Top 10 Most Beautiful And Prettiest Cats

Written by Lex Basu
Updated: October 11, 2023
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What are the most beautiful cats? In most things, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To make selecting the most beautiful cat breeds even more complex, most domesticated cats are quite attractive according to anyone’s standards.

As the only domesticated species of the Felidae family, cats have more than just charming personalities, companionship, and mouse-catching skills to offer. They have magnetically pretty eyes, soft fur, proportionate faces, delicate features, and a regal physique. They are graceful, meticulous about self-care, and therefore very clean. All things considered, cats are among the most beautiful animals in the world.

The number one cat, the Norwegian Forest, is a relatively new breed to the United States.

Below are the 10 most beautiful cats. These are chosen for their ability to make people swoon over their beauty from kittenhood cuteness to their mature years.

#10 Turkish Angora

Beautiful and Prettiest Cats - Turkish Angora
Beautiful white Turkish Angora cat, with blue eyes.

©love pattern/Shutterstock.com

The Turkish Angora is a silky-coated, long-tailed creature worthy of being on the list of contenders for the title of “prettiest cat in the world.” This longhaired domestic cat has a full neck ruff that provides a lion-like elegance. Besides its physical beauty and status as one of the most beautiful cat breeds, the Turkish Angora also has an interesting history. The breed hails from Persia and Armenia. In the 1500s, the cat was transported into Europe. This was followed by its move into the United States in the late 1700s.

American bloodlines typically come from the breeding of true Angoras from the Ankara Zoo in Turkey. In the 1900s, the Turkish government sought to preserve the dominance of the breed’s solid white coat and avoid cross-breeding. The Ankara Zoo’s Angora breeding program focuses on these goals.

#9 Persian

Beautiful and Prettiest Cats - Persian
A beautiful red Persian cat climbs and sits in a tree.

©iStock.com/infinityyy

Persians can have multiple colors in their coats. But the beauty ideal for this gorgeous breed is the solid white Persian often seen in American cat food advertising. Considered by many people as the prettiest cat in the world, this domesticated cat typically has a sweet expression on its round face with a short muzzle. Their coat is full and light, flowing like a male lion’s mane but from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail.

The Persian first entered Italy from its native Persia in about 1620. By the 1800s, all of Europe and England considered them the top of any list of most beautiful cat breeds. Most Persians are pampered even today, not expected to chase mice or other pests.

#8 Siamese

Beautiful and Prettiest Cats - Siamese
The beautiful brown cat, Siamese, with blue-green eyes lies in green grass and leaves.

©iStock.com/Vital Hil

The Siamese cat is one of the most highly recognized breeds with their distinctive beige bodies and dark brown to black facial, tail, and lower leg markings. These shiny-coated beauties are sleek and refined in both appearance and movement. They are also renowned for their frequent vocalizations. Siamese cats really love the sound of their own voices!

Siamese cats have triangular heads with large, pointed ears. Because of these features and their color markings, they were once called Siamese “color points.” In their native country of Thailand, they were the pets of royalty. They performed the important duty of palace guards, thanks to their vocalizations. By 1871, the cats appeared in the National Crystal Palace Show of England, winning the hearts and preferences of locals.

#7 Ocicat

Beautiful and Prettiest Cats - Ocicat
A beautiful Ocicat lies on a soft rug in a photo studio.

©Saskia Wagenaar/Shutterstock.com

Bred from the Siamese and Abyssinian is the Ocicat, a leopard-spotted domestic cat that looks like it belongs in the wilds. But the Ocicat has always been domesticated and has its spots, not for camouflage, but because humans like the wild look. This shorthair cat is easily one of the most beautiful cats because of its pretty patterned coat, long legs, almond eyes, sleek body, oval paws, and long tail. The breed originated in Michigan in the 1960s, earning its name from its resemblance to the ocelot.

#6 Cornish Rex

Beautiful and Prettiest Cats - Cornish Rex
The beautiful Cornish Rex cat is considered the prettiest cat in the world by many.

©Marina Shanti/Shutterstock.com

The Cornish Rex is considered the prettiest cat in the world by many, but also one of the least attractive cats in the world by others. This breed does not have hair like other domesticated cats. Instead, it has a “marcel waved” coat consisting of extremely soft and short downy hairs. Overall, thanks to its big ears and slender frame, the Cornish Rex at first appears fragile. Instead, it is muscular with a prominent nose, high cheeks, and almond eyes that make it appear alert and attentive.

#5 Bombay

Beautiful and Prettiest Cats - Bombay
A beautiful Bombay black cat with yellow eyes lies on the grass.

©Viktor Sergeevich/Shutterstock.com

The Bombay cat is a shadowy stunner with a fully black coat, nose, and paw pads. This breed also features wide-set green eyes. Their distinctive coloration makes the cat look more like a jungle panther than a domesticated animal, seemingly always ready to stalk and pounce. The shine on their black coat makes Bombay cats appear even sleeker as they move. They originate from a Burmese paired with a black American Shorthair.

#4 Maine Coon

Beautiful and Prettiest Cats - Maine Coon
A big beautiful Maine coon cat sitting in a tree in a forest.

