9 Coolest Types Of Cat Breeds

Written by Colby Maxwell
Updated: August 9, 2023
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Cats are amazing little animals that are so distinctly… different, than dogs. While a dog may be loyal, loving, and excited, a cat is just downright cool. In fact, you never hear someone calling someone else a cool dog, it’s a cool cat! Today, are going to explore some of the coolest cat breeds that you may want to adopt or just admire from afar. We’ve done our best so that each of these breeds has some special trait or historical fact that makes them especially cool and interesting. Let’s get started.

This is our list of the coolest cats around!

Bengal

Bengal cat like a leopard sneaks

Bengal: A cross between a domestic cat and a wild Asian

Leopard Cat

, this breed has a plush coat with marbling or spots.

© Alexander_Evgenyevich/Shutterstock.com

If you want a cat that looks like a wild cat but acts like a house cat, you might fall in love with the Bengal cat. This breed was created by crossing an Asian leopard cat, a small wild cat from Asia, with a domestic cat. This gives us a stunning cat with a coat of spots or marbles. But don’t let their wild appearance fool you. Bengals are sweet and loyal friends who love to be around their people. They are also very curious, vocal, intelligent, and active. They enjoy playing, climbing, and exploring new things. Above all, Bengals are not boring cats. They are unique and cool cats that will keep you entertained and charmed. Also, did we mention they are some of the best cats for people with allergies?

Turkish Van

turkish van with one blue, one yellow eye

Turkish Van: This playful cat has a white body with red or brown coloring on the face and tail. They may also have two different colored eyes: blue and amber.

©iStock.com/undefined undefined

The Turkish Van cat is a rare and ancient breed that comes from the region of Lake Van in Turkey. According to the legends, these cats arrived on Noah’s ark and swam to the shore after the flood. The Turkish Van cat is known for its distinctive coat pattern, which is mostly white with colored markings on the head and tail. The coat can be red, black, blue, or tortoiseshell. The Turkish Van cat is also known for its love of water and swimming. They are playful and adventurous cats that enjoy climbing and exploring. They are also affectionate and loyal to their owners. The Turkish Van cat is a cool and unique breed that has a rich history and a wonderfully lively personality.

Manx

manx cat wandering outside

Manx: This breed originated off the coast of England and often lacks a tail due to a genetic mutation. They have a round body, with the hind legs longer than the front legs, giving them a high back end.

©iStock.com/slowmotiongli

The Manx cat is a fascinating breed famous for its lack of a tail, although sometimes it’s just a very short one. This is caused by a genetic mutation on the Isle of Man, where the breed originated. The Manx cat has a long history dating all the way back to the Viking Age. They were popular among farmers and sailors for their rodent-catching skills and helping to keep food stores safe. The Manx cat has a round and sturdy body, with longer hind legs than front legs. This gives them a distinctive hopping walk. They can have long or short fur, and come in pretty much any color or pattern. The Manx cat is an affectionate, loyal, and courageous cat that loves to be around people. They are also intelligent and playful, and can learn tricks and games!

Siberian

Siberian:

This breed hails from Russia and has a thick, water-repellent double coat that helps them survive harsh winters. They have a round face with large circular eyes and tufted ears.

©Sergio Photone/Shutterstock.com

The Siberian cat is a majestic breed with a long and rich history. These cats come from Russia, where they have lived in the forests for over a thousand years (hence the name). They are mentioned in many Russian fairy tales and stories. The Siberian cat is a large and muscular cat with a thick coat that protects them from the extreme cold of the north. The coat can be any color or pattern, but often has silver or golden highlights. The Siberian cat has a round face, large round eyes, and tufted ears. They are a friendly and gentle breed that loves to be around people and other animals.

Abyssinian

Abyssinian sunbathing

Abyssinian:

This breed is thought to be one of the oldest in existence. They have a ticked coat that is spotted and flecked with color on a white background, giving them a wild look.

©iStock.com/anobis

The Abyssinian cat is a graceful and elegant breed with a mysterious origin. Some experts believe that they come from Egypt, where they resemble the sacred cats of ancient times. Others claim that they were discovered in Ethiopia, formerly known as Abyssinia. The Abyssinian cat has a “ticked” coat that is spotted and flecked with color on a white background. The coat can be red, blue, or fawn. The Abyssinian cat has a lithe and muscular body with large ears and almond-shaped eyes. They are quite affectionate and loyal to their owners. Also, they are known to be vocal cats that tend to “express” their needs and feelings.

