Cat Breeds A to Z75 cat breeds with pictures, profiles and a fit check

Size, personality, activity, grooming and health for every breed, plus the domestic cats most of us actually live with. Search for a breed or filter by what fits your home.

75 breeds4 major registries36 breed lists9 allergy-friendlier breeds

Cat Breeds by Topic

Big Cat Breeds29 breedsSmall Cat Breeds19 breedsHypoallergenic Cat Breeds9 breedsFriendliest Cat Breeds24 breedsBest Cat Breeds for Families19 breedsBest Cat Breeds for Apartments24 breedsBest Cat Breeds for First-Time Owners28 breedsCalm Cat Breeds11 breedsFluffy Cat Breeds13 breedsHairless Cat Breeds5 breedsMost Popular Cat Breeds30 breedsRare Cat Breeds29 breedsExotic Cat Breeds16 breedsCat Breeds That Act Like Dogs11 breedsTalkative Cat Breeds15 breedsLow-Maintenance Cat Breeds21 breeds
By lookOrangeBlackWhiteGrayBrownBlue eyesSpottedLeopard lookNo tail
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By coatLong-hairedShort-hairedFluffyCurlyHairlessLow-maintenance
By originBritishAmericanRussian
Coat patternsAll colors and patternsTabbyCalicoTortoiseshellTuxedoOrange tabbyBlack catsWhite catsGray catsPolydactyl

All Cat Breeds

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78 breeds
AbyssinianSmall · 6–10 lb · 12–15 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyVery activeAmerican BobtailLarge · 7–16 lb · 13–15 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyAmerican CurlSmall · 5–10 lb · 12–16 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyAmerican ShorthairMedium · 7–15 lb · 15–20 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyAmerican WirehairMedium · 8–15 lb · 12–18 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyArabian MauMedium · 8–15 lb · 12–16 yrsAsianMedium · 8–14 lb · 12–16 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyAustralian MistMedium · 7–13 lb · 14–18 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyBalineseSmall · 5–10 lb · 15–20 yrsLap catAllergy-friendlierFamily-friendlyBengalMedium · 8–15 lb · 12–16 yrsFamily-friendlyTalkativeVery activeBirmanMedium · 7–13 lb · 12–16 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyBombayMedium · 6–11 lb · 12–16 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyBritish LonghairLarge · 8–17 lb · 12–17 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyCalmBritish ShorthairLarge · 7–17 lb · 12–18 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyCalmBurmeseMedium · 6–12 lb · 12–18 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyBurmillaMedium · 6–12 lb · 10–15 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyChartreuxLarge · 6–16 lb · 12–15 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyCalmChausieLarge · 12–25 lb · 12–15 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyVery activeCheetohLarge · 10–23 lb · 12–15 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyColorpoint ShorthairSmall · 5–10 lb · 12–18 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyCornish RexSmall · 6–10 lb · 11–15 yrsLap catAllergy-friendlierFamily-friendlyCymricMedium · 8–12 lb · 8–14 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyDevon RexSmall · 5–10 lb · 9–15 yrsLap catAllergy-friendlierFamily-friendlyDomestic LonghairMedium · 8–15 lb · 12–18 yrsNot a breedDomestic MediumhairMedium · 7–15 lb · 12–18 yrsNot a breedDomestic ShorthairMedium · 8–15 lb · 12–20 yrsNot a breedDonskoyMedium · 6–12 lb · 12–15 yrsLap catAllergy-friendlierFamily-friendlyEgyptian MauMedium · 6–11 lb · 12–15 yrsEuropean ShorthairMedium · 8–15 lb · 12–18 yrsFamily-friendlyExotic ShorthairMedium · 7–14 lb · 10–15 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyCalmGerman RexMedium · 6–11 lb · 12–16 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyHavana BrownSmall · 6–10 lb · 10–15 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyHighlanderLarge · 10–20 lb · 10–15 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyHimalayanMedium · 7–12 lb · 9–15 yrsCalmJapanese BobtailSmall · 6–10 lb · 12–16 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyTalkativeJavaneseSmall · 5–10 lb · 12–18 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyKhao ManeeMedium · 6–12 lb · 10–15 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyKoratSmall · 6–10 lb · 12–18 yrsKurilian BobtailMedium · 7–15 lb · 12–16 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyLaPermSmall · 5–10 lb · 10–15 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyLykoiMedium · 6–12 lb · 12–15 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyMaine CoonLarge · 8–18 lb · 12–15 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyManxMedium · 7–13 lb · 9–14 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyMinuetSmall · 5–9 lb · 9–15 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyMunchkinSmall · 5–9 lb · 12–15 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyNebelungLarge · 7–16 lb · 13–18 yrsNeva MasqueradeLarge · 9–20 lb · 12–18 yrsAllergy-friendlierFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyNorwegian Forest CatLarge · 9–20 lb · 12–16 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyOcicatMedium · 6–15 lb · 12–18 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyOjos AzulesMedium · 7–12 lb · 12–16 yrsOriental LonghairMedium · 5–11 lb · 12–18 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyOriental ShorthairSmall · 5–10 lb · 12–16 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyPersianMedium · 7–12 lb · 12–17 yrsCalmPeterbaldMedium · 6–12 lb · 12–15 yrsLap catAllergy-friendlierFamily-friendlyPixiebobLarge · 8–17 lb · 13–16 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyRagamuffinLarge · 10–20 lb · 12–16 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyRagdollLarge · 10–20 lb · 12–17 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyRussian BlueMedium · 7–15 lb · 15–20 yrsAllergy-friendlierSavannahLarge · 12–25 lb · 12–20 yrsDog-friendlyVery activeScottish FoldMedium · 6–13 lb · 11–14 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyCalmScottish StraightMedium · 6–13 lb · 11–15 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyCalmSelkirk RexLarge · 6–16 lb · 10–15 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlySerengetiMedium · 8–15 lb · 10–15 yrsFamily-friendlyTalkativeVery activeSiameseMedium · 6–14 lb · 12–20 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlySiberianLarge · 8–17 lb · 11–18 yrsAllergy-friendlierFamily-friendlyDog-friendlySingapuraSmall · 4–8 lb · 11–15 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlySnowshoeMedium · 7–14 lb · 12–18 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlySokokeSmall · 5–10 lb · 12–15 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyVery activeSomaliSmall · 6–10 lb · 12–16 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyVery activeSphynxMedium · 6–12 lb · 9–15 yrsLap catAllergy-friendlierFamily-friendlyThaiMedium · 6–12 lb · 12–18 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyTonkineseMedium · 6–12 lb · 12–16 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyToybobSmall · 4–7 lb · 12–16 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyToygerMedium · 7–15 lb · 10–15 yrsFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyTurkish AngoraSmall · 5–10 lb · 12–18 yrsFamily-friendlyTurkish VanLarge · 10–20 lb · 12–17 yrsVery activeUkrainian LevkoyMedium · 7–12 lb · 12–15 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendlyYork ChocolateLarge · 10–16 lb · 13–15 yrsLap catFamily-friendlyDog-friendly

