Cat Breeds: The Complete Guide to 58 Types of Cats
Walk into any shelter and you’ll notice something: no two cats greet you the same way. Some trot straight to the front of the cage. Others watch from the back, deciding if you’re worth the effort. Cat breeds explain a surprising amount of that difference coat, size, energy, even how vocal a cat turns out to be.
Spoiler: there’s no single “best” breed. There’s only the breed that fits how you actually live. This guide covers all 58 major cat breeds in one place, organized so you can jump straight to what matters to you whether that’s allergies, apartment size, or a coat you’re willing to brush.
Quick Facts: There are 58 widely recognized cat breeds covered here, ranging from the hairless Sphynx to the 20-pound Maine Coon. Roughly a dozen dominate search interest and adoption demand; the rest are rarer, often harder to find outside dedicated breeders.
What’s on This Page
Jump to: Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds, Hairless Cat Breeds, Large Cat Breeds, Small Cat Breeds, Fluffy & Longhair Cat Breeds, the full A-Z Directory of all 58 breeds, and a quick FAQ at the end.
Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds
No cat is 100% allergen-free — the Fel d 1 protein that triggers most cat allergies comes from saliva and skin, not fur, so even hairless breeds still produce it. That said, some breeds shed less of that protein or shed less fur overall, which is what people usually mean by “hypoallergenic.”
Breeds commonly recommended for allergy-sensitive households: Devon Rex, Sphynx, Balinese, Siberian, Oriental Shorthair, Russian Blue, Cornish Rex, LaPerm, and Javanese. Full profiles for each are below in the A-Z directory.
Hairless Cat Breeds
Four breeds skip fur almost entirely, or come close: Sphynx, Donskoy, and Peterbald, along with the partially-coated Lykoi. These breeds need sunscreen outdoors, regular bathing to manage skin oils that fur would normally absorb, and warmer indoor temperatures than a coated cat.
Large Cat Breeds
If you want a cat with real physical presence, look at Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Savannah, Norwegian Forest Cat, Siberian, British Shorthair, and Chausie. Several of these can reach 15-20 pounds at maturity, so factor in a sturdier litter box and cat tree than you’d buy for an average-sized cat.
Small Cat Breeds
On the other end, Singapura, Munchkin, American Curl, Devon Rex, and Cornish Rex run noticeably smaller and lighter than the average domestic cat. Small size doesn’t mean low energy, though Devon Rex and Cornish Rex in particular are famously active.
Fluffy & Longhair Cat Breeds
For owners who don’t mind regular brushing: Persian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Norwegian Forest Cat, Birman, Turkish Angora, Somali, Balinese, Himalayan, British Longhair, and Ragamuffin all carry long or semi-long coats that need weekly to daily grooming, depending on the breed.
Complete A-Z Cat Breed Directory
Every breed below follows the same format — coat, size, and personality at a glance, plus one fact that actually explains something about the breed rather than just describing what it looks like.
Abyssina – Coat: Short, ticked | Size: Medium | Personality: Energetic, curious, highly social. One of the oldest known breeds, prized for a warm, ruddy coat where each hair carries multiple color bands.
American Bobtail – Coat: Short or long | Size: Medium-large | Personality: Playful, intelligent, dog-like loyalty
A naturally occurring bobtail, not a genetic mutation bred for show — the short tail happens on its own in the wild population this breed descends from.
American Curl – Coat: Short or long | Size: Small-medium | Personality: Affectionate, adaptable. Named for ears that curl backward within the first week of life; kittens are born with straight ears that curl over several days.
American Shorthair – Coat: Short | Size: Medium | Personality: Easygoing, even-tempered
Descended from working cats brought to North America to control rodents on ships and farms — built for durability, not delicacy.
American Wirehair – Coat: Short, wiry | Size: Medium | Personality: Calm, adaptable. The coat’s spring-like texture comes from a natural genetic mutation first spotted on a single New York farm in the 1960s.
Balinese – Coat: Long, silky | Size: Medium | Personality: Vocal, affectionate, active. Essentially a longhaired Siamese — same build and voice, different coat length, thanks to a spontaneous mutation decades ago.
Bengal – Coat: Short, spotted or marbled | Size: Medium-large | Personality: Athletic, curious
Bred from early crosses with the Asian leopard cat, which explains the wild-looking coat pattern and high activity level.
Birman – Coat: Medium-long | Size: Medium | Personality: Sweet, gentle
Recognizable by white “gloved” paws against a color-point coat — a trait every purebred Birman carries.
Bombay – Coat: Short, glossy black | Size: Medium | Personality: Playful, people-oriented. Bred specifically to resemble a miniature black panther, right down to the copper eyes.
British Longhair – Coat: Long, dense | Size: Medium-large | Personality: Calm, loyal. A longhaired variant of the British Shorthair with the same plush build under a fuller coat.
