Popular Cat Breeds

Abyssinian

The Abyssinian tends to have a lot of energy, and tends to be very active and playful. This cat is a great pick if you are looking for a feline friend that is fun and entertaining. Plus there is the factor that the Abyssinian is a very attractive cat. They are a midsize cat, with beautiful green and gold eyes of an almond shape, and a striking ticked pattern. There are generally three different breed colors.

The first is called ruddy; this is where the cat is an orange and brown color that is marked with dark brown or black. The second color for this breed is red; the cat has a warm color of fur that has chocolate brown spots. The last color of this breed is blue; this is a unique color where the cat looks like they have a mix of different shades of slate blue. They are a graceful and regal looking feline with soft, silky coats, and their hair is medium in length.

Burmese

If you are looking for more of an affectionate cat that isn't going to freak and claw you, a Burmese might be just what you are looking for. The Burmese is of medium size with quite a muscular body. Because they have more of a solid build, it might come as quite a surprise when you pick them up and feel the full effect of their weight. They are quite beautiful with a short glossy coat. With breeding over the years, there have come to be three different types of Burmese; there is the contemporary, traditional, and the European.

The contemporary has more of the stocky body, rounded head, and very pronounced round and spaced eyes. You can find them in coloring such as sable, champagne, blue, and platinum. The traditional has closer ties to the original breed. They are more of a sturdy yet muscular build with a very different head. Unlike the contemporary, the traditional breed has a more rounded head and the face takes on a full look. They come in the same colors as the contemporary breed does. European takes on a more foreign look, much as the name suggests.

The European is more of an elegant looking cat with a slim body type. Their eyes take on a slightly slanted look and they can be found in more colors such as brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, seal tortie, brown tortie, blue tortie, chocolate tortie, and lilac tortie. In addition to being a beautiful feline, they are also a very loving and stay with you wherever you go. They love to be with their owners and are very smart cats and great companions.

Egyptian Mau

If you are looking for a spotted cat, the Egyptian Mau is the way to go. They are the only natural breed that sports spots. They are a very beautiful and graceful feline that is also extremely muscular as well. This breed of cat is actually the fastest breed of domestic cat that there is. Although quite muscular, they are not that heavy of a cat. They have heads that have sort of a rounded shape. They have alert looking ears that can be either of a medium or large size and their eyes are the pretty almond shaped eyes with a slight slant and green color. What sets the Egyptian Mau apart from many other breeds of cat is that they have spotting around their body that can vary in shape, size, and location.

They also tend to have an M shaped mark on their forehead that only makes them more unique. They have beautiful coats that are of medium length and can be found in various beautiful colors. They are a very smart cat that is quite active, and extremely loyal to their owners.

Himalayan

Even if you are not familiar with the name of the breed, it is probably quite likely that you have seen this cat many times, either at a friend's house or on television. The Himalayan is a very popular cat. The only thing is that although this is a very sweet and affectionate cat, it is also a very time consuming feline to have as well when you take into account all the combing of their fur that you will have to do in order to keep them from looking scraggily.

The Himalayan is not of the petite variety, but more of a heavily boned feline. They have round body and are very broad, plus their coats only add to the rounded look that they already have going. There are two main facial types when it comes to the Himalayan. There are the extreme and the traditional.

Both have small and rounded ears that are set low on the head. They have round eyes with full cheeks and a prominent chin. The extreme face gives the cat a round and flattened look.

The traditional also has a round head, but the nose is different and they have an up turned mouth. It has been observed that the traditional breed experiences fewer health related problems than the extreme. These cats are great as indoor pets. They are great if you are looking for a calmer type of cat that also has a streak of playfulness in them. This type of cat needs the affection of their owner and loves to be combed and loved.

Manx

If you want a cat but don't want to have to worry about its tail swishing you in the face or knocking down knickknacks, you might just find yourself interested in a Manx. Believe it or not, the Manx is the only breed of cat that has no tail. Although this feline has no tail it is defiantly all cat. They have a round sort of look to them, from their round head to their round behind.

They are a muscular and solid breed. What adds to their beauty is the short, glossy coat that they have. Although they are tailless, they do possess a sort of stub at their spine. The Manx has a great personality, are quite intelligent, and has an even disposition.

This cat tends to find one companion in particular that they truly love, but are great with all family members. They are playful, active, and adjust well.

Persian

If you are truly looking for a cat that you can pet, groom, and fawn over the Persian might be just what you are looking for. The Persian is an extremely popular cat that has a ton of hair. There is no doubt that these cats look absolutely regal and beautiful, but there is defiantly a fair amount of grooming to do. What makes this particular feline so popular is that they are very sweet, loyal, and affectionate cats. Another great feature about choosing a Persian is that you can find one in almost every color or pattern imaginable.

Although a furry feline, the Persian is a heavy bones and broad cat, it definitely gives the impression of roundness all over due to both body and fur. If you are looking for a cat that will sit and watch television with you, getting a Persian is a sure bet. They love to sit around and laze away the day with their owner. They are gentle, sweet tempered, and trusting. Although they do enjoy lounging, you can also expect them to find the time to play after a good nap. This type of cat needs the attention of their owner, but they won't be obsessive about it.

Siamese

Even if you aren't quite a guru when it comes to cats, you are probably well aware of what a Siamese looks like. This cat has been displayed in cartoon animations such as The Lady and the Tramp as well as other movies such as That Darn Cat. They are definitely a widely recognized breed no matter where you go. There is absolutely no denying that the Siamese cat is a beautiful animal. They have beautiful big blue eyes and a gorgeous coat.

The body of the Siamese is a light color and the face, tail, paws, and ears are darker. They are a shorthaired cat if you are looking for a feline companion that doesn't require an enormous amount of grooming and doesn't shed like crazy. They are a medium to large size cat that is considered very muscular. As you might have observed in many movies, the Siamese cat is a very intelligent feline. In the same light, although intelligent they can also be quite annoying at times when they try to communicate with their owners through a very distinctive yowling sound.

If you are looking for a quite cat, the Siamese might not be a great choice. This is a cat that will try to get its way and is very needy. They are also active and affectionate animals that can be a lot of fun to have if they fit your personality and lifestyle.

Obviously these are not all of the cat breeds that are available to choose from. Listed above are a few of the more common breeds that many people find enjoyable to have in their home. There are many books or other resources that will list almost every type of cat breed imaginable if you wish to keep looking for a breed that fits you. Just as with any other type of animal, every breed is different and offers distinctive qualities just as every cat has a different personality.