- This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Many people are lucky enough to count cats among their family members, but if you’ve ever wondered, “What breed is my cat?” you’re not alone! International Cat Association (TICA) recognized 73 varietieswhile the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) realize 45. Either way, that’s a lot of different cat breeds!
Most of today’s cat breeds can traceback for native cats native to their area. Domesticated thousands of years ago, humans are thought to have developed a mutually beneficial relationship with cats as they became more agricultural — after all, cats are particularly adept at fighting rodents. nibble. Today’s cats are not domesticated in line with the breed, as cats, although sometimes affectionate, are largely self-sufficient and capable of hunting. From gods to popular depictions in art and literature, to the first type of pet to be cloned, cats have been shown to be a special part of human life and continue to be a dear companion.
Some people choose their cats from a breeder or pet store, knowing the breed in advance. But many people adopt from shelters or find cats that become part of their family along the way. In this case, it takes a little digging to establish your cat’s breed—especially since most cats are mixed breeds. “More than 96% of cats on the planet are mixed breed and not controlled bred (meaning they choose their own mates),” says Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado, PhD, “Purebred cats are cats that have been selectively bred by humans over a period of time to have specific physical characteristics.” Dr. Delgado notes that selective breeding limits genetic resources and it is important to be aware of the increased risk of certain health problems.
Below, we review Dr. Delgado’s research and consultation on what traits and markers might help you spot your cat breed — and why this information could be important. important.
What is my cat breed? How to identify cat breeds?
Given the breadth of cat breeds, how can you tell what breed your cat is? There are several clues about a cat’s appearance that can help determine the breed type. Traits such as face shape, body type, coat color, and length can all be indicators of certain breeds.
Size
In terms of size, the medium cat (between 9 and 15 pounds) is the most popular breed in households. However, cats that are considered small (under 9 pounds) or large (over 15 pounds) also exist — although they are less common.
Here are some examples of cat breeds in three different size classifications.
| Cat size | Cat weight | Cat-like |
| Small or dwarf size | <9 pounds | Singapura, Munchkin, Napoleon, Bambino, American Curl, Bali, Cornish Rex, Japanese Bobtail |
| Medium sized cat | 9-15 pounds | Siamese, Burmese, Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Russian Blue, Ocicat, Manx, Sphynx, Korat, American Wirehair, Chartreux, Scottish Fold |
| Big cat | 15> pounds | Maine Coon, Ragamuffin, Savannah Cat, Chausie, Siberian, Norwegian Forest Cat |
Fur colors and patterns
There can be a great deal of variation in coat color, pattern, and markings, but some of these traits can help denote certain breeds. However, patterns may be found in more than one breed, and may be in mixed or purebred breeds. The colors and combinations you usually see are solid black, gray or white/cream; bi-color such as tuxedo, tabby and harlequin; tortoiseshell; three-way flower; and markers such as colored points.
Here are a few examples of cat breeds you’ll find with different coat patterns. Again, some overlap, so while this feature can help you narrow down, others can be more helpful in identifying varieties.
| Color / Cat Mark | There may be a breed of cat |
| Uniform color | Siberia, Russian Blue, Bombay, Persia |
| Bi-color | Maine Coon, Manx, Exotic Shorthair, Cornish Rex, Turkish Stripe, English Shorthair, Cymric |
| Turtle shell | American short hair, British short hair, Japanese ponytail, Cornish Rex long tail |
| Calico | Manx, American Shorthair, Persian, Devon Rex, Scottish Fold, Arabian Mau, Japanese Bobtail, Cornish Rex |
| The point | Siamese, Tonkinese, Birman, Himalayan, Bali, Snowshoe |
Hair style
Cats, in addition to different coat colors and patterns, they also have different coat lengths and patterns. There are four basic coat types that cats can have: long, short, curly, and hairless. Because some coat types are the result of recessive genes (such as longhair) and specific mutations (curly and hairless), coat type can be a useful indication of your cat’s breed. friend.
| Cat hair type | Cat-like |
| Long hair | Persian, Birman, Himalayan, Japanese Bobtail, Maine Coon, Ragamuffin, Turkish Angora, Siberia |
| Short Hair | American Shorthair, Abyssinian, Manx, Russian Blue, Bengal, Siamese |
| Curly hair | LaPerm, American Wirehair, Cornish Rex, Selkirk Rex, Devon Rex |
| No hair | Sphynx, Peterbald, Donskoy, Bambino, Elf |
iStock / Nils Jacobi
Face shape
Identifying cat breeds by face shape is less common, however, face can also be a clue to your cat’s breed, namely if they have a flat or narrow face.
