Protectpet have compiled a list of known cat breeds purely for your information, gathered from a large number of sources. Although not extensive, we hope this will give you some basic information on cat breeds. There is extensive information on cat breeds on the internet for all breeds.
Like all cats, many may suffer from some form of hereditary and or congenital disease in their lifetime. this does not mean to say that your cat will get a hereditary or congenital disease durng it's lifetime. In our view we believe that the inter breeding and cross breeding of any cat species for personal or professional consumption or for making money is wrong.
We do not endorse the breeding of these so called ¨purebreed¨ cats as this type of genetic mutation of cats and cat breeding is causing more and more hereditary and congenital diseases in cats.
The Abyssinian cat is believed to be one of the oldest cat breeds in existence, with mummified remains being found in ancient Egyptian tombs. The Abyssinian cat was bred in the United Kingdom and it was believed that British soldiers deployed in North Africa brought Abyssinian kittens/cats back to the UK in the 19th Century. According to some genetic markers the cats from Asia and Europe were used to create the breed.
Abyssinian cats may have issues with serious periodontal disease associated with gingivitis and some kidney disorders and blindness, caused by a hereditary retinal degeneration.
Aegean cats have a history that dates back thousands of years. They are believed to have originated in the Cycladic Islands. DNA evidence links the Aegean cat breed to the Angora and other Turkish cat breeds.
The American Bobtail Cat was first bred in the 1960's and is not a common breed of cat. The tail has a ¨bobbed¨section about half way down as a result of a genetic mutation or modification. It is suspected that the bobtail cat was a mix between a domestic tabby cat and a wild bobcat. like many breeds of cats, these genetically modified cats have been bred for competition as a new and improved strain of mutation.
American Bobtail Cats are susceptible to hip displacia, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Periodontal disease and polycystic kidney disease.
The American Short haired Bobtail cats are similar to the American Bobtail Cats but were genetically mutated to have short hair as part of the breeding and interbreeding process.
American Bobtail Short haired Cats are susceptible to hip displacia, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Periodontal disease and polysystic kidney disease.
This cat is named for it's unusual ears which curl back from the face towards the centre of the back of the skull. Originating from California in 1981. They are born with straight earswhich begin to curl within 3-5 days.
Generally a healthy breed, but the ears require constant, gentle cleaning to prevent infection. They suffer from lower limb and tail displacia and kidney disease later in life.
The American Curl Longhair is one of Americas native breeds, and is the longhaired version of the Amrican Curl breed with similar characteristics. They can be susceptible to obesity, arthritis and diabetes, and periodontal diseases.
The American Shorthair cat was originally used to keep rats and vermin away from food stores. and was probably transported to the Americas in the 1620's. Like many cats that have a flattened nose, does make the breed susceptible to ocular and respiratory issues, mouth and gum diseases and have a risk of obesity. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been recorded in this breed.
The American Wire haired cat was apparently a natural genetic mutation and was first discovered in the 1960's in New York. Like most cats, they do suffer from a variety of issues regarding hereditary and genetics, and we will be providing a link to all of those diseases in another section.
The Arabian Mau is a natural cat breed cat, which means they developed without the need for human intervention. It is thought that the Arabian Mau Cat originated in Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates. The breed is especially popular as a domestic cat in the Middle East.
Also known as the Tiffanie or Tiffany cat, the Asian semi-longhair cat is a fairly new breed that was developed in the 1980s. The first Asian semi-longhair cats were the result of an unintentional breeding between the Burmese and the chinchilla Persian.
Originally known as the spotted mist cat, was obviously developed in Australia as the name suggests. a mixed breed between Burmese cats, Abyssinian cats, and domestic short haired cats. As a mixed breed they are relatively healthy but due to poor breeding practices, some breeds will develop certain hereditary and genetical issues.
A Balinese cat is similar to a Siamese cat with long hair. Probably related to their Siamese relatives in Thailand. As a spontaneous mutation, although there does appear to be some information about them being specifically bred for the long haired version. This breed is commonly known as the ¨purebred¨ long haired Siamese but purists didn't agree and breeding circles (presumably for the money) state them as Balinese.
