The 9 Spotted Cat Breeds and Where They Came From

Cat Savannah F1 sitting on the couch
Kolomenskaya Kseniya/Shutterstock.com

Written by Sharon Parry

Published: January 23, 2025

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Spotted cat breeds are both rare and beautiful. They are popular with owners but can be expensive to purchase as there are not that many breeders. Some are entirely domestic but others are hybrid breeds – obtained by crossing a domestic cat breed with a wild cat. Here we explore the stunning spotted cat breeds that you could choose from and explain what you can expect from these very special felines.

Bengal

Adorable Bengal Cat Jumping on isolated Black Background

Bengal cats are increasingly popular.

The Bengal cat breed was created by crossing the Asian leopard cat (ALC) with domestic cats to produce a gorgeous spotted cat breed. This took place in the 1970s and their popularity has increased ever since. They have a lot of energy, even when they get older, and it’s not unusual to see them running, jumping, and even climbing around your home.

Bengal (Cont.)

Side view of a Silver bengal cat standing looking back, isolated on white

Their fairly recent wild cat ancestry can result in some less-than-desirable behaviors including peeing and pooping in your bath, refusing to be picked up, and hiding from you. They can also suffer from a fairly long list of health problems including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and pyruvate kinase deficiency. On the plus side, they can have a long life expectancy and often form a close bond with one chosen human.

Egyptian Mau

Male Egyptian Mau standing on a grey background.

Egyptian Maus have spotted tabby markings with a paler underside.

As you would expect from their name, the Egyption Mau originated in Egypt. In fact, “mau” means “cat” in Egyptian Arabic. They are an ancient breed that descended from a subspecies of the African Wildcat. These cats were worshipped by ancient Egyptian pharaohs and mummified Egyptian Maus have been found in Egyptian tombs.

Egyptian Mau (Cont.)

Egyptian mau cat at rooftop

As a playful, active cat the Egyptian Mau loves being part of a family but can become territorial. Their build is small to medium but they have a natural elegance with distinct curves and muscle definition. They are generally very healthy and some have lived up to 20 years of age!

American Bobtail

American bobtail relaxing in cushion

Changes in their environment do not bother American Bobtails.

American Bobtails look very similar to typical domestic American shorthair cats but with a bobbed tail! This feature arose originally as a genetic mutation and was then exploited by breeders in the U.S. from the 1960s. The spotted tabby pattern is just one of the types of patterns this breed can have.

American Bobtail (Cont.)

orange-american-bobtail-cat-kitten

This breed is both intelligent and alert and tends to get on with everyone! In many ways they are the perfect family cat as they will tolerate children of all ages and even get on with the family dog.

California Spangled

Star_Spangled_Cat_

The rare California Spangled becomes devoted to humans.

As you would expect from their name, the California Spangled was first bred in California. The breed arose in the 1980s and is a mixture of many different cat breeds including the Abyssinian and Angora as well as some Egyptian and Malaysian street cats! The plan was to obtain a domestic cat that looked like spotted wild cats, such as the ocelot and leopard.

California Spangled (Cont.)

California on the map of USA

This rare breed is curious and likes to observe what is going on from a favorite perching spot. They are also affectionate and become very devoted to their human companions.

Ocicat

Ocicats look very much like a wild cat.

If you’d like a cheetah as a pet but realize that this is not a good idea, an ocicat is a good alternative. These gorgeous cats are a mix between Siamese and Abyssinian breeds. Their name is clearly derived from the ocelot and it was created in 1964. They can be a range of colors, including tawny, blue, and black silver.

Ocicat (Cont.)

Ocicat laying in front of a wall

You will need to pay these cats a lot of attention and they need a lot of space. That said, they are both friendly and outgoing and can even be trained to obey commands. Even though they are quite happy to sit on your lap, they are also very energetic and enjoy a game of fetch.

Savannah

Cat Savannah F1 sitting on the couch

Hybrid Savannahs are variable in appearance and temperament.

Savannahs are a hybrid cat obtained initially by mating a domestic cat with an African serval. This took place in the 1960s and the resulting offspring were large and lean with erect ears and a brown-spotted coat. This is described as an F1 Savannah cat. These days you can also obtain F2, F3, F4 and F5 varieties by crossing the hybrids with domestic cats.

Savannah (Cont.)

f5 Savannah cat

Depending on which variety you choose, you may get a cat that is closer to a serval or to a domestic kitty. Later generations are generally more social and bond better with humans. In contrast, the earlier generations are larger and have very high energy.

Serengeti

Animal, cat, pet concept. Serengeti cat on a grey background.

The Serengeti is a modern breed from California.

The Serengeti breed is a relative newcomer to the cat world. It was created by a Californian conservation biologist called Karen Sausman in 1994 and is a cross between an Oriental Shorthair and a Bengal. The aim was to produce a spotted cat breed that looked like an African serval but did not actually possess any wild cat genes.

Serengeti (Cont.)

serengeti-cat-laying-on-its-side

These cats are energetic, friendly, and confident. They are commonly spotted but can also be striped. Even though they can be a bit shy to begin with, most of them form close bonds to their family.

Pixie Bob

pixie bob on grey background

The pixie bob looks very like a bobcat.

Adorable pixie bobcats are becoming more and more popular. They are allegedly the product of natural mating between American bobcats and feral domestic cats although there is currently no DNA evidence to prove this. There’s no denying that they do look remarkably like bobcats with a sturdy body and gorgeous thick double coats.

Pixie Bob (Cont.)

Pixie Bob cat hunting in the village

When it comes to personality, these cats are laid-back, intelligent, and friendly. They are also robust enough to cope with young children. As one of the more dog-like breeds of cat, you will be able to leash train them and take them for a walk!

Oriental Shorthair

Cute oriental shorthair tabby kitten sleeping near the window.

As part of the Siamese group of breeds, the oriental shorthair has the typical large ears and long neck. They are an elegant breed that has a surprising sound – it is more like a goose honking than a regular cat meow.

Oriental Shorthair (Cont.)

Oriental Shorthair looking left

These cats are friendly and form strong bonds with their human family. In fact, they are one of the most affectionate breeds you can get. They do best when they are showered with love and are the center of attention.


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About the Author

Sharon Parry

Dr Sharon Parry is a writer at A-Z animals where her primary focus is on dogs, animal behavior, and research. Sharon holds a PhD from Leeds University, UK which she earned in 1998 and has been working as a science writer for the last 15 years. A resident of Wales, UK, Sharon loves taking care of her spaniel named Dexter and hiking around coastlines and mountains.

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