Some cat breeds are the American shorthair cat, the Bengal cat, the Cornish Rex cat and the Manx cat.
Unlike dogs, which humans have selectively bred for centuries, cats have only been domesticated since 10-20 thousand years ago.
The friendly cat evolved from a wildcat drawn to human settlements where it would help with rodent control.
Today, more than seventy cat breeds are recognised by various associations worldwide according to their physical form and behavioural traits.
To identify a cat breed, one may look at coat colouring and length, head size and shape, eyesight or hearing ability, and personality traits.
The cat breeds are much more diverse than the dog breed.
So, to understand everything about cat breeding, you need to know all cat breeds. Also, it will be helpful to learn how to identify cat breeds by their features.
This article is specially prepared for you by TopPetShop.co.uk so that you can get a detailed description of cat breeds by seeing cat breed pictures.
Table of Contents
- Cat Breeds How To Identify
- Top Cat Breeds List
- Cat Personality Traits
- Cat Breed Size And Shape
- Cat Coat Color
- Cat EyeSight Or Hearing Ability
- Conclusion
Cat Breeds How To Identify
One may look at coat colouring and length, head size and shape, eyesight or hearing ability, and personality traits to identify cat breeds.
Feline experts generally agree upon breed standards for cat breeds within associations like The International Cat Association (TICA), the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), and the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe).
TICA classifies cats by a letter code for the breed and an optional number
For example, the Bengal cat is classified as “SBT”. SB represents the breed group (Savannah), while T is its class within that group.
The classification of breeds at this level may not always agree with other associations or registries.
For reference purposes, below are some of the associations which classify cats:
The American Association of Cat Enthusiasts (AACE) classifies breeds more simply as either “true” or “domestic” for purebred cats.
For example, the Bengal cat is classified as “domestic medium hair.”
The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) and The International Cat Association (TICA) list many cat breeds.
Categories include household pets, championship show cats, and the new “natural” grouping.
CFA and TICA breed classification do not always agree.
Top Cat Breeds List
The following is a list of the ten best cat breeds
Felis Catus
The Felis Catus, also known as the housecat or domestic cat, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, and carnivorous mammal.
Cats are valued by humans mainly for companionship and their ability to hunt vermin. There are more than seventy breeds of cats.
Ragdoll Cat
The Ragdoll cat is a large breed of domestic cat with blue eyes that varies in coat colour from white to silver or mink.
Originating in the United States, this gentle and relaxed breed was developed by Ann Baker in California in the 1960s through selective breeding using existing cats.
Ragamuffin Cat
The Ragamuffin cat is a type of semi-longhaired cat which originated in California, United States.
The name was coined by Kathi Baker, who was the breeder of the breed.
The Ragamuffin is famous for its sweet and devoted temperament, along with its beautiful coat. Its appearance resembles that of a large Maine Coon or Persian.
Scottish Fold Cat
The Scottish Fold is a cat breed with a natural dominant-gene mutation that causes the ears to fold forward and down.
The folded ear gives this cat breed its nicknames: “Lop-eared”, “Hap-eared”, or “Fold”. When unfolded, it resembles an ordinary housecat.
This is one of the most popular cat breeds in the UK and US, though illegal to own in Australia.
Cymric Cat
The Cymric is a breed of domestic cat, though it is also known as the Welsh or Blue Bobtail.
This breed has the longest fur on its hindquarters and tail, giving it an almost lynx-like appearance.
The coat colour varies significantly from silvery blue to black with white spots and scars. There are also Cymric longhair cats, but they have never become famous.
Cymrics were brought to the United Kingdom from Wales in the 1960s and 1970s. The breed was first recognised the GCCF (the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy) in 1978; any North American registry does not recognise it.
The breed’s long fur gives the impression of an enormous cat when it is actually about the same size as average domestic cats (i.e., they are not especially big).
It does, however, have unique characteristics.
The tail usually has a kink at its end that can be seen while resting or moving slowly but will typically be straight when the cat runs.
British Shorthair Cat
The British Shorthair (also called British Longhair and Brit) is a breed of domestic cat that comes in various colours, but it is most commonly seen in silver with black “tuxedo” points and sometimes a white muzzle, chest or paws.
