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Cat Breeds and Traits
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Cat Breeds and Traits

perroEditorial
Jan 6, 2022
20 min

 

Choosing a cat that will fit into your home and lifestyle is not as simple as a walk in the park. Cats are such fascinating creatures with distinct personalities and needs. If you love to share your life and home with a furball or two, doing your assignment can help ensure that you bring home a new feline friend that can match your requirements as cat breeds and personalities differ. Some people like small cat breeds while others prefer bigger fluffy breeds. Some like cats with pointy ears, large ears, blue eyes, orange eyes, and a whole lot of unique physical characteristics. But there are also those that look for smart cat breeds that can be trained. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular cat breeds based on their specific traits.

 

 

What are small cat breeds?

 

Because of their small sizes, these cat breeds are small and seem to be forever kittens. They also tend to keep their kitten-like personalities into adulthood. The top teacup cat breeds are:

 

 

Singapura

Singapura is considered one of the smallest cat breeds in the world. Its average size is half of that of the average cat. Most don’t weigh more than 5 pounds but they are very active and their agility is remarkable. They are expert climbers, too! These teacup cats are always on the lookout for a cuddle and a snuggle.

 

Munchkin

Do you remember the Munchkins in the Wizard of Oz? These cats are named after the small magical folks in the story. These teacup cats are a result of a genetic mutation. Though they are only a little bit smaller than average cats, their legs are much shorter than normal and their shoulders are very low. These anatomical aberrations give them a pottering gait.

 

 

American Curl

A product of a diverse gene pool, American Curls come in a wide range of sizes. A distinct trait of the breed is ears curling back to the base of the head. Their ears need a little bit more attention because of the curl. These cats are affectionate, playful, and great with kids.

 

 

 

What Are The Largest Cat Breeds?

If you want to cuddle up to a big fluffy cat, there are feline breeds that are not really giant cats like tigers but they are much bigger than your average cat with larger-than-life personalities. The top 5 largest cat breeds are the following:

 

 

 

Cat BreedWeightDistinct Features
 

1. Maine Coon

 

Up to 25 pounds

 

  •  Family-friendly
  • Extremely smart
  • Very interactive
  • Have a high risk for hip dysplasia, polycystic kidney disease, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

 

 

2. Savannah

 

Up to 30 pounds

 

  • It’s like looking at a cross between a leopard and a tiger
  • Intelligent
  • Energetic
  • Being a hybrid means they could still possess aggressive and wild tendencies.
 

3. Siberian

 

Up to 25 pounds

 

  • Playful
  • Low maintenance
  • Affectionate
  • Good with kids and other pets
  • Hardy
  • Heavy-shedder during spring and fall
 

4. Norwegian

Forest

Cat

 

Up to 22 pounds

 

  • Family-friendly
  • Affectionate
  • Healthy breed
  • Prone to kidney problems
  • Require regular grooming
 

5. Ragdoll

 

Up to 20 pounds

 

  • Striking blue eyes
  • Cuddly and playful
  • Quiet and docile
  • Can be prone to Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

 

 

 

 

Eyes Of Cats

 

There are various eye colors that are typical to certain cat breeds. The most common eye colors include blue, green, hazel, yellow and amber, orange, and copper. There are also cats with odd-colored eyes that are most often seen in cats with white hair coats.         

 

 

What Cat Breeds Have Blue Eyes?

 

There are many breeds of cats with blue eyes. Their distinctly beautiful blue eyes have endeared them to pet owners of all ages. But did you know that those blue eyes are caused by a lack of pigment? This genetic defect can be brought about by a recessive albinism gene or an extra gene that blocks the eye color. The most popular blue-eyed cats include:

 

  • Balinese
  • Birman
  • Himalayan
  • Javanese
  • Ragdoll
  • Siamese
  • Snowshoe
  • Tonkinese
  • Turkish Angora
  • Ojos Azules

 

Cat breeds with orange eyes include Devon Rex, American Wirehair, Japanese Bobtail, Maine Coon, and Turkish Van. British cat breeders wanted an eye color that distinctively contrasts any color of hair coat.

 

There are also cat breeds with big eyes such as the Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, Singapura, Sphynx, Persian cats, Scottish Fold, Tonkinese, Burmese, Russian Blue, and British Shorthair.

 

 

Ears of Cats

The ears can also be a distinguishing feature for several feline breeds. The Abyssinian, Chausie, Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, and Siamese are just some of the cat breeds with big ears. There are also cat breeds with pointy ears. The most popular of which include Russian Blue, Savannah, Ocicat, Oriental, Singapura, and Sphynx.

 

 

What Cat Breeds Like Water?

Cats hate water! This is a common concept that many people have. However, many cat breeds love to swim around and play with water. These breeds include the following:

 

  • Maine Coon
  • Turkish Angora
  • Japanese Bobtail
  • American Bobtail
  • Manx
  • Bengal cats
  • Norwegian Forest Cat
  • American Shorthair
  • Turkish Van

 

 

Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds

It is a fact that no cat is 100% allergen-free. However, there are cat breeds that shed less hair and dander and fewer allergens compared to other cats. The best cat breeds for allergies include:

 

  • Balinese
  • Javanese
  • Devon Rex
  • Cornish Rex
  • Siberian
  • Sphynx
  • Russian Blue

 

 

Which cat is smartest?

