Ways to use this list
- Coat pattern lesson: spin a breed and describe its look, from the colour-pointed Siamese and the spotted Bengal to the jet-black Bombay.
- Cat atlas: pin each breed to its homeland on a world map; the Korat comes from Thailand, the Chartreux from France and the Norwegian Forest Cat from Norway.
- Story building: spin a breed and give the cat a personality and a job, such as a sleepy Persian who runs a bookshop.
- Sketching warm-up: draw the breed you get and capture the one detail that sets it apart, like the Maine Coon's tufted ears or the Devon Rex's wavy coat.
- Odd one out: set Winners to 3 and ask which of the three cats has the longest coat, then check the longhaired list.
Press Spin the wheel, tap the game or press the Space bar. Change the list in the box as you
like: add your own, delete what doesn't suit you, or write *2 after an entry to give it double the
chance. The game buttons switch the same list to a duck race, hat, claw machine and more.
The full list (40 entries)
- Maine Coon
- Persian
- Siamese
- Ragdoll
- British Shorthair
- Bengal
- Sphynx
- Abyssinian
- Russian Blue
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Siberian
- Birman
- American Shorthair
- Exotic Shorthair
- Devon Rex
- Cornish Rex
- Selkirk Rex
- Burmese
- Tonkinese
- Oriental Shorthair
- Balinese
- Turkish Angora
- Turkish Van
- Egyptian Mau
- Manx
- Japanese Bobtail
- Savannah
- Ocicat
- Somali
- Chartreux
- Bombay
- Havana Brown
- Korat
- Singapura
- LaPerm
- American Curl
- Burmilla
- RagaMuffin
- Snowshoe
- Toyger
Questions people ask
Which cat breed is the biggest?
The Maine Coon is usually named the largest domestic breed: males often weigh 6–8 kg (13–18 lb) and can measure about a metre from nose to tail tip. Early-generation Savannahs can stand taller, as they are part serval, a wild African cat.
How many cat breeds are there?
The Cat Fanciers' Association recognises about 45 breeds and The International Cat Association more than 70, because each club sets its own rules. Most pet cats belong to no breed at all and are simply called domestic shorthairs or longhairs.
Are Sphynx cats completely bald?
Not quite. Most have a fine down that feels like warm suede, and some keep a few hairs on the nose, ears and tail. With no fur coat to hold in warmth, Sphynx cats tend to seek out sunny windows and laps.
Why do Siamese cats have darker faces and paws?
Their colour depends on temperature. A gene lets dark pigment form only on the cooler parts of the body, so the ears, face, paws and tail darken while the warmer body stays pale. Siamese kittens are born almost white.
Why do Manx cats have no tail?
A natural gene that appeared long ago on the Isle of Man, between Britain and Ireland, shortens the spine. Not every Manx is tailless: some have a short stump and a few a full tail, but all share the breed's round look and long back legs.