As a pure breed and developed from a small gene pool, they are expected to have few Hereditary or Congenital issues, but like most ¨pure breed¨cats they can suffer from dilated cardiomyopathy, progressive retinal atrophy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and strabismus which gives the cat a cross eyed look.
The Bambino is a cross of a Sphynx Cat and a Munchkin Cat This breed hasn't been around long and was first created in 2005. The Banbino Cat has a short stature and hairless bodies which give them an elf-life appearance.
A Bengal cat is a domesticated cat created from hybrids of domestic cats such as the spotted Egyptian Mau and the Asian Leopard cat. A major concern is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease where the muscle becomes abnormally thick and makes it difficult to circulate the blood. Progressive retinal atrophy is also known to affect the breed.
Due to a specific gene, Bengal cats may have a long haired version in the litter of Bengal cats. Like everything nowadays, you can test your Bengal cats to see which ones are more likely to produce a long haired version. Often called cashmere cats for their long soft fur. Often considered a mistake by breeders, these casmere cats are a natural breed and therefore should really be classified as a pure breed. Pedigree cats seem to be those that have medically modified genetics to suit owner and breeder preferences! (we would consider all genetically modified and bred cats as mongrels as they have a far higher likelihood of suffering from a genetic or hereditary disease.
Called the scared cat of Burma (Myanmar) and has one of the lowest levels of genetic diversity of most of the cats studied for genetic diversity. Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy strikes again, along with peritonitis.
A short haired cat which was developed by cross breeding the Sable Burmese and black American Shorthair cats which gave the Bombay cat a panther type sleek black coat. Sinus problems and gingivitis are things to look for a the breed has a shortened muzzle so breathing issues are possible.
Not surprisingly a longhaired version of the British shorthair cat and have an increased risk of inherited polycystic kidney disease as it is derived from breeding with the traditional Persian cats. Potential health problems include polycystic kidney disease, cardiomyopathy, hyperthyroidism, and cystitis.
A short haired version of the above. and a pedigree of the traditional British domestic cat. It is one of the oldest breeds of cat known, dating back to the first century AD.
A domestic cat originating from Burma (Myanmar) and those in Europe and America have an increased risk of Diabetes Mellitus, flat chested kitten syndrome, hypokalaemia and feline orofacial pain syndrome.
A domestic cat originating from the United Kingdom in the early 80's. They have a sparkling silver coat and distinctive make up lining the nose, lips and eyes.
The first Burmilla kittens were born by accident when a Persian chinchilla mated with a lilac Burmese. Usual kidney, periodontal and gingivitis problems may occur.
the California Spangled also known as the House Leopard was bred to raise awareness about leopard poaching. The first California Spangled cats were created by crossing several breeds including Abyssinian, Siamese, American shorthair, British shorthair, and Angora cats.
The Chantilly - Tiffany Cat is often thought of as a semi-longhaired Burmese, This is not the case. The breed was started with a pair of chocolate-coloured cats of unknown origin. Today, outcrossing to several other breeds is permitted, but outcrossing to the Burmese is strictly prohibited.
Quite a rare cat from France. first mention of this cat was in a poem back in 1558 relating to a small cats death.
A domestic breed of cat, which was interbred with non domestic species of jungle cats and is categorised as a non domestic hybrid breed. it is surmised that this breed, the first hybrids, may have been born in Egypt several thousand years ago.
The breed was developed using Siamese as the foundation and then crossing it with a red American Shorthair to bring in a new color to produce a Siamese of a different color—non-traditional
The Cornish rex cat is a domestic cat with no hair except for down. Prone to hair loss, and may even go bald on certain parts of the body over time. The curl in the hair is caused by a different nutation.
Considered a long haired variety of the manx cat, other than the length of the hair there is little difference. The bloodline is thought to have come from the isle of man, although Canada is claiming that they developed the long haired version.
The breed originated in 1960 in Devon, England as the suspected result of a spontaneous mutation. This breed is all about the ears. Its gigantic, bat-like ears set low on the sides of its pixie-looking face.
The donskoy cat is often referred to as the Don Sphynx, Russian Donskoy, Don Hairless and Russian Hairless. The Donskoy Cat breed were first discovered in 1987 in Russia.
