List of cat breeds

The whole concept of cat 'breeds' is a relatively new one. Two hundred years ago a cat was a cat was a cat - today there are almost a hundred varieties of specially bred show cats, with a list of set physical characteristics for each breed. Only three percent of owned cats are entitled to be called 'purebreds', and an even smaller percentage of those are suitable for showing - the rest may look like a persian cat or a Himalayan cat, but if they don't have a breeding certificate that shows their pedigree back to at least four generations, then they are just a 'fluffy longhaired housecat'. Cat breeders are always trying to extend the list of recognised breeds, and 'refining' the standards for the already established breeds to create ever-tighter competition.

Household cats are grouped into a smaller number of types according to basic physical appearance:

• domestic longhaired cat
• domestic shorthaired cat
• Oriental cat (not a specific breed, but any cat with an elongated slender build, almond-shaped eyes, large ears and very short sleek fur)

Some of the basic feline coloration patterns also have names:

• Maltese cat
• Tabby cat
• Tortoiseshell cat (also known as 'calico cat' or 'torty')
• Tuxedo cat or 'Jellicle cat'

The cats on this list are the currently recognised breeds as used for breeding and showing:

Table of contents

1 Longhaired and semi-longhaired cats 2 Shorthaired cats 3 Breeds with unusual physical features 4 External links

Longhaired and semi-longhaired cats

• American bobtail cat
• Angora cat (or British Angora cat)
• Asian Semi-longhair cat (or Tiffanie)
• Balinese cat
• Birman cat
• Chantilly/Tiffany cat
• Cherubim cat (or Honeybear cat)
• Colourpoint Longhair cat
• Exotic cat
• Himalayan cat
• Javanese cat
• Maine Coon cat
• Nebelung cat
• Norwegian Forest cat
• Oriental Longhair cat
• Persian cat
• Ragdoll cat (and Ragamuffin cat)
• Siberian cat
• Somali cat
• Sterling cat
• Turkish Van cat
• Turkish Angora cat
• York Chocolate cat

Shorthaired cats

• Abyssinian cat
• American Keuda cat
• American Shorthair cat
• Asian Shorthair cat
• Australian Mist cat (or Spotted Mist cat)
• Bombay cat
• British Shorthair cat
• Brazilian Shorthair cat
• Burmese cat
• Burmilla cat
• Chartreux cat
• Colorpoint Shorthair cat
• Devon Rex cat
• Egyptian Mau cat
• European Burmese cat
• European Shorthair cat
• Exotic Shorthair cat
• Havana Brown cat
• Javanese cat
• Korat cat
• Malayan cat
• Oriental Shorthair cat
• Russian Blue cat
• Siamese cat (and Traditional or Applehead Siamese)
• Tonkinese cat

Breeds with unusual physical features

• American Bobtail cat
• American Curl cat
• American Wirehair cat
• Bengal cat
• California Spangled cat
• Chaucie cat
• Cornish Rex
• Cymric cat
• Devon Rex
• Havana Brown cat
• Japanese Bobtail cat
• LaPerm cat
• Manx cat
• Munchkin cat
• Ocicat
• Ojos Azules cat
• Pixie-bob cat
• Selkirk Rex cat
• Singapura cat
• Sphynx cat
• Scottish Fold cat
• Snowshoe cat
• Sokoke cat

See also: List of dog breeds

External links

• Is my cat a purebred?
• Cat breeds FAQ
• The Cat Fanciers' Association recognized breeds
• Khao Manee - One of the most ancient breeds of cat in the world