Sphynx

The Sphynx cat comes in all the colors, and a grey color is quite common.

Sphynx:

This breed is known for being hairless, although they may have a fine layer of peach fuzz on their skin. They have large ears, prominent cheekbones, and expressive eyes.

©Kokokola/Shutterstock.com

The Sphynx cat is a very famous breed that has no fur or very little fur on its body. This is caused by a genetic mutation that occurred in Canada in 1966, when a hairless kitten was born to a normal-coated cat. The Sphynx cat was developed by breeding this kitten with other cats with the same mutation. The Sphynx cat has smooth and soft skin. The color of the skin depends on the pigment of the hair that would have been there. The breed is known to have a medium-sized body, large ears, prominent cheekbones, and expressive eyes. The Sphynx is a loving and friendly cat, that enjoys being around people and other animals. They are also very playful and curious, and can learn tricks and games, but also love to snuggle since they don’t have fur to keep them warm.

Savannah

savannah-cat-walking-outside-on-leash

Savannah: This breed is a hybrid between a domestic cat and a serval, a wild African cat. They have a tall and slender body, with large ears, long legs, and spotted fur.

©Lindasj22/Shutterstock.com

The Savannah cat is a visually stunning breed that looks like a miniature or baby leopard. This breed was created by crossing a domestic cat with an African serval, a wild cat that lives in the savannas. The Savannah cat has a tall and slender body with large ears, long legs, and spotted fur. The fur can be brown, silver, snow, or charcoal. The Savannah cat is an extremely adventurous cat that loves to explore (maybe from their wild roots!). They are also very affectionate and loyal to their owners. They are intelligent and curious cats that pick up on owner habits quite well. The Savannah cat is just one of those super exotic-looking breeds that are just so cool to see in person!

Norwegian Forest

Heaviest and Fattest Cats - Norwegian Forest Cat

Norwegian Forest:

This breed is native to Norway and is one of the largest domesticated cats in the world. They have a long and dense coat that protects them from cold and wet weather. They are athletic and love to climb.

©iStock.com/Astrid860

The Norwegian Forest cat is a majestic breed with a long regional history. As the name suggests, these cats come from Norway, where they have lived in the forests for hundreds or thousands of years. They may have been brought by the Vikings from Turkey or other places, or they may have evolved naturally from the local cats, it isn’t all that clear. The Norwegian Forest cat has a large and muscular body, with a thick, water-repellent coat that protects them from the harsh cold winters of Norway. The coat can be any color or pattern but often has silver or golden highlights (similar to the Siberian). The Norwegian Forest cat has a round face, large round eyes, and tufted ears. They are a very friendly and gentle breed is known to be safe around other people and even other animals.

Himalayan

Beautiful Himalayan cat playing outside in the garden.

Himalayan:

This breed is identical to the Persian breed, except for their blue eyes and Siamese-like coat pattern. They have a sturdy body, heavy bones, and a sweet temperament.

©ecuadorplanet/Shutterstock.com

The Himalayan cat is a beautiful breed that has a Persian body and a Siamese coat. This breed was developed in the 1950s by crossing a Persian with a Siamese. The name Himalayan comes from the Himalayan rabbit, which has a similar color pattern. The Himalayan cat has a long and fluffy coat that is white or cream, with pointed markings on the ears, tail, face, and paws. The markings can be chocolate, seal, blue, lilac, or red. They have round and sturdy bodies matched with a sweet temperament. The absolutely love to be pampered and cuddled! They are also very quiet and calm, generally preferring a peaceful environment.

Summary of the 9 Coolest Types Of Cat Breeds

RankCat Breed
1Bengal
2Turkish Van
3Manx
4Siberian
5Abyssinian
6Sphynx
7Savannah
8Norwegian Forest
9Himalayan

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Alexander_Evgenyevich/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Colby is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering outdoors, unique animal stories, and science news. Colby has been writing about science news and animals for five years and holds a bachelor's degree from SEU. A resident of NYC, you can find him camping, exploring, and telling everyone about what birds he saw at his local birdfeeder.

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