What Breed Is My Cat?

You found a stray cat and brought it home. Now, they are a part of your loving family. You love them a lot, but as time goes by, a question lingers on your mind: what breed is my cat?

It’s a general question among cat owners who have found or adopted a cat. We think it’s harder to identify a cat breed than a dog breed. Although it’s hard, you can still find your cat’s breed based on their face shape, fur, size, etc. Go through the article to help you find the answer to “what breed is my cat?”

What Kind of Cat Do I Have?

A cat has become a big part of your life, and you’re just curious about your feline friend’s breed. But it’s been challenging to find it out. No worries! We know how you can make it easier.

There are many cat breeds, and it can be challenging to identify them. But different cat types have various features making them unique from one another. Let’s take a look at the features that make them different:

• Body types
• Size
• Color & Fur patterns
• Face shape
• Vocality

Before we move on to the specifics, getting some cat breed info is better. 

Information on Cat Breeds

The first thing to figure out: Are your pet’s pedigree or purebred or mixed cat breeds?

You may be confused about pedigree and purebred; let us clarify it. Pedigree cats are rare as they need certification to prove the cat came from the same ancestry. In contrast, purebred means the cat has the same breed of parents. Pedigree cats can be purebred, but purebred cats can’t always be pedigree.

On the other hand, mixed or cross-breed cats are pretty standard, and they can inherit the features from either the parents or the parents. It can make the quest of finding your cat’s breed harder.

Now, look at the mentioned features to figure out the breed.

Identifying Cat Body Types

Body type is one of the first features to look at when determining your kitten’s breed. Some common body types are:

1. Foreign Type: These cats have long, skinny bodies with oval or almond eyes.
2. Semi-foreign Type: The cats have a medium-sized body and standard build.
3. Oriental Type: These cats have a triangular face shape with a long and thin body.
4. Cobby Type: The cats are short and round with a muscular build.
5. Semi-cobby types: These cats have medium-sized bodies with a medium muscular build.
6. Substantial Type: The cats are slim but with a built body type.

Identifying by Cat’s Body Size

To narrow down your options, it’s better to determine the size of your cat first. We know it can be tricky if your cat is a mixed breed, but it’s still better to try.

1. Large Cat Breeds

Large cat breeds look very different and weigh around 15 to 30 pounds. Some large cat breeds are:

• Maine Coon: These cats can weigh up to 20 pounds and grow as big as 40 inches in length. They have long, fluffy coats with a gentle nature.

• Norwegian Forest Cat: The cat has a robust and muscular-looking build weighing 22 pounds. They are big, thick-coated cats with big paws.

• Ragdoll: With charming blue eyes and super soft coats, ragdoll cat breeds are the most popular in the UK. They can weigh up to 20 pounds, but male cats are significantly larger than females.

• Ragamuffin: The ragamuffins are descendants of the ragdolls who have similar characteristics. They can weigh up to 20 pounds and have an adorable rabbit-like appearance.

• Siberian Cat: You will be surprised how big the Siberian cats can weigh: 28 pounds. They are very playful with long fluffy coats.

• Egyptian Mau: Egyptian Maus can weigh between 8 to 15 pounds. They may not be as big as the other large breeds, but they are sure adorable.

• Burmese Cat: Although the Burmese cats weigh 8 to 13 pounds, they fall on the smaller side of the large breeds.

2. Small Cat Breeds

Many cats stay small and weigh up to only 10 to 12 pounds. These cats have a kitten-like appearance even after growing up. 

Some small cat breeds are:

• Singapura: The cats have small and delicate bodies and are half an average size. They can weigh up to 5 pounds only.

• Cornish Rex: The cat can weigh up to 8 pounds and have curly coats. They are also hypoallergenic.

• Devon Rex: These cats are close cousins of the Cornish Rex, but supposedly they can be bigger or smaller. They can weigh around 5 to 10 pounds.

• Munchkin: This cat breed is a teacup size. They don’t weigh more than 4 pounds when fully grown. They have short legs and a small body.

Munchkin Fact: The smallest munchkin size recorded is 5.25 inches from its paw to shoulders.

Identifying Cat Types by Color & Fur Patterns

Cats have unique colors and fur patterns that you can use to identify their breed. Even if your cat is mixed, the color or the fur pattern may be a giveaway of the breed.

Look for these colors and patterns when finding your beloved feline’s breed.

• Solid Colors are on the less common side. These cats have no distinct fur pattern. They can be red, black, white, grey, brown, or other colors.

• From the name, you can understand that Bicolor cats have two fur colors. This fur pattern is usually created with white and some other color fur. The cats with this kind of fur pattern are generally known as tuxedo cats. Black and white colors are the most familiar bicolor.