British Shorthair – Coat: Short, plush | Size: Medium-large | Personality: Calm, independent. One of the oldest identifiable cat breeds, known for a round face and dense coat that stands away from the body.
Burmese – Coat: Short, glossy | Size: Medium | Personality: People-oriented, affectionate. Originated from a single cat brought from Southeast Asia to the U.S. in the 1930s — every Burmese today traces back to that one line.
Burmilla – Coat: Short or long, shimmering | Size: Medium | Personality: Sociable, playful
A cross between a Burmese and a silver Chinchilla Persian, producing a distinctive sparkling coat.
Charteux – Coat: Short, dense, blue-gray | Size: Medium-large | Personality: Quiet, loyal. French in origin, with a coat and build so consistent it’s the only breed recognized in exactly one color.
Chausie – Coat: Short | Size: Large | Personality: Active, dog-like
A hybrid developed from crosses with the jungle cat, resulting in long legs and a notably high jump.
Cornish Rex – Coat: Short, tightly curled | Size: Small-medium | Personality: Active, mischievous
The curl comes from a single recessive gene first found in a Cornwall litter in the 1950s — no guard hairs, just soft undercoat.
Devon Rex – Coat: Short, wavy | Size: Small | Personality: Mischievous, social, attention-loving. Large ears and an elfin face give this breed a look often compared to a pixie — the wavy coat sheds very little.
Donskoy – Coat: Hairless or sparse | Size: Medium | Personality: Affectionate, warm-seeking
A Russian hairless breed, genetically distinct from the Sphynx despite the similar look — the hairless gene arose independently.
Egyptian Mau – Coat: Short, naturally spotted | Size: Medium | Personality: Loyal, athletic One of the few naturally spotted domestic breeds — the pattern occurs without selective breeding for it.
European Shorthair – Coat: Short | Size: Medium | Personality: Even-tempered, adaptable. A distinct, standardized breed in Europe, separate from the American Shorthair despite the similar working-cat origins.
Exotic Shorthair – Coat: Short, plush | Size: Medium | Personality: Calm, gentle. Often called the “lazy man’s Persian” — same flat face and build, but a coat that needs far less grooming.
Havana Brow – Coat: Short, glossy chocolate-brown | Size: Medium | Personality: Curious, affectionate
A rare breed named for its rich, uniform brown coat, developed in England in the 1950s.
Himalayan – Coat: Long | Size: Medium | Personality: Calm, gentle
A Persian-Siamese cross that combines Persian build and coat with Siamese-style color points.
Japanese Bobtail – Coat: Short or long | Size: Medium | Personality: Active, vocal. A natural short-tail breed with deep roots in Japanese folklore, often depicted as the “beckoning cat.”
Javanese – Coat: Long, silky | Size: Medium | Personality: Vocal, active, affectionate. Closely related to the Balinese, distinguished mainly by a broader range of recognized coat colors.
Khao Manee – Coat: Short, pure white | Size: Medium | Personality: Confident, social. A Thai breed sometimes born with two different-colored eyes — a trait historically linked to royal ownership.
Korat – Coat: Short, silver-blue | Size: Small-medium | Personality: Loyal, intelligent. Considered a symbol of good fortune in Thailand, traditionally given as a wedding gift rather than sold.
LaPerm – Coat: Curly, short or long | Size: Medium | Personality: Affectionate, curious. Kittens are born bald or straight-coated and develop their signature curls within a few months.
Lykoi – Coat: Sparse, partially hairless | Size: Small-medium | Personality: Playful, independent. A natural mutation affecting hair follicle growth gives this breed a patchy, wolf-like coat.
Maine Coon – Coat: Long, shaggy | Size: Large | Personality: Gentle, affectionate, dog-like loyalty
America’s native longhair breed and one of the largest domestic cats, with tufted ears and paws built for cold winters.
Manx – Coat: Short or long | Size: Medium | Personality: Loyal, playful
Known for a naturally short or entirely absent tail, caused by a genetic mutation first isolated on the Isle of Man.
Munchkin – Coat: Short or long | Size: Small | Personality: Playful, outgoing, curious. Short legs come from a natural genetic mutation affecting bone growth — the breed remains controversial in some registries over health concerns.
Nebelung – Coat: Long, silver-blue | Size: Medium | Personality: Reserved, gentle. Essentially a longhaired Russian Blue, quiet and closely bonded to a small number of people.
Norwegian Forest Cat – Coat: Long, water-resistant | Size: Large | Personality: Independent, gentle
Built for cold Scandinavian winters, with a double coat and strong claws suited to climbing.
Ocicat – Coat: Short, spotted | Size: Medium-large | Personality: Social, dog-like. Despite the wild-cat appearance, the Ocicat has no wild ancestry — the spots come entirely from domestic breed crosses.
