Facts and Stats About the Most Popular Cat Breeds

Cat owners love their furry friends for their intelligence, cuteness, friendship, and, yes, even their rambunctiousness. No matter the breed, cats make for excellent companions and can really make a house feel more like a home. Some breeds, however, are more widespread than others, being prized for their appearance, temperament, coloring, and other factors.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular cat breeds, along with some facts and stats for each (and if you’re looking for some stats on the most popular dog breeds, we’ve got you covered there, too). You’re sure to learn some key aspects about your favorite breeds that will make you love your kitties even more!

Cat Breeds by Popularity

Every year, the Cat Fancier’s Association compiles a list of the most popular cat breeds, with the most recent release including the following felines:

Anyone who’s seen or spent time with cats of these breeds could certainly see why they would be so popular, but of course we at Pet Palace love all those four-legged friends out there!

Cat Facts and Stats by Breed

Ragdoll

• This breed has been #1 on the Cat Fancier’s Association’s list numerous years in a row (Forbes).
• These cats are known for their intelligence, playfulness, friendliness, and calm demeanor (Forbes).
• These cats were initially bred in the 1960s as a cross between Persian cats and Birman cats, and have continued to gain in popularity ever since (PetPlan).
• They are often referred to as “puppy-cats” due to their dog-like personalities (Pet Insurance).

Maine Coon

• These cats lay claim to being the world’s largest domestic cats, weighing up to twenty pounds (Gitnux).
• Like ragdoll cats, Maine coons are known for their dog-like personalities, making them ideal for many families (Mainecoon.org).
• Maine coons are known for their love of playing in water (Rover).
• These cats tend to sleep more than other breeds (PetPlan).

Devon Rex

• These cats are very friendly and can interact well with people, other cats, dogs, rabbits, and even birds (Forbes).
• They are very trainable and are known to learn tricks (The Spruce Pets).
• This popular car breed only dates back to around the 1960s, originating in Devonshire, England (Pet Insurance).
• Devon rex cats have a soft, short coat, with grooming best being accomplished via a warm washcloth (Forbes).

Exotic Shorthair

• These cats are similar to Persian cats in appearance, but have thicker, shorter coats that necessitate less grooming (Forbes).
• Also like Persians, these cats have affectionate and playful personalities (Pet Insurance).
• Because of their flat faces, the tear ducts for this breed can overflow, leading to discoloration on the fur near the eyes, but this can be avoided by cleaning the corners of the cat’s eyes with a cloth (ASPCA Pet Health Insurance).

Persian

• Persian cats are known for being caring, gentle, aloof, and somewhat reserved, but they’re also the perfect lap cats once they get to know their owners (PetPlan).
• Loud noises are particularly troubling to this breed, so you need to minimize them for their comfort (PetPlan).
• To prevent matting and tangling, cats of this breed need regular brushing and baths from time to time (Forbes).
• Persian cats are one of the oldest known cat breeds, being referenced in hieroglyphics dating from 1684 B.C.E., and have since become a favorite of cat lovers and have been featured in many works of pop culture (Pet Insurance).

British Shorthair

• This popular cat breed was brought to England by Romans during the first century (Pet Insurance).
• British shorthair cats are known for their intelligence and are ideally suited for training, which lets them learn many tricks with ease (PetPlan).
• Numerous cats in pop culture have been British shorthairs or based on them, such as Church from Pet Sematary, Arlene from the Garfield comics, and the Cheshire Cat from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Pet Insurance).

Abyssinian

• Known for their intelligence and need for interactive play, this is a breed perfect for homes looking for energetic and lively pets (U.S. News & World Report).
• Due to their lively nature, these cats are not well-suited to be lap cats, but they are still very loving (Pet Insurance).
• Abyssinian cats’ luxurious coats do not require much attention or brushing, making them easy to maintain (Forbes).

Domestic Nonpedigreed

• This classification is for cats that are discovered outdoors or within rescues that are not part of any intentionally bred breed, often being a mixture of various ones (Forbes).
• Due to their diverse backgrounds, these cats can widely differ in appearance, featuring varied body types, coat colors, facial structures, and more (Forbes).

Scottish Fold

• This breed came about from a spontaneous genetic mutation in Scotland, and the cats are known for their adorably folded ears, making them look almost owl-like (U.S. News & World Report).
• Scottish fold cats have distinct vocalizations not shared by other breeds, with their soft meows and purrs sounding quite different (Pet Insurance).
• This is the most popular cat breed in Russia (Gitnux).

Sphynx

• The most famous aspect about this breed is its hairless appearance and long ears, making the cats quite eye-catching (U.S. News & World Report).
• Sphynx cats originated in Canada in 1966 as part of a genetic anomaly, but have since been bred in an ongoing manner, becoming very sought-after pets (Pet Insurance).
• Due to their hairlessness, Sphynx cats should not be kept outdoors for safety reasons, and must be kept within the home (Pet Insurance).
• Also, because of their body type, these cats require bathing every few months to remove any built-up oils (Forbes).

Siberian

• This breed features a water-resistant coat that developed due to the colder climates that the cats originated from in Russia (U.S. News & World Report).
• Siberian cats were first introduced to the United States in 1990 (Forbes).
• This breed is often considered hypoallergenic, so they are a good choice for owners or families with allergies (Forbes).

American Shorthair

• American shorthair cats originated in Europe, and were brought to the United States to help curb rodent problems (Rover).
• These cats were once called domestic shorthairs, but the name was changed to American shorthairs to avoid confusion with similar mixed-breed cats (The Spruce Pets).

Bengal

• This popular cat breed is known for its lovely spots, and these are in fact the only domestic cats to have rosettes similar to big cats like jaguars and leopards (Forbes).
• It’s no surprise these cats feature their distinctive spots, because they originated from the crossbreeding of domestic cats and wildcats (The Spruce Pets).
• Bengal cats are very active, playful, and talkative, so be prepared if you bring one home (PetPlan)!

Russian Blue

• These cats have double coats on their bodies, making them look fuller and plusher (Rover).
• Russian blues were first imported into the U.S. in the 1900s, and are believed to have descended from cats that were kept by the Czars of Russian (Rover).

Norwegian Forest Cat

• Like Siberian cats, the Norwegian forest cat features a waterproof coat that originally protected it during Scandinavian winters (Forbes).
• Since this breed is very active, owners will want to have plenty of toys and scratching posts on hand, and should not expect the cats to be lap cats (Forbes).

Oriental shorthair

• Similar in appearance to Siamese cats, Oriental shorthairs differ in that they have many coat color options and usually have sizable green eyes (The Spruce Pets).
• Because of skin cancer concerns and cold weather, it’s often advised to have cat sweaters on hand for members of this breed (The Spruce Pets).

Siamese

• These cats have distinct vocalizations and enjoy mental stimulation via toys and games (Forbes).
• These cats are considered hypoallergenic, making them ideal for those with allergies (PetPlan).

Cornish Rex

• A very active breed, cats of this type love to play fetch, just like dogs (Forbes)!
• When it comes to grooming, less is more, as doing too much can actually harm their gentle coats (Forbes).

Selkirk Rex

• Unlike most of the popular cat breeds on this list, the Selkirk rex features a very curly, plush coat that’s quite distinct (Forbes).
• This cat breed was named in honor of Jeri Newman’s stepfather Selkirk, which makes it the only type of cat named after a person (Selkirk Rex Cat Club).

Birman

• These cats were the starting point for the breeding of ragdoll cats, so they share many attributes (The Spruce Pets).
• Birman cats are born totally white and only develop color as they grow (Forbes).

Categories: All Posts, Cats, News/Events