Published Dec 4, 2024
Bengal cat. Rodica Vasiliev / Shutterstock.com
cats have long captivated us with their mysterious allure, graceful movements, and captivating gaze. But beyond their enigmatic charm, cats are also incredibly beautiful creatures, each breed boasting its own unique features that elevate their appeal.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to 10 cat breeds that redefine what it means to be adorable, from silky coats and striking eyes to endearing quirks that make them unforgettable companions. Whether you’re a lifelong cat lover or new to the feline world, these breeds are sure to steal your heart.
#1 Bengal
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Large shorthair
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$1,500 - $3,000
The Bengal breed was created in the 1980s by crossing domestic cats with the Asian Leopard Cat, which is a small wild cat species native to Asia. The goal of the breeding program was to produce domestic cats that looked wild but had loving, dependable temperaments. The program was a success. The Bengal is the only breed that has spotted markings called rosettes, which resemble the markings found on wild cats like leopards, jaguars, and ocelots. Rosettes preferably have two distinct colors or shades, such as paw-print shaped, arrowhead shaped, doughnut- or half-doughnut shaped, or clustered. Bengals come in several colors including brown.
Regardless of color the coat is always spotted or marbled, and may have glitter (a special type of hair that reflects light and makes it look as though the cat has been dusted with glitter). Bengals may look wild, but they are very affectionate and let you know what they are thinking with a lot of meowing. Highly active and curious, they need a lot of engagement and stimulation from their owners and don’t do well if left alone for long periods.
#2 Persian
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Medium to large long-haired
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$1300 - $3000
The Persian cat originated in the region of Persia and Iran possibly as far back as the 1600s, but the breed became popular in the West at the end of the 19th century. The Persian is one of the most intelligent cat breeds and is recognized for their ability to be trained.
Persian cats are selective about who they spend time with and usually choose family and a few trusted friends. This beautiful, fluffy cat breed gets along great with children and other household pets. Persians are better in quiet homes where not much changes.
#2 American Shorthair
The American Shorthair developed through natural selection and is a true working cat.
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Medium-to-large sized shorthair
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$100–$1,000
Like all Americans, the American Shorthair is originally from across the pond. There are no indigenous cat breeds in the Americas, and researchers generally agree the continent’s first cats made their way across the ocean with European settlers. They were used as pest control on ships, and they continued their mouse-catching duties on dry land.
The American Shorthair developed through natural selection and is a true working cat. Cats that could hunt their own food and serve a purpose to farmers were the ones that survived to pass on their genes.
This ensured that the tabby gene passed from generation to generation. This cat breed has solid, bicolor, and tortoiseshell members, but stripes are often the desired coat pattern among breeders. There are even cats with stripes over the top of the patches associated with calicos and tortoiseshells.
#4 Burmese
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Medium-sized short-haired
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$450-$3,000
The Burmese cat comes in four colors, two of which are in the brown family. Sable is a rich, warm, sable brown. Champagne is a warm honey beige. (The other two Burmese colors are grey hues: blue, which is a medium gray, and platinum, which is a pale, light grey.) The four Burmese colors were inherited from the Siamese cat, which was used during the creation of the Burmese breed.
The Burmese’s coat, requires very little grooming, is very short and sleek, with a fine, glossy, satiny texture. The Burmese is extremely people-oriented and loving.
#5 British Shorthair
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Medium-to-large shorthair
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$300-$5,000
The British Shorthair of today comes in a rainbow of colors, but when the breed was first developed, most British Shorthairs were blue (grey). In fact, there were so many blue British Shorthairs that the breed was originally called the British Blue. Today, blue remains a popular color in the British Shorthair.
Today’s British Shorthairs come in several grey colors and patterns, including solid blue, blue tabby, silver tabby, and bi-color (blue and white). The British Shorthair’s single coat is short and very dense. British Shorthairs are laid-back and affectionate, and get along well with kids and other pets, including friendly dogs.
#6 Savannah
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Large-sized short-haired
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$1,500 - $25,000 (depending on generation)
Savannah cats are a mix of a domestic cat and a wild African cat called a Serval. They inherited their very large ears from the Serval, and they can range in size based on breeding.
Savannah cats are known for their athleticism and love of exploration, often displaying dog-like behavior such as playing fetch or walking on a leash. Their striking spotted coats and slender, elegant build make them one of the most exotic-looking domestic cat breeds.
Despite their wild ancestry, they are highly intelligent and can be trained to perform tricks, making them both fascinating and entertaining companions.
#7 Sphynx
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Medium-sized hairless
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$1800-$3000
Sphynx cats are completely hairless, and their ears are very large. Cats with no hair are the result of a genetic mutation, and this breed was developed through selective breeding.
The Sphynx cat loves to curl up in its owner’s lap and is known for being extremely affectionate. In addition, they are very friendly and often referred to as Velcro cats because they stick to their humans. This breed is also intelligent and curious and often serves as the household welcome committee when guests arrive.
#8 Egyptian Mau
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Small to medium-sized shorthair
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$500-$3,500
The exotic-looking Egyptian Mau is the only naturally spotted breed of domestic cat. The Egyptian Mau’s spots may be small or large, round, oblong, or irregular shaped. The breed also has an “M” and frown marks on the forehead, a dorsal stripe along the back, a banded tail and dark tail tip.
The haunches and legs have both spots and stripes. The Egyptian Mau’s medium-length coat has a lustrous sheen. Though the Egyptian Mau comes in several colors, the grey-hued silver, a warm bronze, and smoke colors are perhaps the best recognized.
The Egyptian Mau’s bright-green eyes are quite striking, a color that’s referred to as “gooseberry green” in the breed standard. Egyptian Maus are friendly with their own humans, but can be shy with newcomers.
#9 British Shorthair
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Medium-to-large shorthair
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$300-$5,000
The British Shorthair is a medium to large-sized cat, with a compact, well-balanced body. The short, dense, and very soft coat comes in many colors and patterns, but blue British Shorthairs are especially popular. The British Shorthair’s moderately flat face is very round with round cheeks. The large, round eyes are set well apart, lending to a distinctly human expression.
The British Shorthair’s good looks, combined with its sweet, easy-going, and affectionate personality make this breed an instant charmer. A related breed, the British Longhair, has a similar build, with a moderately flat face, but its coat is longer.
#10 Himalayan
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Medium-sized longhair
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$200-$3,000
The Himalayan is essentially a color-pointed Persian. It was created by breeding Siamese cats and Persians together, which means Himalayans always have blue eyes and pointed coloration. The International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes the Himalayan as a separate breed from the Persian, but the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) consider the Himalayan a color division of the Persian cat.
Color-point cats have light-colored bodies with darker “points” of color on the extremities (face, ears, legs, and tail). The Himalayan cat comes in many shades, including chocolate, seal, lilac, blue, and red. Like the Persian cat, Himalayans are loving, laid-back lap cats.