Cats with flat faces may include: Persian, Munchkin, Scottish Fold, Exotic Shorthair and Selkirk Rex. The narrow face can include the following cat breeds: Siamese cat, Cornish Rex, Abyssinian.
It’s important to note that flat-faced cats are prone to certain health risks. “These health problems include breathing problems, Chiari malformations (holes in the spinal cord near the skull), chronic eye discharge, and dental disease,” says Dr. “Due to limited genetic resources from inbreeding, Persian cats are also at higher risk of polycystic kidney disease than other cats.”
Tail length
Most cat breeds possess similar tails that are difficult to distinguish from one another, which is why it is not a common feature when identifying a particular breed.
However, a short tail can be a sign of certain breeds. Some popular breeds of domestic cats with short tails are the Manx, Japanese Bobtail, American Bobtail, Highlander, American Lynx, and Cymric.
iStock / spooh
Ears
A cat’s ears can tell you about their breed because some ear features are quite distinctive. There are three types of unique features of the ear: curls, folds, and tufts of ears and fixtures.
It’s important to note that cats with bent or folded ears can experience a number of health problems. For example, Scottish Fold cat with skeletal dysplasia, is a cartilage abnormality that affects bone growth and will lead to severe arthritis. Besides, Cats with curved ears, such as the American Curl, may have difficulty cleaning their ears or are susceptible to ear damage and ear health..
Here are some examples of cat breeds with distinct ears.
| Cat ear type | Cat-like |
| Curved | American Curl, Highlander, Elf |
| Fold | Fold Scotland, Levkoy Ukraine, Foldex |
| Cropped ears, Lynx piercings or ear ornaments | Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Norwegian Forest Cat, Pixie Bob, Turkish Van, Siberian, LaPerm, American Lynx |
Eye color
Eye color isn’t necessarily indicative of breed, so it might not be essential when helping to identify your cat—but cat eye color is still great! The most common colors are blue, green, yellow, and light brown, or some variation of those colors.
Your cat may also have a condition called heterochromia, where each eye is a different color. Some of the more common cat breeds with this condition include the Turkish Angora, Turkish Van, Persian, Siamese, Khao Manee, Sphynx, Munchkin, and Cornish Rex.
iStock / nico_blue
Behavior
Cats, like humans, have unique personalities. “There is not much solid evidence that cats are bred for personality,” says Dr. Delgado. This 2019 study In Scientific reportshowever, found that there were varietal differences in social and non-social behaviors between 19 breed and breed groups, in a controlled environment. The findings include observations that the Korat and Devon Rex are the most likely to seek out human contact, and the British Shorthair, Ragdoll, Persian, Norwegian wildcat and Saint Birman are among the findings. the least aggressive ones.
Further studies are needed to more strongly establish the link between breed and personality.
What is my cat breed? Tools at home
Still unsure about your cat breed? The following tools can help:
- Applications, such as Cat scannerwhere you can take or upload a photo or video to help you identify your cat breed (even mixed breeds) in seconds
- Online quizzes can help you narrow down your cat breed or even help you determine which cat breed is right for you if you’re a prospective cat parent
- Want more certainty? Go with DNA testing. Dr. Delgado particularly liked Basepaws
- Consult your veterinarian
What is my cat breed? Take it
There are a number of traits and physical stats about your cat’s breed, but you’ll need to look at their size, color, ears, coat type — and possibly face and tail — to help narrow it down. Eyes and certain personality traits can be clues, but are less reliable sources of identification.
In particular, if you have welcomed or are planning to welcome a purebred cat into your home, it is important that you do your research and find out in advance about any potential health conditions or problems associated with that breed.
“Learning about a cat’s genetic makeup can be exciting, and DNA tests can also see if your cat is a carrier or at risk for certain health conditions,” says Dr. higher or not.”
Read more