Oriental Shorthair – Coat: Short | Size: Medium | Personality: Vocal, social, active. Close relative of the Siamese, recognized in dozens of coat colors and patterns.
Persian – Coat: Long, dense | Size: Medium | Personality: Calm, gentle, people-pleasing. One of the most popular breeds worldwide, known for a flat face and a coat that needs daily brushing to avoid mats.
Peterbald – Coat: Hairless or short | Size: Medium | Personality: Affectionate, energetic. A Russian breed combining Oriental Shorthair build with the hairless trait, ranging from bald to a light peach-fuzz coat.
Pixiebob – Coat: Short or long | Size: Large | Personality: Loyal, dog-like
Bred to resemble a bobcat, with polydactyl paws (extra toes) common in the breed.
Ragamuffin – Coat: Long, plush | Size: Large | Personality: Docile, affectionate. A relative of the Ragdoll bred for a broader range of colors and a slightly different temperament emphasis.
Ragdoll – Coat: Long, semi-silky | Size: Large | Personality: Docile, affectionate, laid-back Named for a tendency to go limp when picked up — one of the most popular breeds in the U.S. today.
Russian Blue – Coat: Short, dense, silver-blue | Size: Medium | Personality: Reserved, loyal
A double coat with silver-tipped guard hairs gives this breed its shimmering appearance.
Savannah – Coat: Short, spotted | Size: Large | Personality: Energetic, dog-like. A hybrid from crosses with the African serval — early generations require specific ownership regulations in some regions.
Scottish Fold – Coat: Short or long | Size: Medium | Personality: Sweet-natured, adaptable. The folded ears come from a cartilage mutation that can also affect joints, which is why reputable breeders screen carefully and avoid fold-to-fold breeding.
Selkirk Rex – Coat: Curly, short or long | Size: Medium-large | Personality: Patient, affectionate. Unlike the Devon or Cornish Rex, the Selkirk Rex coat includes curly guard hairs, giving it a thicker, more tousled look.
Serengeti – Coat: Short, spotted | Size: Medium-large | Personality: Active, social. Bred to mimic the look of the African serval without any wild ancestry in its lineage.
Siamese – Coat: Short | Size: Medium | Personality: Vocal, social, intelligent.
One of the most recognizable breeds worldwide, known for color-point patterning and a famously talkative personality.
Siberian – Coat: Long, triple-layered | Size: Large | Personality: Playful, affectionate. Russia’s native longhair, often mentioned alongside hypoallergenic breeds for producing comparatively less Fel d 1 protein.
Singapura – Coat: Short | Size: Small | Personality: Curious, affectionate. One of the smallest recognized breeds, with large eyes and ears that appear oversized for its compact body.
Snowshoe – Coat: Short | Size: Medium | Personality: Social, vocal. Combines Siamese color points with white “socks” on the paws, a pattern that varies quite a bit between individual cats.
Somali – Coat: Long | Size: Medium | Personality: Energetic, curious. A longhaired Abyssinian with the same ticked coat pattern, just longer and fuller.
Sphynx – Coat: Hairless | Size: Medium | Personality: Social, energetic, attention-seeking. Despite looking wrinkled and cold-sensitive, Sphynx cats run warmer to the touch than furred breeds due to a faster metabolism.
Tonkinese – Coat: Short | Size: Medium | Personality: Social, playful. A Siamese-Burmese cross that lands temperament-wise right between its two more famous parent breeds.
Toyger – Coat: Short, striped | Size: Medium | Personality: Active, social
Bred specifically to mimic the striped coat of a tiger, purely for appearance — no wild ancestry involved.
Turkish Angora – Coat: Long, silky | Size: Medium | Personality: Affectionate, curious, vocal. One of the oldest natural cat breeds, originating in central Turkey and historically prized for a pure white coat.
Turkish Van – Coat: Semi-long, water-resistant | Size: Large | Personality: Active, confident. Known for an unusual willingness to swim, thanks to a water-resistant coat developed in the lake region of eastern Turkey.
Domestic Shorthair – Coat: Short | Size: Varies | Personality: Varies widely. Not a formal breed but a mixed-ancestry cat — the most common type in shelters, with genetics from dozens of breed lines.
Domestic Longhair – Coat: Long | Size: Varies | Personality: Varies widely
The longhaired counterpart to the Domestic Shorthair, equally common in shelters and equally unpredictable in temperament by design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fifty-eight breeds is a lot to compare, but the decision usually comes down to three things: how much space you have, how much grooming you’re willing to do, and how much noise and energy you actually want in your home. Start there, and the right breed tends to reveal itself pretty quickly.
Health Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only and doesn’t replace professional veterinary advice. Several breeds mentioned above carry known genetic health predispositions — if you’re considering a specific purebred, ask a veterinarian or reputable breeder about relevant health screening before adopting.
For deep-dive guides on individual breeds, explore the rest of the cat section on Happy Pet Zone.
