How Many Breeds of Domestic and Wild Cats Are Out There?

Quick tips for identifying a cat’s breed, whether domestic or wild.

While many pet owners tend to know the general breed of their animals, cat breeds can be particularly difficult to pinpoint. Why exactly are they so difficult to identify?

Overall, cat classifications vary from database to database, making it difficult to determine just how many breeds of cats there are and what constitutes each breed. Altogether, there are roughly 100 breeds of domestic cats and approximately 40 breeds of wild cats. Here are a few tips on how to tell your cat’s breed:

Coat length – Most of these beloved pets can be grouped into two categories: long haired or short haired. From here, your furry friend can be placed into subcategories based on coat color and pattern. Long hairs can include a variety of breeds such as Himalayan, Ragdoll, and Maine Coon. Short hairs can consist of breeds such as Manx, Bombay, and Bengal.

Fur pattern and color – Your cat’s coat pattern and color can be a significant identifying factor when trying to determine the ancestral history of your pet. Patterns can be displayed in a wide variety of colors, including calico, tabby, and tortoise.

Tortoiseshell coats can include red, black, cream, orange, gold, and white colors. Affectionately referred to as “torties,” this pattern can be found on a variety of breeds such as Cornish Rex, Persian, and British Shorthair.

Calico cats have coats that are mostly white with patches of orange, black, cream and gray. This pattern can include breeds such as Scottish Fold, Persian, and Maine Coon.

Despite what some pet-owners may think, tabby is actually not a breed. Tabby refers to the cat’s coat pattern which can display dots, lines, swirling patterns or stripes — all of which come together to form a distinct “M” shape on its forehead. Its fur can include brown, black, red, silver, red and cream colors. This pattern can be found on breeds such as Siberian, American Curl, and Australian Mist.

Facial structure – For the most part, a cat’s bone structure will fall under three categories: triangle, round, and square. Siamese and Cornish Rex can be identified by their famously triangular face that gives them sharper features. Felines with round faces can include Singapura, Exotic Shorthair, and Burmilla. Square faces can be found on breeds such as the Norwegian Forest Cat and Maine Coon.

While dogs have been bred for various purposes such as hunting, racing, and herding animals, cats were not bred with the intent to serve humans. Cats were primarily made to chase mice and look adorable. Due to this, although the exact number of domestic and wild cat breeds is still unknown, there are still far fewer recognized breeds of cats than there are dogs.

A recent study shows that cats actually came to domesticate themselves. Since mice and other rodents were attracted to the agricultural crops created by humans, the ancient ancestors of our beloved pets likely came into contact with humans daily. Another lineage of cats from Egypt suggests that humans were intrigued by their personalities and attitudes — just as we are today.

Cat-owners can agree that some of the most popular breeds include American Shorthair, Siamese, and Maine Coons. However, if you fancy befriending a rare feline, some of the more rare breeds include Burmilla, Peterbald, and Serengeti. However, no matter how popular or unusual your breed of cat is — it will still come with its own unique and quirky personality that you will be sure to love.



Disclaimer: Not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. If you think your pet has a medical emergency, call or visit your veterinarian or your local veterinary emergency hospital immediately.