Like humans, some breeds of cats are smarter than their counterparts. These cats are bursting with energy, inquisitive, highly attuned with everything that’s happening around them, and possess a mischievous streak. They can be trained to learn tricks and play interactive games. Some of the smartest breeds of cats include the following:

 

  • Abyssinian
  • Balinese
  • Bengal
  • Burmese
  • Cornish Rex
  • Havana Brown
  • Korat
  • Savannah Cat
  • Siamese
  • Singapura

 

 

Rare cat breeds

The Cat Fanciers’ Association pointed out that all purebred felines can be considered rare. Devon Rex cat breed is rare in addition to the following breeds

 

  • Kurilian Bobtail
  • Norwegian Forest Cat
  • Minskin
  • Egyptian Mau
  • Tonkinese
  • Serengeti
  • Chartreux
  • Peterbald
  • Korat
  • Turkish Van

 

What are black cat breeds?

 

Here are the most common cat breeds known for their black coat

 

  • Bombay
  • Chantilly-Tiffany
  • Persian
  • Maine Coon
  • Cornish Rex
  • Selkirk Rex
  • Devon Rex
  • American Shorthair
  • British Shorthair

 

 

What are the most expensive cat breeds around the world?

 

These are cat breeds expensive around the world:

 

  • Ashera
  • Savannah
  • Toyger Cat
  • Bengal
  • Persian
  • Peterbald
  • Russian Blue
  • British Shorthair

 

 

What are cat breeds with short legs?

 

 

The following are some cat breeds with short legs

  • Napoleon
  • Skookum
  • Lambkin
  • Kinkalow
  • Bambino
  • Dwelf
  • Minskin
  • Munchkin

 

What breed of cat has big paws?

 

 

The paw size of cats is affected by some factors such as genetics and nutrition. Here are some cat breeds with big paws

  • Maine coon
  • Norwegian Forest

 

Are there cat breeds without claws?

 

 

Till now, there are no cat breeds without claws. This depends on genetics, if you want to produce a breed without claws, you have to find the gene that controls claw growth and creation

 

Are there cat breeds without tails?

 

Yes, Manx is a cat breed without a tail due to a genetic mutation possibly caused by inbreeding among the British Shorthairs population on the Isle of Man.

 

What are cat breeds without fur?

 

Some cat breeds are hairless that makes them unique even if this doesn’t appeal to many. Some owners said that they have the same temperament as normal breeds with fur. Here are some cat breeds without hair

  • Sphynx
  • Bambino
  • Peterbald
  • Minskin
  • Dwelf
  • Donskoy
  • Ukrainian Levkoy

 

What are the different cat colors?

 

There are many cat breeds and colors too. The color of the cat’s coat depends on the coat’s color of their parents. There are many colors such as white, blue, chocolate, cinnamon, lilac or lavender, red, cream, sable or brown, and cream.

 

What are cat breeds like British shorthair?

 

The shorthaired cats are the best for owners who want low-maintenance cats. They don’t require daily- grooming, just periodic brushing is enough to reduce shedding. Cat breeds like British shorthair are:

 

  • American Curl Cat Breed
  • American Shorthair
  • Bombay Cat
  • Egyptian Mau
  • Devon Rex
  • Cornish Rex
  • Burmese

 

What are cat breeds like Siamese?

 

The following are cat breeds like Siamese but are not Siamese:

  • Balinese
  • Birman
  • Ragdoll
  • Tonkinese
  • Himalayan
  • Devon Rex
  • Cornish Rex
  • Munchkin

 

What are cat breeds like Bengals?

 

Bengals are known for resembling little leopards, they look like wild animals as well as other breeds that share Bengals the same feature. Here are cat breeds like Bengals that look like wild animals

  • Savannah
  • Abyssinian
  • Bombay
  • American Bobtail
  • Toyger
  • Egyptian Mau

 

What are cat breeds like Persian?

 

Chinchilla cats have the same qualities as Persian to the extent that some people claimed that Chinchilla is silver Persian while others argued that Chinchilla is a separate breed

 

What type of cat is grumpy cat?

 

Grumpy cat or Tardar Sauce is known for its grumpy appearance that was caused by an underbite and feline dwarfism. It is a mixed breed but seems like having some Persian, Ragdoll, or Snowshoe in her line.

 

What is the most expensive cat in Singapore?

 

The Bengal cat breed is considered one of the most expensive cats in Singapore. The average price for Bengals is between $600 – $2750 depending on the coat color.

 

What is the cheapest cat in the world?

 

There are some cats that are affordable which range between 200$-500$ depending on each country

  • Oriental Shorthair
  • Turkish Van
  • Manx
  • Havana Brown
  • Himalayan
  • Ragdolls
  • Snowshoe
  • Cornish Rex
  • Siamese
  • Burmese

 

Indeed, there are many traits and characteristics that you can explore when choosing the right cat for you and your family. When you take time to take into consideration several factors carefully, you will be sure to find the best furball that will fit your home and lifestyle to a “T”.