Cat Breeds and Types

Cats come in a remarkable variety of sizes, shapes, coat lengths, colors, patterns, and personalities. Some are established pedigreed breeds with carefully maintained standards, while others are better described by their coat color, pattern, ancestry, or general appearance.

This guide brings together recognized cat breeds, rare and emerging breeds, familiar cat colors and patterns, and helpful ways to explore cats by personality and lifestyle.

Whether you are researching a particular breed, trying to identify a cat, considering adoption, or searching for a feline companion suited to your household, Cats Central can help you begin your search.

Recognized Cat Breeds

Explore our alphabetical collection of cat breed guides. Each guide covers the breed’s history, appearance, temperament, grooming, exercise, health, nutrition, kitten care, senior care, adoption, rescue, and finding responsible breeders.

Abyssinian Cats

Active, intelligent, and athletic cats recognized by their warm, finely ticked coats.

American Bobtail Cats

Friendly, adaptable companions with naturally shortened tails and confident personalities.

American Curl Cats

Playful, people-oriented cats distinguished by ears that curve gently backward.

American Shorthair Cats

Sturdy, easygoing family cats with a long history as capable North American working cats.

American Wirehair Cats

A rare American breed with a springy, crimped coat and relaxed temperament.

Australian Mist Cats

Affectionate, family-friendly cats developed in Australia with softly spotted or marbled coats.

Balinese Cats

Elegant, affectionate, and vocal longhaired relatives of the Siamese.

Bengal Cats

Energetic, intelligent cats admired for their dramatic spotted or marbled coats.

Birman Cats

Gentle blue-eyed companions with silky pointed coats and distinctive white paws.

Bombay Cats

Affectionate black cats with glossy coats, copper-colored eyes, and outgoing personalities.

British Longhair Cats

Plush, substantial cats combining the British type with a soft, full-length coat.

British Shorthair Cats

Calm, sturdy cats known for round faces, dense coats, and composed personalities.

Burmese Cats

Social, affectionate cats that form close bonds and enjoy being involved in family life.

Burmilla Cats

Playful, sociable cats with sparkling silver coats and beautifully outlined eyes.

Chartreux Cats

Quiet, muscular blue cats known for copper eyes, gentle manners, and loyal companionship.

Chausie Cats

Large, athletic cats with an exotic appearance and demanding need for activity and enrichment.

Cherubim Cats

Affectionate pointed, mink, sepia, or solid cats developed from established Ragdoll-related lines.

Colorpoint Shorthair Cats

Slender, vocal Siamese-type cats developed in a wider selection of pointed colors.

Cornish Rex Cats

Energetic, heat-seeking cats with slender bodies and exceptionally soft, wavy coats.

Cymric Cats

Longhaired relatives of the Manx with rounded bodies, powerful hindquarters, and variable tails.

Devon Rex Cats

Mischievous, affectionate cats with oversized ears, expressive faces, and soft curls.

Donskoy Cats

Intelligent, social cats whose distinctive hairlessness results from a dominant genetic trait.

Egyptian Mau Cats

Graceful, athletic cats celebrated for their naturally spotted coats and remarkable speed.

European Burmese Cats

Elegant, people-oriented cats related to the Burmese but developed with a distinct breed standard.

Exotic Shorthair Cats

Sweet, quiet Persian-type cats with dense plush coats that require less daily grooming.

Havana Brown Cats

Rare, affectionate cats distinguished by rich chocolate-brown coats and vivid green eyes.

Highlander Cats

Playful, muscular cats known for curled ears, expressive features, and short or full-length coats.

Himalayan Cats

Blue-eyed, color-pointed cats combining Persian coat and body type with Siamese-style markings.

Japanese Bobtail Cats

Lively, people-oriented cats recognized by their distinctive pom-pom-like tails.

Khao Manee Cats

Rare white cats from Thailand, admired for brilliant blue, gold, green, or odd-colored eyes.

Korat Cats

Ancient silver-blue cats from Thailand traditionally associated with good fortune.

