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

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] Natural Semi-foreign Short Ticked tabby
Aegean Aegean Greece Natural Moderate Semi-long Multi-color
American Bobtail[11] American Bobtail United States[12] Mutation of shortened tail Cobby Semi-long All
American Curl[13] American Curl United States[12] Mutation Semi-foreign Semi-long All
American Shorthair American Shorthair United States[12] Natural Cobby Short All
American Wirehair American Wirehair United States[12] Mutation Normal Rex All
Aphrodite Giant Aphrodite Giant Cyprus Natural Lean and muscular All All
Arabian Mau Arabian Mau Arabian Peninsula Natural Moderate and muscular Short All
Asian Asian United Kingdom Crossbreed between the Burmese and Chinchilla Persians Moderate Short All without white and without siamese pointing
Asian Semi-longhair Asian Semi-longhair United Kingdom Crossbreed between the Burmese and Chinchilla Persians Moderate Semi-long All without white and without siamese pointing
Australian Mist Australian Mist Australia[14] Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, Burmese, and Australian short-haired cats[14] Moderate Short Spotted or marbled
Balinese Developed in United States;[12]
foundation stock from Thailand		 Mutation of the Siamese Semi-foreign Long Colorpoint
Bambino United States[14] Crossbreed between the Munchkin and Sphynx[14] Dwarf Short Black + white hairless
Bengal Developed in United States,[14]
but created in Asia		 Hybrid of the Abyssinian and Egyptian Mau × leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) Large Short Spotted, 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-long Mitted colorpoint
Bombay Bombay United States and Burma (Myanmar) Crossbreed between the Black American Shorthair and Sable Burmese Cobby Short Solid black
Brazilian Shorthair Brazilian Shorthair Brazil Natural Normal Short All
British Longhair British Semi-longhair United Kingdom (England)[12] Natural Cobby Semi-long All
British Shorthair British Shorthair United Kingdom (England)[12] Natural Cobby Short All[15]
Burmese Burmese Burma (Myanmar)[12] Natural Semi-foreign or semi-cobby Short Solid and Tortoiseshell[16]
Burmilla Burmilla United Kingdom (England)[12] Crossbreed between the Burmese and the Chinchilla Persian Semi-cobby Short Solid with Shaded Silver and Silver Tipped patterns
California Spangled California Spangled United States[12] Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, American Shorthair and British Shorthair Moderate Short Spotted tabby
Chantilly-Tiffany
(extinct)		 Chantilly-Tiffany United States Natural Cobby Long Solid, classic tabby, spotted tabby and ticked tabby
Chartreux Chartreux France[12] Natural Muscular; cobby Short Varying shades of blue
Chausie Chausie United States Hybrid of the Abyssinian × jungle cat (Felis chaus) Normal Short Solid 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 Short Colorpoint
Cornish Rex Cornish Rex Cornwall, England,