“Mau” is the Egyptian word for cat. The Egyptian Mau is the only naturally spotted domestic cat, meaning the unique markings were not created through human manipulation. The Egyptian Mau is a generally healthy feline, with the only predispositions for disease including urolithiasis and pyruvate kinase deficiency.
The exotic shorthair is a relatively new breed, developed in the 1950s by crossing Persian cats with American shorthairs as well as some Russian Blue and Burmese cats. The Exotic is nicknamed “the lazy man’s Persian” because he shares the Persian’s sweet face, but his short, plush coat is easier to care for.
The German Rex has curious roots. Back in the 1940s, a cat with wavy hair was discovered in the basement of a hospital in East Germany, and eventually her litters became the basis for the German Rex breed.
the German Rex cat is much rarer to come across than the genetically similar Cornish Rex.
the Havana Brown Cat might be one of the rarest cats in the world. Not only is the Havana Brown Cat one of the rarest cats when it comes to the colour of their coat, but they’re also the only cat with brown whiskers! Some people say that the Havana Cat got its name as its fur resembles the wrapping of a fine Cuban cigar.
the Desert Lynx was bred to the Jungle Curl and voila! We now have the Highland Lynx. The Highland Lynx has curled ears, natural short tail, and some are polydactyl. The goal to the breeding was to have that wild look with a domestic, fun-loving personality.
A mix between the Persian and the Siamese, the Himalayan is a long-haired beauty. The Himalayan is a relatively new breed, with early attempts at crossing Persian cats and Siamese cats beginning in the 1950s.
The Japanese Bobtail Cat have short bunny like tails that were a naturally occurring phenomenon that was set through selective breeding. The breed has been known in Japan for at least 1000 years. The short Bunny tails can be flexible or ridged.
The unique feature of the Japanese Bobtail Longhair Cat is its bobbed tail that consists of a variety of kinks and curves creating a pom-pom effect-like a fingerprint, no two tails are ever the same. The Bobtail comes in both long and short coat lengths and wide variety of colours and patterns. The traditional colour is the tri-coloured mi-ke (mee-kay) that combines rich red, deep black and pristine white in a package that is considered good luck.
The Jungle Curl is a hybrid breed, a combination of a domestic cat — typically the American Curl and the African Jungle Cat. Some breeders may want to introduce different markings or traits and will mix in other breeds like the Highland Lynx, Hemingway Curl, Chausie, or Jungle Bob to achieve this.
Khao Mnee translates into English as "White Gem." It's said that the Khao Manee was kept native to Thailand until 1999. The pure white Khao Manee cat is also known as the Khaomanee or the Diamond Eye Cat because of its trademark jewel-like eyes, which may be blue, green, gold or “odd” (two eyes of different colours; for instance, one green and one blue).
The Korat Cat is a living good-luck charm in his home country of Thailand, where he is also known as the Si-Sawat cat (which means greyish-blue). Its name comes from the Korat province in the northern part of the country.
The Korn Ja cat has its origins in Thailand where it is considered a lucky charm. Very little is known about the true origins of the Korn Ja cat.
The Kurilian Bobtail can chart their history back to the Kuril Islands, which are situated between Japan and Russia.
The LaPerm breed of cats curly coat is the result of a natural genetic mutation, not at all unusual in the world of cats. The LaPerm may be born bald or short haired, with his wavy or ringleted coat coming in at maturity.
As with the Cornish Rex and Devon Rex Cats in the UK, the LaPerm Cat was born as a mutant to a farm cat, in Oregon, USA in the early 1980s
The mutation that gives the Lykoi its distinct coat and appearance has been a randomly occurring phenomena in feral cats for years. With an undeniably odd werewolf-like appearance, and thin coats, Lykois are recommended as indoor cats.
the origin of the Main coon is not really known, One thing is for sure--the Maine Coon is not the result of a mating between a cat and a raccoon! As the name does suggest however is that the Main Coon breed hails from Maine.
Polydactyl cats, also known as Hemingway cats, got their name from the Greek origin word, polydactyly which means many or extra toes. Polydactyl Maine Coons are born with extra toes, due to inherited genetic anomaly.