The breed has a calm temperament and is well-suited to living with families, children, other pets and birds or rodents if kept indoors. The ideal weight of this cat is approximately 6-10 lb (2.7–4.5 kg) for males, 7-12 lb (3–5 kg) for females.
The coat of a British Shorthair can be short and smooth or long and thick with a coarse texture; the tail can be full, plumed or stubbed.
The American version of this cat was explicitly bred to catch mice in barns, stables and other outbuildings often frequented by cats.
This breed does not require as much grooming and maintenance as longhaired breeds.
Abyssinian Cat
The Abyssinian is a breed of a domestic cat named after the country from which it originated, and its characteristic ticked or agouti coat pattern, resembling the fur of an Abyssinian or Asian wildcat.
The most common colour in the US for registered cats is ruddy-brown with yellow or gold tinges. Also called the “ticked tabby”, this is one of the oldest natural breeds in existence and has been traced back to the fourth century by a British naturalist named Harrison Weir.
The Abyssinian is a medium-sized cat with minimal coat, which is famed for its intelligence and devotion.
Birman Cat
The Birman breed of cat was developed due to crossbreeding between the Siamese with other long-haired breeds such as the Persian and then selectively breeding only those that would produce a colour pattern of “Usual” or “Traditional”.
The breed was developed and is most commonly seen in seal point, blue point, red-cream point, chocolate point and lilac point.
The Birman’s eyes are striking luminous gold colour with a slight ring around the pupil; Persian cat breeders created this trait through selective breeding.
The coat comprises two layers with a short, soft and thick undercoat covered by a long and glossy outer coat.
The length does not change throughout the year (unlike other long-haired cats).
The Birman breed does inherit the distinctive blue eyes from its Siamese ancestors.
However, it also has Persian characteristics such as a sweet temperament and tolerance of children, other pets and dogs.
The Birman’s colouration is one of the lightest breeds and does not darken with age (unlike most long-haired cats).
Chartreux Cat
The Chartreux was developed in France from stock that originated with a cat brought back from Central Asia by Napoleon’s army.
The breed resembles an agouti, or ticked tabby in colour and is known for its sweet disposition.
The Chartreux has unique “open” eyes reminiscent of the Siamese.
It also has brown-tipped paws, which should be clearly visible when looking at the cat’s front paws.
Chartreux are intelligent, affectionate and playful.
Gentle Giant Cats
The term Gentle Giants describes breeds that generally weigh between 12-30 pounds at full maturity.
The origin of these cats is often credited to Mme Marie Blanchard, who resided in Louisiana in the late 1800s.
Gentle Giants are typically long-haired breeds, including Maine Coons, Ragamuffins and even the newly recognised breed of Savannah Cat.
These cats generally have big fluffy tails suited for wrapping around their owners or other toys in play.
However, most Gentle Giants do not require much grooming to keep their coats looking good and soft.
Maine Coon Cat
The Maine Coon is the official state cat of Maine, USA.
The breed was developed in New England and is native to North America. The name derives from its unique appearance, which resembles that of a raccoon (the term “coon” being derived from an Algonquian word meaning “he scratches with his hands”).
Maine Coons have been around for over a hundred years but were not formally recognised as a breed until the 1930s.
They are well known for their intelligence and friendly personality, making them great pets for all households. However, they need plenty of room to roam and play – a Maine Coon is probably not the right pet for you if you live in a small apartment.
Cat Personality Traits
Cats have different personalities based on the breed, but they all share some similar traits. Here are some things to think about when you’re considering your next pet:
Maine Coons are intelligent and friendly. They’re great for families that want a cat that will socialise well and be easy to train.
The Ragamuffin is happy-go-lucky, playful and good-natured. This breed is perfect if you want a cat that loves being around people and playing with other animals.
The Savannah Cat is very intelligent, curious and laid back. You should make sure you have time to play with it every day because they need stimulation, or they’ll get bored and start playing with your belongings instead.
The Chartreux is active and playful, but don’t let this breed switch off its brain because it’s also known for being smart at problem-solving – some people describe them as dog-like in their intelligence.
