- Also called:
- house cat or domestic cat
News •
Viral posts cause panic among Kashmir cat owners
• Mar. 4, 2025, 1:07 AM ET (Taipei Times)
Avian flu found in three pet cats and live bird market
• Mar. 1, 2025, 12:44 AM ET (The Hindu)
North America Had Giant, Cat-Sized Flying Squirrels 4.75 Million Years Ago
• Feb. 27, 2025, 12:51 AM ET (Newsweek)
Tears As Cat Waits 30 Minutes for Owner To Play—but He's Nowhere To Be Seen
• Feb. 25, 2025, 3:04 AM ET (Newsweek)
People can spread bird flu to their cats, US study suggests
• Feb. 21, 2025, 4:09 AM ET (Medical Xpress)
A selection of shorthair breeds of domestic cats is given in the table.
name | origin | characteristics | comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Abyssinian | probably Egypt | regal appearance; lithe body with long slender legs | resembles the sacred cat of ancient Egypt | |
American Shorthair | U.S. | broad muscular body; thick dense fur | hardy; natural hunter | |
American Wirehair | U.S. | medium to large in size; curly coat | rare outside the U.S. | |
Bengal | U.S. | spotted coat; hind legs shorter than forelegs | cross between Asian leopard cat and American Shorthair tabby | |
Bombay | U.S. | elegant appearance; resembles Indian black leopard | cross between Burmese and black American Shorthair | |
British Shorthair | England | broad body with short legs; short thick tail | oldest natural English breed; many varieties | |
Burmese | Burma (Myanmar) | medium-sized; glossy, thick coat | related to the Siamese | |
Chartreux | France | robust; all shades of blue-gray | one of the oldest natural breeds | |
Cornish Rex | England | curly short coat; large ears | named after the Rex rabbit | |
Devon Rex | England | coat slightly coarser than Cornish Rex; pixie face | nicknamed “poodle cat” | |
Egyptian Mau | Egypt | graceful body; distinct spot pattern and banded tail | mau is Egyptian for “cat” | |
Japanese Bobtail | Japan | triangular head with large ears; rabbitlike tail | symbol of good luck | |
Korat | Thailand | silver-blue coat; heart-shaped face | native name Si-Sawat; considered to be good luck | |
Manx | Isle of Man | tailless or with stump; double coat (soft undercoat beneath longer, coarser hairs) | tailless gene can cause skeletal defects and stillbirths if not bred with a tailed cat | |
Ocicat | U.S. | typically cream coat with dark or light brown spots and markings | cross between Abyssinian, American Shorthair, and Siamese | |
Oriental Shorthair | U.S., U.K. | long lithe body; vivid green eyes | numerous colours unique to the breed | |
Russian Blue | Russia | blue with silver tipping; plush double coat; fine-boned but muscular | considered omens of good luck | |
Scottish Fold | Scotland | typically folded ears; short, round, well-padded body | folded ear gene can cause crippling when two such types are mated | |
Siamese | Asia | sapphire-blue eyes; long lean body | noted for its intelligence and unpredictable behaviour | |
Sphynx | Canada | hairless; large ears | rare outside North America | |
Tonkinese | U.S. | blue-green eyes; medium-sized | cross between Siamese and Burmese |