The Manx has existed for many centuries on the Isle of Man, located in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland. Although the breed is known for their lack of tail, not all Manx are tailless. Some have normal-length tails (known as “longies”) while others have nubs or stumps (called “stumpies”). The tailless Manx are called “rumpies” and a rumpy with a rise of bone at the end of her spine is called a “riser”
This breed is naturally found throughout many parts of Southeast Asia, Iraq, Iran, Mongolia, Burma, Laos, China, and Vietnam.
The Minuet (formerly known as the Napoleon) is a hybrid mix of Persian and Munchkin cat breeds. The Minuite Cat breed generally have few health problems but because of their Persian lineage, Minuets are prone to polycystic kidney disease.
The Munchkin Cat or Sausage cat as it is some time referred to due to its short legs is a relatively new breed. The short legs of the Munchkin cat come from a dominant genetic mutation. This gene is refereed to as the Lethal Gene because if two Munchkin cats mate and both pass on the dominant gene, the kittens will not survive.
Longhaired Munchkins require regular bi-weekly grooming to keep their coat matt-free. The short haired version only requires a weekly brushing to keep its coat silky and smooth.
The Napoleon is also known as the Minuet Cat. (See Minuet Cat)
The Nebelung is a new and relatively rare breed, and they are close relatives of the short-haired Russian Blue. The Nebelung Cats name means 'creature of the mist' in German, as a result of their beautiful, shiny silver-blue coat.
The Norwegian Forest Cat is native to Norway, This natural breed is adapted to a very cold climate, with a top coat of long, glossy, water-shedding hair and a woolly undercoat for insulation.
The ocicat was created to do exactly what his name implies: resemble an ocelot! The ocelot is a medium-sized spotted wild cat that reaches 40–50 cm at the shoulders and weighs between 8 and 15.5 kg
In Spanish, Ojos Azules translates to "blue eyes." One look at the Ojos Azules cat, and you'll see exactly how this beautiful breed got its name. What is known, is that the breed is exceptionally rare since the registry was discontinued and breeding was suspended due to the risk of cranial deformities.
The elegant Oriental Longhair closely resembles its relative the Siamese but has a much more recent history. In the mid 20th century, breeders wanted to develop Siamese-like cats with a greater variety of coat colours and patterns. They began crossing Siamese with other breeds like Russian Blues, British Shorthairs and Abyssinians.
The Oriental Shorthair highly resembles the head shape and body type of the Siamese Cat. They have the same triangular head shape and large, almond-shaped eyes. The ears are large and pointed and the body is elongated, slender and muscular. the Oriental Shorthair's fur comes in every possible colour and pattern you can think of.
Persians are probably best known for their squished faces, but Persians cats have not always had flat muzzles. In fact, they didn't develop this unique trait until a genetic mutation occurred in some red tabby Persians in the 1950s
Similar in size and appearance to the sphynx or Oriental shorthair, the Peterbald cat is a newer breed of Russian origin with a unique coat and devoted family disposition
A Pixie-Bob may look wild in appearance, and that may be because they’re thought to have descended from a barn cat and a bobcat. Pixie-Bobs as a breed are relatively healthy and not prone to many illnesses. The breed is frequently outcrossed, which helps prevent potential health problems that arise from inbreeding
Pixiebobs come in longhair and shorthair versions. They have a thick double coat with a woolly texture that stands off from the body giving it a padded feel when petted. The Pixiebob Longhair Cat is the only breed that accepts polydactyls (cats with extra toes).
Raas cats originate from an Indonesian island in East Java – Raas Island. Originally bred as a hunting cat, the Raas cat can make a wonderful domestic pet for the right owner.
The Ragamuffin Cat is related to the Ragdoll breed of Cat below. Persians, Himalayans and domestic longhaired cats, where introduced to increase the size and to bring about other changes in appearance that would differentiate the Ragamuffin from the Ragdoll.
