The Abyssinian is a very active, playful, and curious breed. This slim, shorthaired breed is well-known by its ticked tabby coat pattern, which is a pattern more commonly seen in wild cats. Though the copper tone is the color most associated with the breed, they are also available in blue, fawn, and red (also known as sorrel).

American Bobtail

This new breed has a naturally stubby tail, about half the length of a normal cat tail. Whether the dominant gene controlling the mutation is the same as the Manx, or a new kind of mutation, that has not yet been found. American Bobtails are not a very common breed.

American Curl

The American Curl is known by its bizarre ears, which are curled backwards. This is the result of a natural mutation. There are both longhaired and shorthaired types of coats, and a rainbow of patterns and colors. This relatively new breed has an bouncy, loving nature.

American Shorthair

American Wirehair

The American Wirehair is well-known by its coat, as the result of a natural mutation; every hair is curly and springy, even the whiskers! The original mutation happened in a domestic shorthair, and the American Shorthair has also helped with the development of the breed. Wirehairs may be either shorthaired or longhaired, in a variety of colors and patterns.

Balinese

The Balinese is a semi-longhaired variation of the Siamese. Its coat is medium length, and very silky and fine. Balinese are found in all the colors and patterns associated with the Siamese breed.

Bengal

The Chartreux is an old natural breed which originally comes from France. They are said to have been raised as a companion by the Carthusian monks. Known for its wooly blue coat, dazzling orange eyes, and smiley expression, it is a burly, quiet, pleasant cat.

Chausie

The Chausie is a new breed. It’s a hybrid of domestic cats and the wild jungle cats of Asia. They are a large cat, and generally twice as tall as a domestic cat and 2 times as heavy. Their breeders are determined to keep the look and colors of the jungle cat, with the larger size, tufted ears, and keeping the golden, solid black, or black and silver colors. This breed is still growing and is not very common.

Cornish Rex

The Egyptian Mau looks very similar to the paintings of ancient Egyptian cats. These lively, fit cats have the spotted tabby coat similar to wild cats, but don’t worry they are fully domesticated. They come in colors like bronze spotted, silver spotted, and even black smoke.

Exotic Shorthair

The Havana Brown is well known for its warm chocolate brown color. The British version is said to be a brown Oriental Shorthair, while the American version is a separate breed with a unique body and head type. Though in the beginning they were named for the brown color, a lavender frost color is also permitted in some associations.

Himalayan

The Himalayan has the stubby body type, long hair, and easygoing spirit of the Persian, but has the pointed pattern of the Siamese. Some consider the Himalayans as part of the Persian breed. In Britain, the Himalayan is known as the Colorpoint Longhair.

The Japanese Bobtail has been around Japan for at least 1000 years. It is well-known by its stumpy little tail, which resembles a bunny’s tail. The most seen Japanese Bobtail pattern is the tri-color, but other colors and patterns are also accepted. This breed is known in both shorthaired and semi-longhaired versions.

Javanese

The Javanese is like the Balinese, but it comes in the lynx (tabby) point and tortie point patterns, as well as other point colors such as red and cream. Some consider these cats apart of the Balinese breed.

 

~K~

Korat

The Korat is a tiny cat known for its smooth silvery blue coat, heart-shaped face and prominent beautiful green eyes. Korats came from Thailand, where they are thought of as "good luck" cats. They are lively and loving companions.

 

~L~

LaPerm

The LaPerm is famous for its strongly curled coat ( just look at its name!). This was the result of a natural mutation in a domestic shorthair cat. LaPerms can be either longhair or shorthair, and are available in a variety of colors and patterns.

~M~

Main Coon

The Maine Coon is known for its large size, laid-back attitude, and robust appearance. This native New England breed is well-adapted to that severe climate, with a thick, shaggy coat, bushy tail, and tufted ears and toes. Though the brown tabby pattern is perhaps the most popular, Maine Coons are available in a bunch of colors and patterns.

Manx

The Manx is well-known by a feature it’s missing . . . a tail! This natural mutation is thought to have come from the Isle of Man. Manx cats are stocky and bubbly in appearance, with short backs and long hind legs which makes them look like rabits. The thick coat can be either short or semi-long, though in some consider the longhairs as Cymrics. Manx are available in a bunch of colors and patterns.

Munchkin

The Munchkin has really tiny legs (like the Winnie Dog!), which is the result of a natural mutation. Though this breed is not very well known yet, its growing in popularity. Just look at them! They’re just too cute to pass by!

~N~

Norwegian Forest Cat

By the name, the Norwegian Forest Cat originated in Norway. It is a burly, sturdy cat with thick, heavy fur, and is well-equipped to survive in the harsh Scandinavian winters. They have almond-shaped eyes and sweet expressions. Wegies (as they are called) are found in most colors and patterns.

