What breed is my cat?

Our feline friends are mysterious creatures but learning the answer to “what breed is my cat?” might help to understand some of their puzzling ways. Much like dogs, cats have been by our sides for centuries, but their breeds are far more difficult to define because they are so free-spirited - do you have any idea what your furry feline gets up to all day? We don’t either!

If you want to know “how to tell what breed my cat is” we’ll be taking a look at how appearance and personality traits can be used to help narrow down your kitty’s breed to at least a few options, and how more accurate results can be found through DNA testing. Please note that the breeds we’ve included are by no means extensive - the International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes 73 breeds and we couldn’t list them all! Now, whether you’ve recently adopted a furry feline or you just want a little more clarity on their origins, read on to uncover the mystery of “what breed is my cat?”.

The importance of knowing your cat’s breed

Cats can’t just type “what is my cat breed” into the search engine, and you might be wondering why you need to know the answer. Although it may not seem like life-changing information on the surface, it can be particularly useful to know what breed your cat is when understanding hereditary medical conditions and learning what to look out for if your feline friend is under the weather. It can also help to explain certain behaviors, for example, Siamese cats are known to be particularly chatty, so you and your cat sitter can have a better understanding of what’s normal. It’s also super cool knowing where your fur baby came from, especially if you’ve already got an inkling! 

Cat breeds and characteristics

You want to know “how to figure out what breed my cat is”, so we’ll need to take a look at what’s on the surface as well as what’s inside. Characteristics can vary even within the same breed, and while no single physical trait can be used to determine your cat’s breed, piecing together the clues based on your cat’s color, fur pattern, size, weight, face shape, ears and eyes is a great place to start. 

Physical traits which help tell what breed a cat is

Colors and patterns 

At first glance, the most obvious difference between furry felines is coat color and pattern variation.

What breed is my black cat?

Bombay cats are (almost) always black, but that’s not the only type of cat your black fur baby might be. Various Shorthair, Bobtail and Rex cat breeds are also born with black fur, as well as Scottish Folds, Persian cats and the Sphynx. 

What breed is my orange cat?

Whether you’ve got a tabby redhead or a turmeric prince, your furry friend could be related to a number of breeds including the Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Bengal, Devon Rex, Persian and Maine Coon.

What breed is my black and white cat?

Color alone cannot signify your furry friend’s breed, but your bi-color buddy might be a Siberian cat, a Cornish Rex, a Scottish Fold, a British Shorthair, an Oriental Shorthair, or a Turkish Van. 

What breed is my white cat?

Just like kitties with other coat colors, your snowy white feline could be anything from a Scottish Fold, a Japanese Bobtail or an American Curl to a Cornish Rex, a Turkish Angora or a Norwegian Forest Cat. 

What breed is my tabby cat?

Tabby cats come in a variety of patterns, colors, and of course, breeds. There are American Shorthairs with the classic tabby patterning, Orientals with 112 tabby combinations, and Birmans with tabby points, often around their ears. 

What breed is my tuxedo cat?

Tuxedo cats are characterized by their black fur and the white bib-like marking down their chest, hence the name tuxedo. Breeds known for tuxedo patterning include Exotic Shorthairs, Persians, Devon Rexes, Main Coons and Orientals. 

What breed is my calico cat? 

Japanese Bobtails often have tricolored coats, but your calico cat could also be an American Shorthair, a Devon Rex, or a Scottish Fold, just to name a few.  

Size and weight

Another clue to your puss pal’s heritage is their size and weight. We normally see medium-sized feline friends at home, but smaller and larger breeds are also popular. The following chart can be used as guidance to determine your cat’s breed, but remember that size and weight may vary from one Russian Blue to another. 

Face shape

Face shape can also give clues to your furry friend’s genetic makeup. Some breeds have flat faces, like Himalayans, Persians, Munchkins, Scottish Folds and Exotic Shorthairs, whilst narrow-faced breeds include Siamese, Cornish Rex, and Abyssinian cats. 

Eyes

The most common eye colors for cats are blue, green, yellow, brown and hazel, but eye color alone doesn’t usually indicate the breed. That being said, certain breeds are more likely to have a hereditary trait called heterochromia, which causes kitties to have two different colored eyes. These breeds include Russian Whites, Siamese, Ragdolls, Oriental Shorthairs, Persians, Turkish Vans, Himalayans and Japanese Bobtails. 

Ears 

Ears can be used as an indicator for certain breeds, especially if your feline friend doesn’t have the standard straight, pointy ears. 

Tail

In short, cat tails are often pretty standard. However, certain breeds like the Norwegian Forest Cat, Maine Coon, Persian, Ragdoll and Siberian Cat are known for their long, fluffy tails, while other cat breeds including the Japanese Bobtail, American Bobtail, Highlander, American Lynx, and Cymric will have shorter tails. Some kitties, like the Manx, have no tails at all!

Breed personality traits

By now, you’re probably getting an idea of how hard it can be to answer the question “how can I tell what breed my cat is?” based on appearance alone, and it’s near impossible to do it based on personality! Breeds such as the Abyssinian are known for being playful and Ragdolls are thought to be amongst the most affectionate, but that doesn’t mean that a Scottish Fold can’t be both. Personality is influenced by a number of factors other than breed, including how your feline friend is treated and the nature of their home environment.

Tools to help you identify your cat’s breed

Identifying your cat’s breed based on physical and personality traits should be taken with a pinch of salt, as finding out “what breed is my cat?” isn’t usually as simple as “color + size + ear shape = breed”. While this information can be pieced together to get an idea of your cat’s heritage, certain tools are there to give you a much more accurate answer. 

• Cat DNA tests like the ones found in this article can give detailed information about your fur baby’s genetics and health, and even help you track down their relatives. Although DNA testing can be expensive, it’s the most accurate way to get to the bottom of the question “what is my cat’s breed?”.
• Cat scanner apps are fun and easy to use - collect images of cat breeds to win challenges, earn virtual treats, and brush up on your knowledge of feline friends. With the premium version, scanning cats can be done quickly and efficiently, simply upload a pic of your fur baby to have it matched with around 60 different cat breeds, then share your results with the cat community and filter other users’ pics based on date or popularity. 
• Speaking to a vet can also help answer the question “what is the breed of my cat?” and they can give you additional advice on health problems and medical testing.

When it comes to our feline friends, there are plenty of things that truly boggle the mind. Why do they purr? Why do they knead? And what's the deal with their obsession with boxes? Fear not, for we've answered many of your most common cat questions right here.