The Ragdoll The breed was developed in Riverside California. The Ragdoll breed comes in six different colours: red, seal, chocolate and the corresponding 'dilutes', including blue, lilac, and cream. This also includes the lynx and Tortoiseshell variations in all colours and the three patterns. Ragdoll kittens are born white; they have good colour at 8–10 weeks and full colour and coat at 3–4 years.
Russian blues have a long lifespan of 15–20 years. These cats are generally healthy animals, thanks in large part to the fact that they are a naturally occurring breed. We call them blue, but Russian Blue cats actually come in a range of bluish grays, anywhere from a light silver to a deep slate.
This breed is relatively a new breed and was developed in Thailand. However, they have not been recognized by any major cat registries so far, nor do have any specific breed standards.
The Savannah Cat is the largest of the domestic Cat breeds, as it is a cross between a domestic Siamese Cat and a serval, which is a large eared wild African Cat.
The Scottish Fold is a breed domestic Cat with a natural gene mutation affecting cartridge which causes the ears to fold, bending forward and down towards the from of the head which is often described as an owl like appearance. They were originally called loped ears or lops after the loped eared rabbit.
the Scottish breed group consists of the Longhair Scottish Fold, The short hair Scottish Fold, as well as the long hair Scottish straight and the Short hair Scottish Straight. For a total of 4 breeds.
See above
The Selkirk Rex Cat originated in Montana, and was breed to a black Persian male. This breed has been developed into two coat lengths, long and short, similar to a British short hair Cat. There are no known health problems as they are a robust breed.
See above
The Serrade Petit is a distinct type of feline that is generally a new natural breed. The origin of this cat began in France.
Siamese Cats are best known for their sleek, distinctive appearance. Although many Siamese cats are a silver-Grey colour with blue eyes, these pretty kitties' coats can also be orange, brown, cream, and even blue or lilac-coloured, among other coat variations. Siamese cats are one of the oldest breeds of domesticated cats in the world, and their coat colouring is determined by their genetics and the temperature of their surroundings.
Siberian Cats are sometimes referred to as Siberian Forest Cats or Moscow Longhairs. Siberians are generally healthy, but one problem that has been seen in the breed is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
The Singapura is the smallest breed of cat, noted for its large eyes and ears, ticked coat, and blunt tail. The Singapura has three distinguishing characteristics its small size of 4 to 8 pounds, big eyes and ears for its size, and its sepia-toned coat.
The snowshoe breed beautifully combines traits from both the Siamese and American shorthair. Two of the snowshoe's most distinctive features are her coat and colour markings, both of which reflect her Siamese ancestors. Born all-white, snowshoe kittens develop their dark features in the first few years of life.
The Somali cat is often described as a long-haired African cat, The longhaired variety of the Abyssinia Cat. It is believed that they originated from Somalia
The Sphynx is not the first instance of hairlessness in domestic cats. This natural, spontaneous mutation has been seen in various locations around the world for more than a century, and probably much longer. The sphynx cat is a strong and hardy breed with few health problems.
The Suphalak Cat bred has been know to get confused with the Burmese sable or Havanna Brown, the Suphalak is a beautiful brown cat whose origin dates to the 18th century. The Suphalak’s coat appears reddish-brown in the sunshine, but it has a chocolate appearance in lower light.
As the name suggests the Thai Cat was imported from Thailand. The Thai Cat or Wichien Maat meaning Diamond Gold is a newly renamed but old Cat breed related to but different from the Siamese Cat.
The Tonkinese is a domestic cat and was developed by cross breeding Siamese and Burmese cats. They originated from Thailand
The Toyger is a breed of domestic cat, and is the result of breeding domestic tabbies to make them look like a toy Tiger. It was breed in order to care about the conservation of tigers in the wild.
The Turkish Angoras are one of the most ancient breeds of Cat, it is a descendent of the African wildcat and were among the first cats to be domesticated. The Turkish Angora mutations by British and American Cat breeders where used to develop the Persian Cat.
This naturally occurring breed of domestic cat originated in the mountains of Turkey, In the Armenian highlands. The breed is rare and recognised by the van pattern where the colour is restricted to the head and the tail and the rest of the cat is white. As a naturally occurring breed, and extremely old, Turkish Van is generally free from genetic and breed specific health issues.
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