If you’ve just adopted a cat and you’re wondering what breed it is, you’re in the right place.
While not all cats are purebred (having just one breed), it is still possible to identify the characteristics of a mix of breeds.
With 73 officially recognized cat breeds by the International Cat Association, though, it can be hard to know where to start.
We’ve put together this cat breed identification guide to give you a helping paw on your way to determining your cat’s breed – without genetic testing (but that’s also an option)!
Read on to learn more about cat breeds and their common traits.
Mixed Breed Cats Vs. Purebreds
One key place to start in knowing what breed of cat you have is the difference between purebred and mixed breed cats.
A purebred cat will be easier to identify from its characteristics as they line up with what that breed typically displays.
A mixed-breed cat doesn’t have these same standards. This makes the process more difficult and it may not leave you with the same certainty at the end. By identifying your cat’s defining characteristics, you can still have an educated guess as to its lineage.
Cat Breeds By Size and Weight
From tiny dwarf cats that weigh just four pounds when full-grown to a Maine Coon weighing in at 25 pounds, cats have quite a range of sizes.
Given how much the size and weight of your cat are tied to its breed, this will be your first clue about your cat’s lineage.
Large Cat Breeds
To be classified as a large cat, a cat breed must generally weigh over 15 pounds. Though the individual cat might weigh as little as 12 pounds or as much as 30 pounds, 15 is the general rule of thumb.
Large cats are more than just heavy; they can also be quite long and tall. They can stand more than 8 inches tall, reach heights of 16 inches, and range between 30-48 inches from nose to tail.
There are fewer breeds of cats that reach this size. If your cat falls in this category, you may have one of the following large cat breeds:
- Bengal Cat
- Burmese Cat
- Egyptian Mau
- Maine Coon
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Ragdoll
- Savannah Cat
Medium-Sized Cat Breeds
This is the most common size of cat. Given how many breeds are in this 9-15 pound category, the main help is ruling out the large and dwarf breeds.
Here are some common medium-sized cat breeds:
- American Shorthair
- American Wirehair
- Birman
- Bombay
- Burmese
- Exotic Shorthair
- Himalayan
- Manx
- Ocicat
- Persian
- Russian Blue
- Scottish Fold
- Selkirk Rex
- Siamese
- Snowshoe
- Somali
- Sphynx
- Tonkinese
Small or Dwarf Cat Breeds
A dwarf cat is one that weighs less than 9 pounds fully grown. Like their large cat counterparts, having a dwarf cat means you’ll have an easier time identifying their breed because there aren’t too many. Of those small cat breeds, Munchkins are the most well-known.
The most common small cat breeds include:
- Devon Rex
- Munchkin
- Cornish Rex
- American Curl
- Singapura
- Bambino
- Kinkalow
Cat Breeds By Face Shape
Another distinguishing characteristic of a cat’s breed is the face shape. This is not always a 100% match, but it can help to narrow down from broad guesses to a few breed possibilities.
Flat-Faced Cats
These are the cats with flat faces that look almost as if they were pressed flat. Known also as brachycephalic breeds, their skulls are much shorter than the typical cat. In some cats, like Persians, this is a desirable trait.
It isn’t always ideal for the cat, though, as this breed is known for having health problems due to their bone structure. Brachycephalic breeds deal with problems like:
- Birthing complications
- Vision problems
- Dental health problems
- Respiratory infections
- Breathing difficulty
That said, these breeds are easier to identify. Common flat-faced cat breeds are:
- Bombay
- British Shorthair
- Burmese
- Burmilla
- Exotic Shorthair
- Munchkin
- Persian
- Scottish Fold
- Selkirk Rex
Narrow-Faced Cat Breeds
On the other end of the face spectrum from flat-faced cats are narrow-faced cats. This iconic triangular face is even easier to identify, with the most popular being the Siamese.
Here are common narrow-faced cat breeds:
- Siamese
- Cornish Rex
- Abyssinian
- Sphynx
Cat Breeds By Ears
Another giveaway to your cat’s breed are its ears. Very few breeds have folded or curled ears, for example. Because ear shapes are caused by genetic mutations, they tend to become a defining trait of the breed that displays them.