United Kingdom

 Mutation Foreign Rex All
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 Long All
Cyprus Cyprus Cyprus Natural Lean and muscular All All
Devon Rex Devon Rex Buckfastleigh, Devon, England, United Kingdom Mutation Semi-foreign Rex All
Donskoy or
Don Sphynx		 Donskoy or Don Sphynx Russia Mutation Semi-foreign Hairless Solid
Dragon Li or
Chinese Li Hua		 Dragon Li China Natural Normal Short Ticked tabby
Dwelf United States Crossbreed between the American Curl, Munchkin and Sphynx Dwarf Hairless All
Egyptian Mau Egyptian Mau Egypt[12] Natural Moderate and muscular Short Spotted tabby
European Shorthair European Shorthair Continental Europe[12] Natural Moderate Short All
Exotic Shorthair Exotic Shorthair United States[12] Crossbreed between the American Shorthair and Persian Cobby Short All
Foldex[17] Foldex Canada Crossbreed between the Exotic Shorthair and Scottish Fold Cobby Short All
German Rex German Rex Germany[12] Mutation Semi-foreign Rex All
Havana Brown Havana Brown United Kingdom (England);
foundation stock from Thailand		 Crossbreed between the Siamese and black short-haired cats Semi-foreign Short Solid brown
Highlander Highlander United States Crossbreed between the Desert Lynx and Jungle Curl Moderate Short/long All
Himalayan
(Colourpoint Persian)[c]		 Himalayan or Colorpoint Persian United States and United Kingdom[12] Crossbreed between the Persian and Siamese Cobby Long Colorpoint
Jianzhou cat Jianzhou cat China Natural Normal Short Multi-color
Japanese Bobtail Japanese Bobtail Japan[d][12] Mutation of shortened tail Moderate Short/long All
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 Siamese Oriental Long Colorpoint (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 Short Black, 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] Natural Moderate Short Solid white
Kinkalow Kinkalow United States Crossbreed between the Munchkin and American Curl Dwarf Short All
Korat Korat Thailand[12] Natural Semi-foreign or semi-cobby and muscular Short Solid blue
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 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 Rex Dwarf Rex All
LaPerm LaPerm United States[12] Mutation Moderate Rex All
Lykoi Lykoi United States Mutation Moderate Sparse haired Black roan
Maine Coon Maine Coon United States[12] Natural, crossbreed Large Semi-long/long All Western[f]
Manx Manx Isle of Man[12] Mutation of shortened tail Moderate Short/long All
Mekong Bobtail Mekong Bobtail Developed in Russia;
foundation stock ultimately from Southeast Asia[14]		 Mutation of shortened tail Moderate Short Colorpoint
Minskin Minskin United States[14] Crossbreed between the Munchkin, Burmese, Devon Rex, and Sphynx Dwarf Hairless All
Minuet Minuet United States Crossbreed between the Persian and Munchkin Dwarf Short/long All
Munchkin Munchkin United States[12] Mutation of dwarf cat Dwarf Short/long All
Nebelung Nebelung United States[14] Natural, mutation Foreign Semi-long Solid 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] Natural Cobby Long All Western[f]
Ocicat Ocicat United States[12] Crossbreed between the Abyssinian, American Shorthair and Siamese Large Short Spotted 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 Oriental Short 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 Oriental Semi-long All; 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 Siamese Oriental Short All
Persian

(modern)

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

(traditional)

 Traditional Persian Greater Iran[12] Natural, but some crossbreeding with the Turkish Angora Cobby Long All but colorpoint
Peterbald 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 Pixie-bob United States[12] Mutation (falsely claimed to be a hybrid of the domestic cat and the bobcat (Lynx rufus) early on) Medium Short Black spotted tabby
Ragamuffin

or Liebling

(obsolete)

 Ragamuffin United States Crossbreed between the Ragdoll with limited out-crossing to the Himalayan, the Persian, and other long-haired cats Cobby Long All
Ragdoll Ragdoll United States[12] 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 Raas Island, Indonesia Natural Moderate Short Solid black, blue, chocolate, lilac
Russian Blue Russian Blue Russia[12] Natural Moderate, Oriental Short Solid 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, Russia Moderate Short Solid white, solid black and tabby
Sam Sawet Russian Blue Thailand Color variety of the Thai Moderate Short Solid
Savannah Savannah United States[14] Hybrid of the domestic cat x serval (Leptailurus serval)[24] Large Short Spotted
Scottish Fold Lilac-coated Scottish Fold United Kingdom (Scotland)[12] Mutation of the bones and cartilage of the ears Cobby Short/long All
Selkirk Rex Selkirk Rex United States in 1988[12] Mutation/crossbreed between the American Shorthair, Persian, Himalayan, Exotic Shorthair and British Shorthair Large and cobby Short/long (semi-long to long) All
Serengeti Serengeti United States Crossbreed/hybrid between the Bengal and Oriental Shorthair Oriental Short Spotted
Siamese

(modern)

(for traditional, see Thai)

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

(for colorpoint, see Neva Masquerade)

 Siberian Siberian Tundra, Russia. Natural Cobby[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 small Small Short Ticked tabby
Snowshoe Snowshoe United States[12] Crossbreed between the American Shorthair and Siamese Moderate Short Mitted colorpoint
Sokoke Sokoke Kenya[14] Natural Moderate Short Ticked tabby
Somali Somali United States, Canada Mutation Cobby Long Ticked tabby
Sphynx Sphynx Canada, Europe[12] Mutation Oriental Hairless All
Suphalak Suphalak Thailand Natural Moderate Short Solid reddish-brown
Thai,
Wichien Maat[i]