©AVRORACOON/Shutterstock.com

The Maine Coon is unique on this list of the most beautiful cat breeds because of its size. It is a big, solid cat that can weigh more than 20 pounds. Its rectangular body, fluffy coat, and thick-coated tail make the animal look even more impressive in size and beauty. There are also over 70 color variations for this beautiful cat.

Known widely as a New England barn cat, the Maine Coon was bred for its moisture-repelling coat well-suited to northeastern winters. This thick coat includes tufts of hair in the ears and between toes that help keep them warm in low temperatures. Their thick tails act as another warming feature, wrapping snugly around the body like a blanket for sleep.

#3 Abyssinian

Beautiful and Prettiest Cats - Abyssinian
Beautiful blue Abyssinian female cat, sitting in a white tunnel.

©Smartha/Shutterstock.com

The Abyssinian is one of the world’s oldest and most beautiful cat breeds. They are also known as the top 5 breeds in the United States and one of the top choices as pets. This silky-coated, big-eyed, and big-eared stunner has the common body coloration of a female lion. It can also appear redder or slightly blue. Its head is small atop a long neck, making the animal appear sleek, speedy, and attentive. The Aby, as owners call it, closely resembles the cats of ancient Egypt. They are also very active and like to play a lot. They are safe around children and they get along very well with other pets.

#2 Russian Blue

Beautiful and Prettiest Cats - Russian Blue
The beautiful Russian Blue was almost extinct at one stage.

©Jennifer Kurt Photography/Shutterstock.com

The Russian Blue is elegant, slender, and refined, wearing a silver-tipped, blue-gray double coat with emerald eyes. The breed’s origin is Northern Russia and it once was almost extinct. But in the 1960s, Americans developed a love for these cats and started importing them from Scandinavian countries for breeding. Besides being one of the most beautiful cat breeds, the Russian Blue is also one of the smartest and most playful.

Russian Blues have a very sweet disposition, are very loyal in nature, and make very good family pets. They are very loving in temperament, need very little grooming, and like most other cat breeds have an independent streak and sometimes like to be left alone.

#1 Norwegian Forest

Beautiful and Prettiest Cats - Norwegian Forest
A beautiful Norwegian forest cat female standing outdoors in the forest looking for birds.

©iStock.com/t:undefined undefined

The prettiest cat in the world is likely the Skogkatt, called the Norwegian Forest in English-speaking countries. This large, rugged-looking breed is highly social, doing best inside a home and close to its human owners and other companion pets. The joke among many owners is that the cat wants to be close, but not necessarily touch its people. Instead, the Norwegian Forest Cat likes to perch nearby and people-watch, only occasionally venturing onto a warm lap on its own terms.

Although the breed is pretty new to the U.S., it is as loved in that country as in its native Norway, particularly for its beautiful double long-hair coat and sweet facial features. They are smart cats that love to play with toys and break up lazy days of naps with occasional spurts of energy. It is believed that the Norwegian Forest Cat was the breed that Vikings kept aboard ships for rat-catching. In fact, it is also thought that the first American domestic cats traveled to the country aboard Viking ships as early as 900 AD.

Summary Of Top 10 Most Beautiful And Prettiest Cats

RankCat Breed Name
1Norwegian Forest
2Russian Blue
3Abyssinian
4Maine Coon
5Bombay
6Cornish Rex
7Ocicat
8Siamese
9Persian
10Turkish Angora

Honorable Mention: Other Beautiful Cats

Scottish fold sitting with paws crossed

The Scottish Fold, in addition to being adorably beautiful, is one of the most expensive cat breeds.

©iStock.com/lafar

What makes a cat beautiful is very subjective – what you think is beautiful may be different than what someone else thinks is beautiful. However, it can’t be denied that there are too many beautiful cats which makes it hard to narrow it down to just a handful. This is why these cats that didn’t make the cut deserve to be mentioned. Here are a few additional felines that are undeniably beautiful:

  • Scottish Fold – this breed of domestic cat, also known as the Highland fold, has ears that ‘fold’ towards the front of its head, which is the result of a dominant gene mutation that affects cartilage throughout the body. Their ears, coupled with their large eyes, give them an adorable look that is irresistible. Solid cats come in a variety of colors, such as blue, blue-silver, blue-cream, black, cream, and gray.
  • Balinese – this is a long-haired pointed cat breed that was a result of a spontaneous genetic mutation in purebred Siamese cats, which is why they resemble the coloration of the Siamese, and will always have eyes that are deep blue. Their coats are rather silky and do not require much grooming and they have friendly, loving personalities.
  • Ragamuffin – this domestic cat was once thought to be a variation on the Ragdoll cat but in 1994 it was established as a separate breed. They are larger felines, capable of reaching up to 20 pounds, and their medium-long hair can be found in a variety of colors and patterns. Ragamuffins are considered gentle giants, with loving personalities.
  • Birman – this breed is called the ‘Sacred Cat of Burma’ and its name is derived from the French word for Burma, which is Birmanie. This feline is also thought to resemble a long-haired Siamese cat, with its distinctive long-haired silky coat, deep blue eyes, and contrasting white socked feet, or ‘gloves’ on each paw. 

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


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About the Author

Lex is a green-living, tree-hugging, animal-lover, who at one time was the mother to twenty one felines and one doggo. Now she helps pet owners around the globe be the best caretakers for their most trusting companions by sharing her experience and spreading love.

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