Kurilian Bobtail Cats

Strong, intelligent natural cats with individually shaped bobtails and confident temperaments.

LaPerm Cats

Affectionate, inquisitive cats whose coats range from soft waves to loose ringlets.

Lykoi Cats

Unusual cats with sparse roan coats and an appearance that inspired their werewolf nickname.

Maine Coon Cats

Large, sociable cats known as gentle giants for their friendly and adaptable personalities.

Manx Cats

Rounded island cats with powerful hindquarters and tails ranging from absent to full length.

Minuet Cats

Sweet-natured cats combining Persian-type features with either short or standard-length legs.

Munchkin Cats

Playful cats known for shortened legs caused by a naturally occurring genetic mutation.

Nebelung Cats

Graceful, longhaired blue cats known for quiet devotion and shimmering silver-tipped coats.

Norwegian Forest Cats

Large natural cats equipped with weather-resistant coats and strong climbing abilities.

Ocicat Cats

Wild-looking spotted cats created entirely from domestic ancestry and known for sociability.

Oriental Longhair Cats

Elegant, expressive cats combining the Oriental body type with a flowing long coat.

Oriental Shorthair Cats

Intelligent, talkative cats available in an extraordinary range of colors and patterns.

Persian Cats

Luxurious longhaired cats valued for gentle personalities and calm companionship.

Peterbald Cats

Slender, social cats whose coats may be hairless, velvety, brush-like, or fully coated.

Pixiebob Cats

Large domestic cats with bobbed tails, spotted coats, and friendly, dog-like personalities.

RagaMuffin Cats

Large, gentle cats known for plush coats, sweet expressions, and affectionate temperaments.

Ragdoll Cats

Blue-eyed, semi-longhaired cats famous for relaxed personalities and devoted companionship.

Russian Blue Cats

Quiet, intelligent cats with dense silver-blue coats and striking green eyes.

Savannah Cats

Tall, athletic hybrid cats requiring knowledgeable homes, substantial enrichment, and secure environments.

Scottish Fold Cats

Round-faced cats known for folded ears, with important inherited health considerations.

Scottish Straight Cats

Round, sweet-faced relatives of the Scottish Fold whose ears remain upright.

Selkirk Rex Cats

Easygoing, substantial cats with distinctive curly coats in longhaired and shorthaired varieties.

Siamese Cats

Intelligent, vocal, blue-eyed cats that form exceptionally close relationships with their people.

Siberian Cats

Powerful natural forest cats with luxurious coats and warm, sociable personalities.

Singapura Cats

Small, lively cats with large eyes, sepia-toned coats, and curious personalities.

Snowshoe Cats

Friendly pointed cats recognized by white feet, blue eyes, and distinctive facial markings.

Somali Cats

Lively, longhaired relatives of the Abyssinian with fox-like tails and ticked coats.

Sphynx Cats

Affectionate, heat-seeking cats requiring regular skin, ear, nail, and temperature care.

Tennessee Rex Cats

Rare curly-coated cats distinguished by soft satin-like fur with a natural shimmering effect.

Thai Cats

Traditional-style pointed cats preserving the rounded appearance of the early Siamese.

Tonkinese Cats

Outgoing, affectionate cats combining qualities associated with Siamese and Burmese ancestry.

Toyger Cats

Athletic domestic cats selectively developed to display bold tiger-like striping.

Turkish Angora Cats

Graceful, intelligent natural cats with silky coats and a long history in Turkey.

Turkish Van Cats

Strong, active cats known for distinctive van-pattern markings and fascination with water.

Rare and Emerging Cat Breeds

Some breeds remain extremely uncommon in North America or are still progressing through recognition programs. Availability, registry status, and breed development may change over time.

Serengeti Cats

Long-legged spotted cats developed to suggest the appearance of wild servals without recent serval ancestry.

Toybob Cats

Small cats with naturally bobbed tails, compact bodies, and affectionate temperaments.

