Cat breeds

Photos and the key traits of the 31 breeds our scanner knows, plus the ordinary house cat. Tap a breed for its size, personality, care and the look-alikes it is often confused with.

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AbyssinianAbyssinian American BobtailAmerican Bobtail American CurlAmerican Curl American ShorthairAmerican Shorthair BengalBengal BirmanBirman BombayBombay British ShorthairBritish Shorthair Cornish RexCornish Rex House cat (domestic shorthair or longhair)House cat Egyptian MauEgyptian Mau Exotic ShorthairExotic Shorthair HimalayanHimalayan Khao ManeeKhao Manee LykoiLykoi Maine CoonMaine Coon ManxManx MunchkinMunchkin Neva MasqueradeNeva Masquerade Norwegian Forest CatNorwegian Forest Cat Oriental ShorthairOriental Shorthair PersianPersian RagdollRagdoll Russian BlueRussian Blue SavannahSavannah Scottish FoldScottish Fold SiameseSiamese SiberianSiberian SnowshoeSnowshoe SphynxSphynx Turkish AngoraTurkish Angora Turkish VanTurkish Van

Cat breeds compared: size, coat and lifespan

A quick way to narrow it down. Coat length and size rule out most breeds at a glance, and the details are on each breed's page.

BreedSizeCoatWeightLifespan
AbyssinianMediumShort, ticked6 to 10 lb (2.7 to 4.5 kg)12 to 15 years
American BobtailMedium to largeShort or medium-long, shaggy7 to 16 lb (3 to 7 kg)13 to 15 years
American CurlMediumShort or semi-long, silky5 to 10 lb (2.3 to 4.5 kg)12 to 16 years
American ShorthairMedium to largeShort, thick and dense7 to 15 lb (3 to 7 kg)15 to 20 years
BengalMedium to largeShort, soft and pelt-like8 to 15 lb (3.6 to 6.8 kg)12 to 16 years
BirmanMedium to largeSemi-long and silky, little undercoat6 to 12 lb (2.7 to 5.4 kg)12 to 16 years
BombayMediumShort, close-lying and glossy6 to 11 lb (2.7 to 5 kg)12 to 16 years
British ShorthairMedium to largeShort, very dense and plush7 to 17 lb (3 to 8 kg)12 to 17 years
Cornish RexSmall to mediumVery short, tight waves6 to 10 lb (2.7 to 4.5 kg)11 to 15 years
Egyptian MauMediumShort, fine and silky6 to 14 lb (2.7 to 6.4 kg)12 to 15 years
Exotic ShorthairMediumShort, thick and plush7 to 14 lb (3 to 6.4 kg)12 to 15 years
HimalayanMediumLong, thick, with a full ruff7 to 12 lb (3 to 5.4 kg)9 to 15 years
Khao ManeeMediumShort, smooth and glossy6 to 12 lb (2.7 to 5.4 kg)10 to 15 years
LykoiSmall to mediumSparse, patchy roan6 to 12 lb (2.7 to 5.4 kg)12 to 15 years
Maine CoonLargeLong, shaggy and water-resistant10 to 25 lb (4.5 to 11 kg)12 to 15 years
ManxMediumShort and double (the long-haired version is the Cymric)8 to 12 lb (3.6 to 5.4 kg)9 to 13 years
MunchkinSmall to mediumShort or long5 to 9 lb (2.3 to 4 kg)12 to 15 years
Neva MasqueradeMedium to largeSemi-long, thick, triple layer8 to 17 lb (3.6 to 7.7 kg)12 to 15 years
Norwegian Forest CatLargeLong, double and water-resistant9 to 16 lb (4 to 7 kg)12 to 16 years
Oriental ShorthairMediumShort, fine and glossy5 to 10 lb (2.3 to 4.5 kg)12 to 15 years
PersianMediumLong, thick and flowing7 to 12 lb (3 to 5.4 kg)12 to 17 years
RagdollLargeSemi-long, silky10 to 20 lb (4.5 to 9 kg)12 to 15 years
Russian BlueMediumShort, dense double coat with silver tips7 to 12 lb (3 to 5.4 kg)15 to 20 years
SavannahLargeShort, coarse, spotted12 to 25 lb (5 to 11 kg), early generations largest12 to 20 years
Scottish FoldMediumShort or long6 to 13 lb (2.7 to 6 kg)11 to 15 years
SiameseMediumShort, fine and glossy6 to 12 lb (2.7 to 5.4 kg)12 to 20 years
SiberianMedium to largeSemi-long, triple layer, water-resistant8 to 17 lb (3.6 to 7.7 kg)12 to 15 years
SnowshoeMediumShort and smooth7 to 14 lb (3 to 6.4 kg)14 to 20 years
SphynxMediumHairless or a fine peach-fuzz down6 to 12 lb (2.7 to 5.4 kg)9 to 15 years
Turkish AngoraSmall to mediumSemi-long, silky, no undercoat5 to 9 lb (2.3 to 4 kg)12 to 18 years
Turkish VanLargeSemi-long, soft, water-resistant10 to 20 lb (4.5 to 9 kg)12 to 17 years

How to narrow down your cat's breed

Start with the coat. Long-haired breeds here include the Maine Coon, Persian, Ragdoll, Siberian, Norwegian Forest Cat, Himalayan, Birman, Turkish Angora and Turkish Van. Short-haired breeds include the British and American Shorthair, Russian Blue, Bombay, Bengal, Siamese and Abyssinian. A few are their own category: the hairless Sphynx, the wavy Cornish Rex and the patchy Lykoi.

Then look at the head and the ears. A flat face points to the Persian family. Folded ears mean a Scottish Fold, curled-back ears an American Curl. Huge ears on a slim, wedge-shaped head suggest a Siamese or an Oriental. Finally, check the tail: no tail suggests a Manx, a short bobbed tail an American Bobtail.

If none of this fits neatly, your cat is most likely a house cat, like most pet cats. Our guide what kind of cat do I have? goes through every clue step by step.

Frequently asked questions

How many cat breeds are there?
It depends on the registry. The big cat registries recognize somewhere between about 45 and 75 breeds, and new ones are added every few years. Our scanner knows 31 of the most common ones plus the ordinary house cat.
What is the most popular cat breed?
Among pedigreed cats in the United States, the Ragdoll, Maine Coon, Exotic Shorthair and Persian are usually at the top of the registration lists. But most pet cats are not pedigreed at all: they are house cats.
What is the biggest cat breed?
Of the breeds here, the Maine Coon and early-generation Savannahs are the largest, with males often over 18 lb. Norwegian Forest Cats, Siberians and Ragdolls are also big.
Which cat breeds are best for families?
Gentle, steady breeds such as the Ragdoll, Birman, Maine Coon, British Shorthair and American Shorthair are popular with families. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat first.

What breed is your cat?

Upload one photo and the free cat breed identifier shows the three closest breeds in seconds, or tells you it is a classic house cat.

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