(Traditional, Classic, Old-style)

 Thai Developed in Europe;[14]
foundation stock from Thailand[12]		 Natural Moderate Short Colorpoint
Thai Lilac, Thai Blue Point and Thai Lilac Point Thai Lilac Thailand Color varieties of the Korat Moderate Short Solid lilac and colorpoint (blue point and lilac point only)
Tonkinese Tonkinese Canada, United States[12] Crossbreed between the Burmese and Siamese Oriental Short Colorpoint, mink, or solid
Toybob Thai Lilac Russia Mutation Dwarf Short All
Toyger Toyger United States[14] Crossbreed/hybrid between the Bengal and short-haired cats Moderate Short Mackerel tabby
Turkish Angora Turkish Angora Turkey[12] Natural Semi-cobby Semi-long All
Turkish Van[j] Turkish Van Developed in United Kingdom;
foundation stock from Turkey[14]		 Natural Semi-cobby Semi-long Van pattern
Van cat[j](not recognised) Van cat foundation stock from Lake Van region, Turkey[14] Natural Svelte Long Solid white
Ukrainian Levkoy 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 and solid lilac or any of these colours with white

See also

Explanatory notes

  1. ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ "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. ^ a b c d e All Western means all colours, except chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, and fawn, and the colourpoint pattern
  7. ^ 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. ^ a b 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. ^ Thai is an established new name since the 1980s for the traditional, rounder-faced, thicker-bodied Siamese.
  10. ^ a b 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

  1. ^ "Browse All Breeds". The International Cat Association. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  2. ^ "CFA Breeds". CFA.org. Cat Fanciers' Association. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Breeds". Fédération Internationale Féline. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  4. ^ "FIFe List of Breeds". FIFeWeb.org. Fédération Internationale Féline. Archived from the original on 19 February 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Analysis of Breeds Registered". GCCFCats.org. Governing Council of the Cat Fancy. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  6. ^ "WCF Breeds Recognized". WCF.info. World Cat Federation. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  7. ^ Somerville, Louisa (2007). The Ultimate Guide to Cat Breeds. Edison, New Jersey: Chartwell Books. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-7858-2264-6. There is a lot of confusion surrounding the use of this name in the cat world, although it is always used to describe cats of distinctly Oriental type. It has been adopted simply because of the tradition which has grown up for using the names of countries and islands from south-eastern Asia for other Oriental breeds, such as the Siamese and Balinese.
  8. ^ "Registration Certificate". Catalog.CFA.org. Cat Fanciers' Association. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Abyssinian at a Glance". TICA.org. The International Cat Association. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Abyssinian Profile", Catz Inc.. Retrieved 4 October 2009
  11. ^ "The American Bobtail Breed". 13 April 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as Paragon, Bernard-Marie; Vaissaire, Jean-Pierre; et al. (2005) [2001, 2003]. The Royal Canin Cat Encyclopedia. Paris: Royal Canin / Aniwa Publishing. This is a four-volume work, but all entries are alphabetical by breed, so volume and page number citations are superfluous.
  13. ^ "The American Curl Breed". 28 January 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Baggaley, Ann; Goddard, Jolyon; John, Katie (2014). The Cat Cncyclopedia: The Definitive Visual Guide (1st American ed.). London: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 978-1-4654-1959-0. OCLC 859882932.
  15. ^ "British shorthair breed standard" (PDF). GCCFCats.org. Governing Council of the Cat Fancy.
  16. ^ "Burmese breed introduction". TICA.org. The International Cat Association. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  17. ^ "The Foldex". showcatsonline.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  18. ^ "Карельский бобтейл". zoomir.ru. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Кот и пёс / Kaži da koiru". Республика. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Karelian Bobtail Shorthair". World Cat Federation. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Karelian Bobtail Longhair" (PDF). World Cat Federation. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Breed standards Category 2 – Siberian and Neva Masquerade" (PDF). FIFeWeb.org. Fédération Internationale Féline. 1 January 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  23. ^ World Cat Congress (2017). The Royal Canin Cat Encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Royal Canin. This is a revised one-volume edition, and was only available through RC retailers.
  24. ^ "Savannah Breed". TICA.org. The International Cat Association. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2024.