Most cats come under the denomination of domestic cats, as per the Cat Fanciers Association. These cats are divided into long-haired and short-haired.
Technically a purebred is a cat that has ancestors of the same breed. However, some interbreeding is allowed under strict conditions.
It’s not an exhaustive list of cat breeds identified by the International Cat Association who enforces the cat breed standard.
Still, it will give you an impression of how much differentiation between a domestic and purebred cat breed.
There are many qualities of a cat you should look at to get a good idea of what kind of cat you have, such as the coat length, coat pattern, weight, vocality, temperament and personality traits.
| Name | Details |
| The American Short Hair | Also recognized as the domestic shorthair, this cat strain was later classified as purebred and not the domestic shorthair it was known for. |
| Calico Cat Breed | Calicos are tortoiseshell cats that have white in their colouring. They might have a mix of orange, black and white, or a flaxen colour. You’re unlikely to find two calicos with the same patterns or patches on their coats. |
| Tabby Cats | Tabbies typically have spirals, dots, stripes or dashes on their covers and can be primarily gray or brown cats. However, they can also come in various colours, and the coat pattern is always identifiable. In addition, most tabbies have an M shape on the forehead. Otherwise, cats with the distinctive “tiger” striping fall into this cat breed category. |
| Tortoiseshell Cats | This cat breed is comparable to calicos but comes in two prominent colour families. They’ll generally be black and red or some modification on these shades. The lighter red shades go all the means to ginger and cream. The black colouring can also incorporate blue, gray, or brown. These cats own one of two coat patterns. Brindled or patched. The tortoiseshell pattern might also have some tabby characteristics to it to confuse you a bit more. The distinction will be that it has patches of colour, not the allover pattern. |
| Tuxedo Cats | These cats are black and white. This cat breed will usually hold a black body and white socks and bib. They’re pretty distinctive, so that you can recognize them quite easily. |
| Siamese Cats | Known for their colour point coats, beautiful blue eyes, and extreme intelligence, this cat breed is sought after. They are usually slim and have a longer heads. They tend to be vocal and make excellent pets for a cat household. This cat breed is also a bit highly strung and tends to bond with one family member over the others. Opposite to what you might imagine, they are still great cats to have if you have kids. They are very dependable to their humans. |
| Persian Cats Longhair | These are beautiful felines but can be very distinguishedly high maintenance. The notable feature here is that they have long fluffy hair and a short, stubby build. Modern cat breeds seem as though they got lost on the face when small. In addition, their faces tend to be flat, with the nose flattened as well. These features distinguish them as one of the brachycephalic breeds that have been approved in both dogs and cats. |
| Himalayan Cats | These cat breeds are related to Persians in that they have a coat that is equal in length. They also share identical characteristics regarding the build and flat faces. The difference comes in the colouring. They own a colour point pattern so that they might possess contrasting socks. |
| Maine Coon Cats | This is a widespread cat breed type in the United States. It looks something like a modern offshoot or crossing of a bobcat. Maine Coons are very large, have silky hair and lots of it, and usually have ears that hold tufts at the top. They come in all aspects and a variety of colours. |
| Russian Blue Cats | Russian blue cats are renowned for their unique blue-gray fur colour and their brightly coloured green eyes. They are not confused with the Chartreux or Korat cat breeds even though they have similar colouring. In addition, they have shorter coats, so they don’t require daily grooming like Persians or Himalayans. |
| Manx Cat | If your little buddy falls into this cat breed division, it’ll be pretty easy to spot. For starters, they have a genetic mutation that causes the tail to stop developing. They do come in a range of colours and coat spots & patterns. They are especially appreciated as active hunters and show cats. If you have mice in the area, these cats will take charge of it quickly. |
| Sphynx Cat | We adore felines, but these unique animals take some time to get used to. This hairless cat doesn’t have fur, so they look more like shrivelled older adults than your typical feline. Those with allergies prize them – without a coat, they cannot set off an allergic backlash. They amazingly love and loyal animals, so if you get the possibility to rescue one, do consider it. |
| Ragdoll Cat | These cats have medium-length fur and beautiful, pale colouring. They will generally be gray and white and have a silky coat. They relate to Persians in that their faces are lightly flattened, though not to an identical degree. |
Cat: Purebred Or Domestic Breeds
Don’t despise domestic breeds just because of their lack of pedigree compared to a purebred cat. They come in a range of different sizes, coat patterns, and colours.
You’ll find the typical domestic cat “breeds” with coat patterns such as tortoiseshell, tuxedo, calico, and the plain old tabby cat.
The cat breed can be hard to tell without a cat DNA test due to the genetic predisposition a cat may have from their parents, whether their mother or father. Even males and females of the same breed can behave entirely differently.