How Many Cat Breeds Are There?

Far fewer than dog breeds, and the answer depends on the registry. TICA recognizes more than 70 breeds, the CFA about 45, and the European FIFe and the British GCCF keep their own lists. Some breeds, such as the Scottish Fold, are accepted by some registries and refused by others for welfare reasons. Most pet cats belong to no breed at all: they are domestic shorthairs or longhairs of mixed ancestry. Our guide covers 75 breeds plus the three domestic cat types.

The Major Cat Registries

The table shows how many of the breeds in our guide each registry recognizes.

RegistryRegionPopular breedsIn our guide
TICA
The International Cat Association		Worldwide, based in the USMaine Coon, Bengal, Ragdoll63
CFA
The Cat Fanciers' Association		Worldwide, based in the USMaine Coon, Ragdoll, Siamese46
FIFe
Fédération Internationale Féline		Mainly EuropeMaine Coon, Bengal, Ragdoll45
GCCF
Governing Council of the Cat Fancy		United KingdomMaine Coon, Bengal, Ragdoll41

How to Find the Right Cat Breed

Cats adapt well, but breeds still differ a lot in energy, voice, coat care and how much company they want. Check these five points before you choose:

Company and time alone

Social breeds like the Siamese or Burmese want people around. If you are out all day, a calmer, more independent breed or a pair of cats works better.

Energy and play

Bengals, Abyssinians and Savannahs need daily play and climbing space. Persians and Ragdolls are happy with gentle play sessions.

Coat care

Long coats need regular brushing to prevent mats. Hairless breeds need weekly baths instead of brushing.

Voice

Oriental breeds are famously talkative. If you live in a thin-walled apartment, a quieter breed may be the better fit.

Health

Flat faces, folded ears and very short legs come with welfare concerns. Choose breeders who screen for heart and kidney disease, or adopt.

Thinking about a dog instead?

Our dog guide covers 387 breeds with the same profiles, lists and a dog breed quiz.

Browse dog breeds

Cat Breed FAQ

How many cat breeds are there?

TICA recognizes more than 70 breeds and the CFA about 45. Our guide covers 75 breeds plus domestic shorthairs, longhairs and medium hairs.

What is the most popular cat breed?

Judging by how many people search for them, the Maine Coon leads by a wide margin, followed by the Bengal, Ragdoll and Siamese. See our most popular cat breeds.

Which cat breed is best for first-time owners?

Easygoing, low-maintenance breeds such as the British Shorthair or Ragdoll are a good start. Browse the best cat breeds for first-time owners.

Are there hypoallergenic cat breeds?

No cat is allergen-free, but some breeds, such as the Siberian, are often better tolerated. See hypoallergenic cat breeds.

Is my cat a specific breed?

Probably not: most pet cats are domestic shorthairs or longhairs of mixed ancestry. Only a pedigree or a DNA test can confirm a breed, but our profiles show which breed traits your cat may share.