• Tortoiseshell fur patterns are a combination of two colors other than white. The most common variety is black and orange. But there can surely be combinations like yellow and brown, grey and orange, brown and orange, etc. 

• Calico cats are sometimes mistaken for bicolor or tortoiseshell cats. But the main difference is calico cats have three colored fur coats, which must have a large amount of white fur.

• Tabby fur patterns are closely related to tortoiseshell, but they are different. You can find it in both rare and common cat breeds. Tabby cats usually come in four fur patterns, such as:
  • Classic design- Circular markings with swirling patterns
  • Ticked pattern- Different types of colors on each strand of fur
  • Mackerel pattern- Narrow and parallel stripes
  • Spotted pattern- Small and large dark spots on a lighter color coat

• The best example of the pointed patterned cat is the Siamese cat breed. The darkest color is concentrated on the high points of the cat, such as the face, ears, feet, and tail.

Identifying by Cat’s Face Shape

Have you noticed how a cat’s face shape differs from another sometimes? It is possible if the cats are of different breeds. The face shape is a great feature to help you recognize your cat’s breed. 

Let’s have a look at some!

1. Flat Faced Cat breeds 

If you have ever seen a Persian cat breed, you have seen a flat-faced cat breed. They have short snouts with big eyes and small ears. This feature is caused due to brachycephaly, which causes many problems in the cat breeds. 

Here are some mentionable flat-faced cat breeds:

• Persian cats
• Exotic Shorthair cats
• Scottish Fold cats
• British Shorthair cats
• Himalayan cats

2. Long-Nosed Cat Breeds

The cats have long noses with pointed eye frames, making them easily recognizable. Unlike the flat-faced cat breeds, they don’t have any diseases associated with their long face shape. 

Looking for some long-nosed cat breeds? Here are some:

• Siamese cats
• Toyger cats
• Oriental Shorthair cats
• Oriental Longhair cats
• Thai cats

Distinct Cat Features: Ears and Tail

Aside from the face shape of your cats, the ears and the tail are particular features of their body to focus on to find out your cat’s breed. 

First, let’s get to know about some cat ears!

1. Curled Ears

Cats are known to have pointy ears that stand tall, but some cat breeds have curled ears that curl to their heads. Here are a few curled ears cat breeds:

• American Curl cats
• Scottish Fold cats
• Highlander cats
• Elf cats
• Foldex cats

2. Wispy or Tufted Ears

Cats have wispy or tufted ears with long hair at the top and around the cat ears. This type of ear gives them a more wild look. Some mentionable tufted ears kitties are:

• Siberian cats
• Maine Coon cats
• Turkish Van cats
• Turkish Angora cats
• Pixie-Bob cats
• Ragdoll cats

Now that we have finished briefing about the cat ears let’s move on to their tails.

3. Long & Short Tail Cat Breeds

The most common tail feature is long. Not many cat breeds have short tails, but that doesn’t mean there’re none. If your cat has a short tail, you can look up these breeds to find any similarities:

• American Bobtail cats
• Manx cats
• Highlander cats
• Cymric cats
• American Lynx cats
• Japanese Bobtail cats
• Kurilian Bobtail cats
• Pixie-Bob cats

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Cat Breeds Chart: According to Fur Type

Cats can have luscious, long fur coats or shiny, thick fur coats, which can be confusing when finding out the breed of your mystery cat. We have made a cat breeds chart according to fur type to simplify your research. You can find different cat breeds’ names here and decide by the fur type: Hairless, Short-haired, or Long-Haired.

Additional Cat Breeds Information: Black Cat Breeds

Are you having trouble finding your cat on the list? Why? Oh! You own a black cat. That’s awesome! Then let us help you by giving some extra information about black cat breeds.

1. Bombay cat: This cat breed has shiny, sleek, deep black hair and a muscular build like the Burmese cat breed.

2. Black Persian cat: Black Persian cats have the same features as other Persian cats. They have flat faces and big eyes with soft, long black fur.

3. Chantilly-Tiffany cat: Chantilly-Tiffany cats are long-haired cat breeds with silky, soft black coats. Their eye color is either golden or yellow. 

4. Black American Shorthair cat: This cat breed comes in many other colors, but black ones are the most popular. They have short, shiny, thick black coats, and sometimes you can notice a few white strands of fur. They have somewhat greenish-yellow eyes.

5. Black Cornish Rex: Cornish Rex cat breeds have short, curly fur that feels and looks like a lamb’s coat. They have a curved body with an egg-shaped head. They also have very long and unique ears. When they have black color fur, the pads of the paws and even their little nose are black-colored.

