This is a straight cat breed list A-Z. If you want to read about them please search this site using the excellent Google custom search facility:
You’ll be able to find information about nearly all of them. I have put the date and place of origin next to the breed name as well. When you search the internet for a list of cat breeds Google often finds sites that show about 40 or perhaps a bit more. There are about 70 mainstream cat breeds. However, there are, in fact, a lot more but the remainder are very much on the fringes. These are often unrecognized and experimental breeds. But they do or did exist. For that reason they are in this list of cat breeds.
If a breed is not yet accepted by a cat association, it does not mean that it is a failure. The acceptance process is slow and getting to championship status is a long journey. The CFA accepts fewer breeds than TICA. TICA is more adventurous than the CFA. For example, they recently granted championship status to the well known and respected Savannah cat.
The breeds are listed in alphabetical order.
- Abyssinian – Ethiopia – 1860s
- Alaskan Snow Cat (Snow Cat) – USA – 1990s
- American Bobtail – USA – 1960s
- American Curl – USA – 1981
- American Lynx – USA – 1980s
- American Shorthair – USA – 1900 as “Domestic Shorthair” and then 1966
- American Wirehair – USA – 1966
- Australian – Australia – 1946
- Australian Curl – Australia – 1996
- Balinese – USA – 1940s
- Bengal – USA – 1963
- Birman – Burma – uncertain
- Bohemian Rex – Czech Republic – 1994
- Bombay – USA – 1958
- British Angora – UK – 1960s
- British Shorthair – UK – 1870s
- Bristol – 1970s
- Burmese – Thailand – 1350-1767
- Burmilla – UK – 1981
- California Rex – USA – 1959
- California Spangled – USA – 1971
- Celonese – Sri Lanka – 1984
- Chartreux – France – 14th century
- Chantilly – USA – 1967
- Chausie – USA – 1995 (I say 1960s)
- Chinese Lop – China – 1796
- Colourpoint British Shorthair – UK – 1980s
- Colourpoint European Shorthair – Italy – 1982
- Colourpoint Shorthair – UK – 1947
- Cornish Rex – UK – 1950
- Cymric – Canada – 1960s
- Devon Rex – UK – 1960s
- Don Sphynx – Russia – 1987
- Dutch Rex – Netherlands – 1969
- Egyptian Mau – Egypt – ancient and 1953 in Europe
- European Shorthair – Italy – 1982
- Exotic Shorthair – USA – 1966
- French Sphynx – France – 1960s
- German Rex – Germany – 1946
- Havana Brown – UK – 1951
- Himalayan – USA/UK – 1950s/1920s
- Italian Rex – Italy – 1950
- Japanese Bobtail – Japan – 5th – 10th century
- Javanese – USA/UK – 1960s
- Karakul – USA – 1930s
- Karelian Bobtail – Russia – 1990s (uncertain)
- Kashmir – UK – 1950s
- Korat – Thailand – 1350-1767
- Kurilian Bobtail – Russia – 1990s (uncertain)
- LaPerm – USA – 1986
- Longhair Exotic – USA – 1990s
- Longhair Fold – UK – 1980s
- Longhair Japanese Bobtail – Japan – 1954
- Maine Coon – USA – 1860s
- Manx – UK – before 1700s
- Marbled Mist – Australia – 1997
- Malay Cat – Malaya Peninsula – 1881
- Malayan – USA – 1980
- Mei Toi – USA – 1994
- Mexican Hairless – USA – 1902
- Missouri Rex – USA – 1990s
- Munchkin – USA – 1983
- Nebelung – USA – 1990s
- Norwegian Forest Cat – Norway – 1930s
- Ocicat – USA – 1964
- Ohio Rex – USA – 1959
- Oriental Shorthair – UK – 1950s
- Persian (modern) – USA – 1950s
- Persian (original) – UK – 1800s
- Peterbald – Russia – 1994
- Pixie-bob – USA – 1980s
- Poodle Cat – Germany – 1994
- Prussian Rex – East Prussia – 1930s
- RagaMuffin – USA – 1994
- Ragdoll – USA – 1960s
- Renegade – USA – 1997
- Rexed Maine Coon – UK – 1988
- Russian Blue – Russia – pre-1800s
- Russian Hairless – Russia – 1987
- Safari Cat – USA – 1970s
- Savannah – USA – 1986
- Scottish Fold – UK – 1961
- Selkirk Rex – USA – 1987
- Serengeti – USA – 1994
- Seychellois – UK – 1984
- Siamese – Thailand – ancient – shown late 1800s in England
- Siberian – Russia – 1980s
- Si-Rex – USA – 1986
- Singapura – uncertain (Singapore/USA) – 1971
- Snowshoe – USA – 1960s
- Sokoke – Kenya – 1977
- Somali – USA/Canada – 1967
- Sphynx – Canada – 1966
- Spotted Mist – Australia – 1976
- Suqutranese – UK – 1990
- Thai-Bobtail – Russia – 1990s?
- Tiffanie – UK – 1980s
- Tiffany – USA – 1967
- Tonkinese – USA – 1950s
- Toy-Bobtail – Russia – 1986
- Turkish Angora – Turkey – 1400s
- Turkish Van – Turkey – pre-1800s
- Ural Rex – Russia – 1991
- Ussuri – Russia – 1990s
- Victoria Rex – UK – 1972
- Wild Abyssinian – Singapore – 1980s
- York Chocolate – USA – 1983
Most should be on PoC. I know there are 104 pictures of cat different cat breeds! And there are 107 listed here.
I agree, the years are very interesting to see, as well as the country. I have never heard of some of these breeds, so off to see what they look like.
The peak era for cat breed creation was probably the mid 1950s. There is no room left now for new breeds. They have more or less all been created. No doubt some one will come up with something.
Great, thx for this straight forward and useful list. It’s interesting to see the years in there too. It’s amazing how many of them are very recent. By that I mean 30 or 40 years old and not 100 years old – given the age of the cat fancy. It’s hard to really know what to think without knowing more about the origins of each breed. Of course some are unhealthy for example. Perhaps there should be more variations and less extremity rather than the opposite. It seems there are many variations of the domestic cat based on this list though.