf Short All
Toyger United States Crossbreed/hybrid between the Bengal and short-haired cats Moderate Short Mackerel tabby
Turkish Angora Turkey Natural Semi-cobby Semi-long All
Turkish Van Developed in United Kingdom;

foundation stock from Turkey

Natural Semi-cobby Semi-long Van pattern
Turkish Vankedisi

(white variety of Turkish Van)

Developed in United Kingdom;

foundation stock from Turkey

Natural Svelte Long Solid white
Ukrainian Levkoy Ukraine Crossbreed between the Donskoy and Scottish Fold Moderate Hairless Solid gray
York Chocolate New York, United States Natural Moderate Long Solid chocolate, solid lilac and solid taupe or any of these colors with white