Curled Ears
When we say curled ears, we mean ears are shaped like an arch. Your cat’s ears will curl backward, stick up high, as if they had a set of small horns. The cat breeds that have curled ears include:
- American Curl
- Highlander
- Folded Ears
While folded ears sound similar to curled ears, there are some distinctions we should mention.
Curled-ear cats are generally healthy, while folded ears can come from a genetic mutation that also causes health issues. Because the mutation affects the cartilage throughout the body, the conditions include deformities, arthritis, deafness, infections, among others. The main cat breed to display folded ears is the Scottish Fold.
Tufted Ears, Lynx Tips, or Ear Furnishings
Does your cat have tufts of fur growing from the tips of its ears? These ear tufts, often called lynx tips, keep debris out of your cat’s ears. Similarly, ear furnishings are hairs that grow inside the ear. While there are many breeds with this hair, knowing will narrow it down to the following list:
- Birman
- Highlander
- LaPerm
- Maine Coon
- Nebelung
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Persian
- Ragdoll
- Siberian
- Turkish Angora
- Turkish Van
Cat Breeds By Eyes
One of the reasons cats are so popular as pets is their striking eyes. Common cat eye colors include:
- Brown
- Hazel
- Gold
- Green
- Blue
Having the same eye color in both eyes may not tell you much about the cat. If your cat’s eyes are different colors (known as heterochromia), you may be able to narrow it down to the following list:
- Russian White
- Ragdoll
- Van Kedisi
- Oriental Shorthair
- Persians
- Turkish Van
- Turkish Angora
- Himalayan
- Cornish Rex
- Persian
- Japanese Bobtail
Cat Breeds By Coat
Another clear indicator of breed, the type of coat your cat has can be a helpful indicator. These coat types include long hair, short hair, no hair or hairless, and curly hair.
Long Haired Cat Breeds
These long, fluffy coats are indicative of long-haired cats. Typically appearing much larger than they actually are, the following breeds have thick fur:
- American Longhair
- Balinese
- Birman
- British Longhair
- Domestic Longhair
- Himalayan
- Long-Haired Siamese
- Maine Coon
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Persian
- Turkish Angora
Short Haired Cat Breeds
Requiring less grooming than their long-haired counterparts, short-haired cats have hair that stays closer to their body.
Here are some common short-haired cat breeds:
- Abyssinian
- American Curl
- American Shorthair
- Bengal
- British Shorthair
- Egyptian Mau
- Exotic Shorthair
- Havana Brown
- Korat
- Manx
- Ocicat
- Oriental Shorthair
- Russian Blue
- Tonkinese
Curly-Haired Cat Breeds
Curly-haired cats can have either long or short coats, so this is a classification you can make in addition to shorthair or longhair.
Here are some of the common curly-haired breeds:
- American Wirehair
- Cornish Rex
- Devon Rex
- LaPerm
- Selkirk Rex
- Hairless Cats
Hairless Or No Hair Cat Breeds
The easily identifiable hairless cats are popular for those with cat allergies, and they are quite easy to identify. As there are only a handful of hairless cat breeds, yours is likely one of the following:
- Bambino
- Donskoy
- Elf Cat
- Peterbald
- Sphynx
- Ukrainian Levkoy
Cat Breeds By Colors, Patterns, and Markings
A cat’s color is not the main clue to what breed it is, it is an important clue. Often defined as a mix of colors, patterns, and markings, this visual aid will help you narrow down your list.
Solid Color
Solid-colored cats display just one color. Common colors include black, white, brown, and red, among others.
Bi-Color
Displaying two colors is also quite common. Known as bi-color or piebalds, these cats will have a main base color, with white as the second color.
Common breeds with bi-colored coats include:
- Maine Coon
- Manx
- Exotic Shorthair
- Cornish Rex
- Tortoiseshell
Tortoiseshell cats are distinct from bi-colored cats in that the second color is not white. The secondary color appears as patches. Common color combinations include red and black, though blue, brown, orange, yellow, and off-white or cream are possible too.
Calico
A true calico cat, or one with a tri-colored quote, is quite rare and happens about 1 in 1,000. One color will be white. The majority of calico cats are females, with just 1 in 3,000 calico cats born male.
