Cats can be big or small, and, noisy or quiet, and, thus, all have their personalities. People who are surrounded by this number of types of cats have a question, how many breeds of cats are there? Now there are more than 70 breeds of cats recognized worldwide and each of them has its peculiarities in such parameters as appearance and character. Breeds may also differ with the cat association, whether from The International Cat Association (TICA) or Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), both of which have their own standard list.
In this article will focus on describing main breeds of cats, explaining what is special and loved about each one.
Popular Cat Breeds in the United States
There exists many cat breeds in the United States that are recognized for their temper, looks and how well they can adjust. Now, below is the list of the famous cat breeds in the USA based on their characteristics, from friendly, lap-cuddle type to energized climbing explorers.
1. Maine Coon: America’s Gentle Giant
- Type of Cat: Long-haired
- Traits: Maine Coons are quite large with tufted ears and bushy tails mainly because the breed is referred to as the ‘gentle giants’ because of their friendly temperament.
- Personality: Loving, smart, and great with children, which certainly explains why this breed is on the list of United States’ favorites.
2. American Shorthair: The Classic Domestic Cat
- Type of Cat: Short-haired
- Traits: An American Shorthair has a moderate size, well muscular build and is bred in many different colors and patterns.
- Personality: Socialized and easygoing, they are good for households with children, and other animals reciprocate the same with your furry buddies.
3. Ragdoll: The Laid-Back Companion
- Type of Cat: Long-haired
- Traits: Having soft silky coat they are large cats with blue eye color and have a mature temper.
- Personality: Loyal, friendly and very touch-orientated, Ragdolls accompany their people about the home and like to be carried.
How Many Cat Breeds Are There? A Look at Officially Recognized Breeds
Up to date there are over seventy known breeds of cats. TICA and the CFA, for example, have different breed standards of cats and different lists. Although, the precise number varies depending on the criteria that an association uses to recognize people. Here are some of the most globally recognized breeds of cats:
4. Sphynx: The Hairless Cat
- Type of Cat: Hairless
- Traits: Because the surface of the skin is bare and develops deep wrinkles, big round ears, the Sphinx is the most individual of the cats.
- Personality: The Sphynx is playful, a social and love-attention animal and is also a talkative cat.
5. Siamese: The Vocal Beauty
- Type of Cat: Short-haired
- Traits: Siamese cat has smooth coats, rather large, almond-shaped eyes, and has the color-point coat.
- Personality: They are intelligent, mostly vocal and extremely loving, and are often very involved with their human companions.
Unique Breeds of Cats and Their Characteristics
The cats come in many categories, and each of the breeds has something unique to it. Hopefully, you will find the following information curious and interesting as it presents some other known and (or) unique breeds of cats noted internationally.
6. Bengal: The Wild-Looking Cat
- Type of Cat: Short-haired
- Traits: Cats have some resemblance to leopards, flexible fur patterns with black spots on the orange skin and strong bodies are typical of these animals.
- Personality: Moderately energized and rather unpredictable, Bengals are smart and definitely love to play.
7. Abyssinian: The Energetic Explorer
- Type of Cat: Short-haired
- Traits: Abyssinians have a “ticked,” pattern that separates it from other cats ; they have a wild appearance.
- Personality: Charming, jovial and cunning these Abyssinians are quite fond of Tree Climbing and are very active creatures.
8. Scottish Fold: The Cat with Folded Ears
- Type of Cat: Short-haired
- Traits: Categorized by the adorable drooping ears, referred to as ‘Scottish fold’, they have a round look like owls.
- Personality: Sweet, gentle, and tender, Scottish Folds thrive in households with children and young people and need company.
How to Choose Between Different Types of Cats
So, when you take time to look for differ ent cat breeds, you need to consider your lifestyle and the choice you would make. Here’s a guide on factors to consider when choosing from different types of cats:
- Activity Level: Some of them are very playful and will definitely need to be stimulated regularly for example Bengals and Abyssinians while some are vey calm such as Ragdolls.
- Coat Type and Grooming Needs: Persians and Ragdolls have long hair and therefore need more grooming than short haired breeds such as the American Shorthair.
- Temperament: Hypoallergenic felines such as the Siamese and Sphynx are more vocal as well as affectionate than other breeds such as Maine Coons and British Shorthairs that are famously calm and often less vocal.
Rare and Exotic Cat Breeds
However, there more the other well-known breeds of cats, there are these breeds of cats that are rare but special in their own way. Here are a few worth mentioning:
9. Savannah: The Hybrid with a Wild Streak
- Type of Cat: Serval (cross between domestic cat and specially selected African serval breeder doe)
- Traits: Savannahs’ muscular and larger than average, with large ears and long legs, give them a hint of the wild.
- Personality: They are often more active as well as smarter and can even be more challenging to manage this is because they need experienced people to handle them.
10. Turkish Van: The Swimming Cat
- Type of Cat: Semi-long-haired
- Traits: Loving water, Turkish Vans have a specific coat type, which more often than not represents white color with color on the head and the tail.
- Personality: Turkish Vans are lively and energetically active, love water and climbing as they are intelligent animals.
Why Do Cat Breeds Matter?
Knowledge about the several forms of cats is useful to those who would want to adopt a pet cat of their own kind. This applies to everything, including how much exercise they need on a daily basis and how often they should be groomed, so you must make certain that you are choosing a cat that will be well suited to your home.
Conclusion: Embracing the Diversity of Cat Breeds
The number of cat breeds has continuously grown and cat owners get to choose from so many cats which look differently, have different character and temperament. When you are in a mood for having a friendly, calm cat like the Ragdoll or are interested in exotic, wild looking cats like the Bengals or are looking for playful and strange looking cats like the Sphynx, there is definitely a breed for everyone.
It will be helpful to understand how many cat breeds exist to realize the huge variety of these animals, and it will also be important to know the types of cats in order to choose a certain breed which would be the most suitable for you.
Therefore, no matter if you have traditional popular cats, such as American Shorthair or want to get unusual and rather individual Sphynx, spend time to read about each breed character and requirements.