What Cat Should I Get?

Were you just curious about cat breeds? Is that why you are here?

If you are thinking about adopting or getting a cat, we are thrilled to know the good news! As you have already gone through the appearance of different cat breeds in the previous paragraphs, why not focus on the personality now? 

Let us help you choose the best cat personality that fits you. Here, you will find the personality and behavior-related information about different cat breeds.

1. Smart Cat Breeds

If you are looking for cat breeds that act like dogs, well, you have reached your destination. You can easily teach these intelligent cat breeds various tricks just like a dog. Check them out:

• Japanese Bobtail
• Turkish Van
• Siamese
• Ragdoll
• Devon Rex
• Manx
• Ocicat
• Bengal
• Abyssinian

2. Friendly Cat Breeds

If you want a cat breed that will willingly cuddle you and smother you with love, these cat breeds are the best choice:

• Burmese
• Birman
• American Shorthair
• Cornish Rex
• Maine Coon
• Ragamuffin
• Ragdoll
• Sphynx
• Siamese
• LaPerm

3. Vocal Cat Breeds

These cat breeds are pretty vocal if you live alone and need someone to talk to. They will reply to whatever you say, and you’ll never be bored.

• Colorpoint Shorthair
• Balinese
• Oriental
• Siamese
• Tonkinese

4. Calm Cat Breeds

Like dogs, many cat breeds enjoy lounging around and sleeping next to you. If you are looking for a friend to relax with, these cat breeds will best fit you:

• Russian Blue
• Ragdoll
• Manx
• British Shorthair
• American Shorthair

5. Sassy Cat Breeds

We have you covered if you are looking for a sassy and full-of-attitude cat breed! Usually, cats are naturally sassy, but these cat breeds are extra. You will always be entertained and have your boss cat at home.

• Oriental
• Persian
• Singapura 
• Somali
• Balinese
• Colorpoint Shorthair

6. Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds

If you are allergic to cats, don’t be sad. You can still get one! Just like dogs, they’re hypoallergenic cat breeds. Just a little fact, there’s no such thing as entirely hypoallergenic cat breeds. These cat breeds just will not trigger your allergies like the other ones.

• Siberian
• Sphynx
• Cornish Rex
• Devon Rex
• Javanese
• Oriental Shorthair
• Balinese

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What is the Most Popular Cat in the World?

All cats are beautiful and terrific pets to have; still, if you want to know the most popular cat in the world, we will tell you.

According to The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), there are not one but 11 popular cats worldwide. Cat owners prefer the cat breeds due to their magnificent looks, gentle nature, and hypoallergenic characteristics.

We don’t want to keep you waiting, so let’s go through the most popular cat breeds.

• Ragdoll: Their magnificent coats and those blue eyes are the main reason they are a crowd favorite.

• Maine Coon: Cat owners love Maine Coons for their gentle behavior and large size. For many, they are gentle giants who are perfect for cuddles.

• Exotic Shorthair: They look pretty similar to the Persian cat breed. But their low-maintenance manes make them more popular.

• Persian Cat Breeds: They are adored for their flat faces and are the most recognizable cat breed. Due to having a high-maintenance coat, they slipped below the Exotic Shorthair.

• Devon Rex: These cat breeds look like they jumped out of a whimsical story. They are adored for their clingy behavior. They love to spend time with their humans.

• British Shorthair: Look, a teddy bear! That’s what people often mistake a British Shorthair for. They are always leading in the most popular board.

• Abyssinian: This cat breed loves to supervise its owners. They are brilliant, which makes them great for playing with kids. They are also gentle, and families prefer them.

• American Shorthair: The cat breed is known to protect the household from rodents, but recently, their cute small face and low-maintenance hair attracted cat owners, making them a popular breed.

• Scottish Fold: This cat breed is rare, making people want them more. Their folded ears give them a puppy-like look.

• Sphynx: Sphynx is broadly popular among people with allergies. Their bald look is unique and rare.

• Munchkin: This cat breed is one of the most popular small cat breeds. Their small figure and kitten-like appearance make them popular among many families. Their small size makes them great pets for families with kids.

In the End

We hope you got an idea to find your cat’s breed; if not, try this cat breed identifier technique. From the above paragraphs, find the similar characteristics of your cats from the different categories and note them down. 

Now search: 

Shorthair+Vocal+Friendly+Black coat+golden eyes (This is just an example)

If you search the following way, you will indeed find a result.

Moreover, if you still want an accurate breed result, it’s better to contact your nearby vet clinic and get a DNA test done. You will get your answers!

Let us know if you have found out your cat’s breed. We would love to see how you did it. Have a great day!