Cat Colors, Patterns and Types

Many familiar cat descriptions are not breeds. Terms such as tabby, calico, tuxedo, orange, black, and tortoiseshell describe coat colors or patterns that can appear in pedigreed cats and mixed-ancestry household cats.

Black Cats

Explore black-coated cats, common breeds, coat genetics, care, personality myths, and adoption.

White Cats

Learn about white coats, eye colors, sun protection, hearing considerations, and white cat breeds.

Gray Cats

Discover gray and blue-coated cats, including solid, tabby, longhaired, and shorthaired varieties.

Orange Tabby Cats

Meet orange, ginger, marmalade, and red tabbies and learn how their distinctive coloring develops.

Tabby Cats

Explore classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked, patched, brown, gray, silver, and orange tabbies.

Calico Cats

Learn about cats with striking white, orange, and black coats and their fascinating color genetics.

Dilute Calico Cats

Softly colored calicos display cream, blue-gray, and white rather than intense orange and black.

Tortoiseshell Cats

Discover the intermingled black and orange coats commonly known as tortoiseshell or tortie.

Dilute Tortoiseshell Cats

These softly colored torties combine blue-gray and cream in beautifully blended patterns.

Torbie Cats

Torbie cats combine tortoiseshell coloring with visible tabby striping.

Tuxedo Cats

Black-and-white cats with formal-looking markings appear in many breeds and mixed-ancestry cats.

Bicolor Cats

Bicolor cats combine white spotting with black, blue, orange, brown, or other coat colors.

Colorpoint Cats

Pointed cats have darker ears, faces, legs, and tails contrasting with lighter bodies.

Lynx Point Cats

Lynx points combine tabby striping with the temperature-sensitive colorpoint pattern.

Flame Point Cats

Flame or red-point cats display warm reddish-orange markings on a pale body.

Longhaired Cats

Compare longhaired breeds and learn about coat care, shedding, grooming, and mat prevention.

Shorthaired Cats

Explore the diversity and care requirements of pedigreed and mixed-ancestry shorthaired cats.

Curly-Coated Cats

Meet the Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, Selkirk Rex, LaPerm, Tennessee Rex, and other curly cats.

Hairless Cats

Learn about Sphynx, Donskoy, Peterbald, and the specialized care hairless cats require.

Bobtail Cats

Compare breeds and household cats born with shortened, curled, kinked, or pom-pom-like tails.

Polydactyl Cats

Polydactyl cats are born with extra toes and occur in pedigreed and mixed-ancestry populations.

Blue-Eyed Cats

Discover breeds, coat patterns, and genetic traits commonly associated with blue eyes.

Odd-Eyed Cats

Odd-eyed cats have two differently colored eyes, a striking form of heterochromia.

Cats by Personality and Lifestyle

Breed can provide useful clues, but every cat is an individual. Age, socialization, health, environment, and life experience can strongly influence behavior.

Natural and Native Cat Breeds

Natural and landrace breeds developed over generations within particular regions, often adapting to local climates and environments before being formally recognized by cat registries.

Choosing the Right Cat

Appearance may first attract you to a breed or type, but temperament, activity level, grooming requirements, health considerations, cost, and household compatibility are much more important when choosing a lifelong companion.

Before choosing a cat, consider:

Expected adult size
Activity and enrichment needs
Grooming and shedding
Comfort with children and other animals
Need for companionship
Common inherited health concerns
Routine and emergency veterinary costs
Kitten, adult, and senior care requirements
Whether adoption or a responsible breeder is the right route for you

Read Our Complete Guide to Choosing a Cat

Find a Cat Through Adoption or a Responsible Breeder

Cats of almost every appearance and personality can be found through shelters and rescue organizations. Breed-specific rescues may also assist pedigreed and breed-type cats in need of new homes.

People choosing a kitten from a breeder should research the breed carefully, ask about health testing, review contracts, meet the breeder, and avoid anyone unwilling to answer reasonable questions about their cats and breeding practices.

Continue Exploring Cats Central

Breed Recognition References

Last reviewed: August 2026