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An Introduction to Cat Breeds
TICA recognizes over 40 distinct breeds of cats. You will see many of them at the cat show!
Abyssinian: A regal, medium sized cat. Firmly muscular, lithe and panther-like in motion. The Aby is a springy, resilient cat, high in energy and extremely affectionate.
American Curl: (Shorthair and Longhair) The distinctive feature is their unique, backward-curling ears. They are a medium-sized cat with even dispositions.
American Shorthair: North America’s native shorthair cat is a medium-sized cat with a broad head. The American Shorthair is probably best known in the Silver Classic Tabby, though it is accepted in a wide array of colors and patterns.
American Wirehair: Essentially an American Shorthair with a "wired" coat. They are among the most rare of cats.
Balinese: Longhair Siamese.
Bengal: A man-made breed prized For its beautiful spotted coats. Later patterns include classic tabby (Marble) and newer colors include pointed (Siamese), Sepia (Burmese) and mink (Tonkinese) Categories.
Birman: Called the Sacred Cat of Burma, the Birman is a pointed cat with white feet. The Birman is a medium to large cat with a sturdy body and a semi-long coat that is easy to maintain.
Bombay: A black patent-leather cat of medium size. The Bombay is a sturdy cat with large, copper-penny eyes.
British Shorthair: A very sturdy, medium to large cat with a semi-cobby, powerful body. The coat is short, as the name implies, but is dense and plush.
Burmese: A solid, compact, muscular, heavy bodied cat with short, very fine, close-lying coat and large round eyes.
Chartreaux: A large robust-appearing cat with dense, water-repellent blue fur and gold eyes. Chartreaux are native to France.
Cornish Rex: A curly-coated, fine boned cat that stands high on its legs. The distinctive arched back and tucked-up tummy give it the look of a greyhound.
Cymric: Longhaired Manx.
Devon Rex: Curly coated cat with medium body, big eyes, large, low-set ears and strong cheekbones create the look of an elf.
Egyptian Mau: The only natural domestic breed of spotted cat. A graceful, strong cat of medium size with high, loose angulated shoulder blades.
Exotic Shorthair: (See Persian)
Havana: (Formerly Havana Brown. They are now also available in Frost) A solid colored cat of medium size with straight, clean lines and a distinctive alert look. Also note the vibrant green eyes. The Havana comes in chocolate or lilac.
Himalayan: Same body conformation as the Persian, but has a colorpoint coat pattern. The Himalayan is a man-made breed. They have the Persian personality.
Japanese Bobtail: (Shorthair and Longhair) A long, slender, clean-lined cat with high cheekbones, slanted eyes and a short, curled tail. Accepted in all colors.
Household Pets: A style for every taste, these precious felines come in all colors, shapes and sizes. With and without tails, and all lengths in between. Being cats of unknown ancestry, they reflect the broad range of everything we find beautiful and perfect in cats.
Korat: A natural breed imported from Thailand. Prized for it’s heart shaped face and glossy, fine, short silver-blue coat.
LaPerm: A unique combination of curly hair and an affectionate personality. Can sport anything from a wavy coat to ringlet-type curls that range from tight ringlets to long corkscrew curls.
Maine Coon: Large and imposing. America’s native longhair cat comes in a large variety of colors. It is known for it’s calm but curious nature.
Manx: A compact, rounded cat with no tail, medium in size. They come in Shorthair and Longhair (Cymric), and in any color, or pattern.
Munchkin: The Munchkin is characterized by unusually short legs. They come in any color or hair length that can be found in the general cat population. Although the Munchkin is amusing to watch and the body resembles a ferret more than a cat, the personality is all cat and then some.
Norwegian Forest Cat: A natural breed of longhair cat from Scandinavia. Similar to the Maine Coon but shorter body and tail, with a triangular head and more dense coat.
Ocicat: A large spotted cat, athletic and muscular. Developed by cross-breeding domestic cats to produce a “wild” look.
Oriental Shorthair/Oriental Longhair: See Siamese/Balinese
Persian & Exotic Shorthair: Both cats are round and massive with a very short nose and extremely large, round eyes, a short, well-rounded body and short legs. in the Persian the coat is long and flowing, the Exotic Shorthair has a shorter, dense, plush coat.
Pixie-Bob: (shorthair and longhair) A domestic cat created to have a visual similarity to the wild native North American Bobcat, with the reliable temperament of the domestic cat. Medium to large with heavy boning, and muscle tone. Tail is short 3 – 4 inches, large feet and a wild-appearing spotted coat.
Ragdoll: A large, longhaired, pointed cat, shown in the solid point pattern, or with one of two varieties of white in spite of their large, powerful build, they are known for their affectionate natures; as their breeders say, "A Yard of Love."
Russian Blue: A slender, elegant, shorthaired, silver-blue cat with green eyes.
Scottish Fold: (short and long hair) With their small ears folded forward over their round faces and huge round eyes, the Fold is adorably appealing.
Selkirk Rex: One of the more recently discovered curly-coated cats, the Selkirk has a structure of the British Shorthair with a curly coat. It comes in all colors and in both short and long hair.
Siamese/Balinese/Oriental Shorthair/Oriental Longhair: This breed group shares the same standard with a few variations. All are long and lean, with a long neck, and long, fine legs, wedge shaped head and fine oriental body type. All 4 varieties are busy, super-affectionate and vocal.
Siberian: Russia’s native longhaired cat, similar to America’s Maine Coon and Scandinavia’s Norwegian Forest cat. The Siberian has a more rounded head body structure and a more abundant undercoat.
Singapore: From Sigapore, the smallest and among the most rare of the cats. It’s soft coloring and large green eyes give it a very sweet, soft look.
Somali: Longhaired Abyssinian
Sphynx: Alternately described as a warm peach or a fuzzy hot water-bottle. The cats are not truly hairless, but are covered with very short, fine down. While lack of hair makes them appear fine boned, they are actually very substantial, hardy cats.
Tonkinese: A hybrid of Siamese and Burmese resulting in the original intermediate of these two breeds. The overall look is of a very old typeSiamese, with a color range that covers both parent breeds.
Turkish Angora: Fine silky and graceful with a strong muscular body. Intelligent, active and inquisitive. Easiest to recognize in the white variety, the Turkish Angora comes in a variety of colors and patterns.
Turkish Van: The swimming cat from the Lake Van region of Turkey. The Van is noted for the placement of color, a white cat with color on the head, and tail. The cats are large, affectionate and assertive.
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