Since not all breeds can produce calico coloring, your calico cat could be one of the following:
- Manx
- American Shorthair
- Maine Coon
- British Shorthair
- Persian
- Arabian Mau
- Japanese Bobtail
- Exotic Shorthair
- Siberian
- Turkish Van
- Turkish Angora
- Norwegian Forest Cat
Colored Points
If your cat’s face, feet, ears, or tail have a dark coloration compared to the rest of its coat, it has colored points. There are no limits on the kind of color the points can come in.
Since not all breeds displayed colored points, your cat may be one of the following:
- Balinese
- Birman
- British Shorthair
- Exotic
- Highlander
- Himalayan
- Javanese
- Ragamuffin
- Ragdoll
- Siberian
- Tonkinese
Cat Breeds By Tail
Most cat tails won’t tell you much about the breed. Unless, that is, your cat has a short tail.
Since only a few breeds display short tails – often they look cropped – your cat could be one of the following:
- American Bobtail
- Cymric
- Japanese Bobtail
- Kurilian Bobtail
- Manx
- Pixiebob
Cat Breeds By Behavior
Certain cat breeds have traits and temperaments. While not a foolproof measure of the cat’s breed, it can lead you in the right direction.
Smart Cat Breeds
The general belief about cats is that they are intelligent. Even among cats, the following breeds are known for having above-average levels of intelligence:
- Abyssinian
- Bengal
- Devon Rex
- Japanese Bobtail
- Manx
- Ocicat
- Persian
- Ragdoll
- Siamese
- Turkish Van
Noisy Cat Breeds
Despite their reputation for being reserved, aloof creatures, some cats are known to make noise. These vocal cats may purr, sing, or chit-chat with their owners.
A number of cat breeds are known to be vocal, including the following:
- American Bobtail
- Balinese
- Bengal
- Burmese
- Colorpoint Shorthair
- Ocicat
- Oriental
- Siamese
- Sphynx
- Tonkinese
Calm and Docile Cat Breeds
While cats may be natural predators with a reserve of energy they use to play, hunt, climb, and chase, there are some breeds that tend to be calmer.
More reserved, quite, and docile, these cat breeds include:
- American Shorthair
- British Shorthair
- Manx
- Ragdoll
- Russian Blue
- Selkirk Rex
Friendly Cat Breeds
While some cats are known for being fond of just one person or always needing their space, there are also friendlier cat breeds. These cats are more open to meeting new people, getting scratches and rubs, and coming out to socialize.
Known for their friendliness are the following cat breeds:
- American Shorthair
- Birman
- Burmese
- Cornish Rex
- Maine Coon
- Ragdoll
- Ragamuffin
- Siamese
- Sphynx
- Abyssinian
- LaPerm
Independent Cat Breeds
On the other paw, some cats are perfectly content to be on their own – until they need you, that is. With a trait that can be seen as both bossy and independent, these cat breeds include:
- Balinese
- Colorpoint Shorthair
- Oriental
- Singapura
- Somali
Cat Breeds That Enjoy Water
Most cats will do everything they can to stay away from water. But not all cats! A number of cats that don’t have a problem with water. In fact, they may even be attracted to it. These water-friendly cat breeds include:
- American Bobtail
- American Shorthair
- Bengal
- Japanese Bobtail
- Maine Coon
- Manx
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Turkish Angora
- Turkish Van
Discover Your Cat’s Breed Through Genetic Testing
The first two methods we outlined involve a bit of detective work. Unless you got your cat from a breeder, you ultimately won’t be 100% sure of your cat’s breed.
With genetic testing, you get an analysis of your cat’s DNA and their genetic makeup, revealing what kind of cat you have.
Useful for mixed-breed cats, genetic testing goes beyond the physical traits to break down your cat’s lineage.
More than just a fun piece of trivia, knowing your cat’s breed can also give you insight into its health and health concerns that can come up as your cat ages. This allows you to take the necessary precautions so that your cat lives a long, happy life.
Interested in learning more about genetic testing? Get in touch with your veterinarian at the Catonsville Cat Clinic today to find out more.