The Burmese are well known for their sweet disposition that makes them great family pets. It’s also fiercely loyal and devoted, making it a perfect match for owners who want to be friends with their cats.
As you can see, not all breeds are the same when it comes to personality. But even if you’re brand new to cats, the internet has plenty of information about your potential pet before deciding on colour or breed.
Cat Breed Size And Shape
Cat Breeds Come In All Shapes And Sizes! Cats come in a wide range of sizes, from the gigantic Maine Coon cat to the tiny 1-pound (0.45 kg) Singapura.
The size and shape of a cat are determined by genetics (genotype), nutrition, development history (for example, the kitten’s rate of growth in its mother’s uterus, whether it was born early or late to its litter, etc.), and also environmental factors such as exercise and quality of life.
Maine Coons, for example, are a natural breed originating in the state of Maine.
They were initially bred from semi-long-haired cats brought by English settlers in the 19th century.
A genetic mutation caused most of them to grow very long fur, and selective breeding produced today’s Maine Coon cat breed, weighing up to 28 lb (12 kg).
Modern hybrid cat breeds exhibit a wide range of sizes, although this trend is toward smaller cats due to breeding for pet qualities (such as personality) and keeping them indoors.
For example, the now-extinct giant cat breeds are no longer recognised by any primary cat fancier organisations.
The modern Maine Coon is considered a large cat, as are the Ragdoll and other modern breeds. The Chartreux is regarded as a medium-sized breed (15–20 lb or 6.8–9 kg), while the Singapura is considered one of the most miniature breeds at 1-2 lb (0.45 k)/0.91 kg).
Cat Coat Color
A cat’s coat colour is determined by genetics and is typically a polygenetic trait (polygenic inheritance).
For example, an animal may be black because it has these genes: (B) black fur with reduced amounts of red pigment, (b) non-black fur with reduced amounts of red dye, (g) both black and non-black fur with no or little remainder of red pigment in its pelage.
The vast majority of the Cat breeds come in four predominant colours: brown, grey, white, and sometimes black.
These are not the only colours that cats can be; for example, some cats come in a calico or tuxedo patterned coat.
These colours can also have variations such as tabby and tortoiseshell, wherein the colours are made up of a series of ocelli (eye-like shapes). Other cats can have different patterns on their coats, such as a marbled appearance or stripes.
Genetic linkage map of cat breeds conducted at Texas A&M University.
The study was done by “genotyping 426 domestic cats representing 67 breeds and their crosses”. The study analysed the genotyping data with both BM-LG and Bayesian inference methods.
Although the study was done on cat breeds, it was designed to help make a genetic map for all animals, including humans.
The circle of life is fundamental inbreeding as it can be seen as a continuous cycle.
The circle of life is also known as the food chain, where many different components work together to ensure survival.
Cat EyeSight Or Hearing Ability
Hearing and eyesight are among some of the most important abilities humans have.
These two senses can be very useful in making sure people have a good quality of life. For instance, if you’re deaf and don’t know sign language, you won’t communicate with other people.
It can also be tough for someone who is blind to get around places without someone helping them because they will need things like guiding poles and assistance with navigating sidewalks and stairs.
Both hearing and sight are also very useful for spot dangers that may be around you.
For example, if you can’t hear a person say, “Hey, look out behind you!” then you could get hurt or killed ybe the next time someone says led.
Likewise, having good eyesight could help people to catch someone attempting to rob them or hurt them.
Animals are also able to see and hear things that humans can’t. So they have ways of protecting themselves that people don’t normally think about.
Cat’s vision is based on movement, which explains why it may look like your cat can see really well during the day.
Cats are seen as “crepuscular” animals because they are most active around dawn and dusk. This is when their vision is their sharpest, and it also helps them avoid being detected by predators.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to adopt a cat, it’s important to know their personality type and how big or small the breed is.
Cat breeds are classified by different traits that help us identify them, such as their coat colour or eyesight.
A good way to start your search for the perfect feline companion is with our list of top 10 most popular cat breeds in America.
It includes everything from large cats like Maine Coons to tiny ones like Ragdolls- but no matter which one you choose, we hope this guide has helped you find some new information on what makes these wonderful creatures so special!