~O~

Ocicat

The Ocicat looks like a tiny version of the wild spotted cat, but is in fact a domestic breed created by combining the Siamese, Abyssinian, and American Shorthair. Ocis (as they are known) are lively, loving, and very out going. They are available in many patterns, and in several different colors.

Oriental Shorthair

Oriental Shorthairs are like the Siamese in that of the body and personality, but Orientals do not share the characteristic of  the Siamese coloring (colored points on the head, tail, and legs). They are mostly solid or tabby-patterned in a variety of colors.

~P~

 

Persian

Persians could very well be the most commonly recognized cat. It is certainly the most abundant of all the breeds. The Persian is known for its very long, fluffy coat, very stout body type, round head, large eyes, and smooched face. Persians have a sweet and gentle personality, and are one of the most easygoing of all breeds. Beware, these cats require extreme grooming!

Pixie-Bob

The Pixie-Bob looks like a miniature bobcat, with its spotted coat, and stubby tail.  According to some, the Pixie-Bobs are a strange bobcat hybrid. They are a fairly new breed and are not commonly seen.

~R~

Ragdoll

The Ragdoll is known for its quiet and easygoing nature. It is a big, semi-longhaired cat, showing the pointed pattern. They are available in seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac point colors, either with or without white markings on the face and feet. They are slowly growing in popularity, because of their friendly attitude, and because they are just so darn cute!

 Russian Blue

Russian Blues are a natural breed, which is thought to have started in northern Russia. It is well-known for its short, plush, silvery blue coat, brilliant green eyes, and body type with long legs and body. This is a nimble, lively breed with a quiet nature.

~S~

Scottish Fold

The Scottish Fold is known by its unique ears, which are folded forward and down, and also by its big rounded eyes, which gives it a cutie-pie look. They are laid-back and loving cats. Scottish Folds are found in both longhair and shorthair varieties, and in a great number of colors and patterns.

 

Selkirk Rex

The Selkirk Rex was developed from a natural mutation that came in from the U.S. Like the other Rex cats, like the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex. This breed has a naturally curly coat. Unlike the other Rex breeds, the Selkirk has a rounded, stocky body type and comes in both longhaired and shorthaired varieties. This breed is growing in popularity, but is still very uncommon.

Siamese

The Siamese is famous by its dazzling blue eyes and its colored points. This provides a striking contrast to its light-colored body. They are very vocal, insistent, energetic, and friendly. Today's Siamese display a very long, slender body type, and a long, wedge-shaped head with huge ears. Some breeders work with a more moderate, rounded type of Siamese, known as the Traditional (Applehead) Siamese.

Siberian (One on the Left is Lenny!)

The Siberian is my favorite breed of all time! They are rare to come by, but if you do I strongly suggest you take him before someone else does. They first originated in the Soviet Union, and are one of the oldest recognized breeds. Siberians have a dog-like nature, and will follow you around the house, and have an extremely loving, and caring attitude. They have a strong sturdy body, with their hind legs slightly longer then their front, and have round paws with tuffs of fur in between their toes. They are fully grown after five years of age and can range from 10-17lbs for females, and 17-25lbs for males (yes I know they’re huge!). They are very muscular and are excellent jumpers. They can come in a wide range of colors and patterns, and have long fur, and a very tight undercoat.

 

 Snowshoe

The Snowshoe is a cross between an American Shorthair and a Siamese, making a powerful, pointed cat with white markings on the face, chest and feet. They are not well known, but are growing in popularity.

Sokoke

The Sokoke is a shorthair cat coming from feral cats found on a farm in Kenya. They have a very odd and appealing blotched tabby pattern. This breed is still being worked on in Europe but is still unpopular in the U.S.

~T~

Tonkinese

The Tonkinese was produced by crossing the Burmese and Siamese breeds. This playful, people-friendly breed has a medium body type and a smooth, velvety coat, and has a unique pattern known as "mink". It’s pointed like the Siamese, but the body is colored in a shade matching with the point color, and the eyes are aqua in shade. "Tonks" are available in a range of colors midway between their Burmese and Siamese breeds.

Turkish Angora

The Turkish Angora is a semi-longhaired cat that originally came from Turkey. They are long-bodied and elegant with a fine, silky-smooth coat. Though solid white is the most well-known color, they do come in a variety of additional colors and patterns. They can also come with two different colored eyes!

Turkish Van

The Turkish Van is a semi-longhaired cat famous for its odd pattern: the cat is white except for a colored tail and color on the head. (This is called the "Van" pattern, and is seen in other breeds as well.) Turkish Vans are said to love water, and enjoy an occasional dip in the pool.

 

 

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