Jun 23, 2022

Best Cat Breeds - Coolest Cat Breeds in the World!

There are many reasons why people don't get their furry companion through an adoption center:

No availability at the local shelter
Not meeting requirements
Hard to understand the process
Long waiting lists
Proper Socialization

Whatever the reason for getting a pure breed cat is, sometimes is hard to choose what cat breed is best for you. Some breeds are high energy while others are cuddle bugs. Size, hair length, or even aesthetics can influence our decision.

I chose a bengal cat because I was looking for a hypoallergenic cat, as I have strong cat allergies. Here's what I learned about bengal cats and my top 10 cat breeds during the research process:

TOP 10 Cat Breeds

Bengal Cat

Bengal Cats are my favorite cat breed thanks to Mia, my little adventure companion.

This breed is characterized by their exotic looks: Small rounded ears, big and expressive eyes, and a luxurious coat that usually displays rosettes in different shades of brown color.

This breed is extremely playful and active and will need a family that can deliver entertainment and enrichment. Failing to do so, can lead to behavior problems from energy excess.

This breed is extremely intelligent and will learn to open cabinets and switch on/off lights and they can easily be trained to perform tricks.

Fun Fact About Bengal Cats

This cat breed originated from breeding experiments with wild cats (Asian Leopard Cats) trying to pass their immunity to feline leukemia to the hybrid offspring.

Today, bengal cats can be bred amongst each other and there's no need for wild cats anymore to produce offspring of the breed.

Savannah Cat

Savannah cats are often seen as very similar to bengal cats: they both originated from breeding a wild cat with a domestic cat and both exhibit wild-looking coats. However, these breeds are not as similar as they seem.

Savannah cats get their wild looks from the Serval, an African wildcat. The breed is very high energy and will likely bond with one or two people in the household, but will mostly reject contact with humans.

Their high levels of energy can lead to destructive behavior if they don't receive enough mental and physical stimulation, so catproofing the home is crucial.

A wonderful cat breed but not suitable for all families. They are very high-maintenance cats!

Fun Fact About Savannah Cats

Savannah cats are highly valued and the most expensive cat ever sold was over $100K. However, not everybody welcomes savannah cats the same way, and traveling or even living with them in some states is illegal!

Check your local regulations before getting one!

Ragdoll

Ragdoll Cat

Ragdoll cats are one of the most cuddly cat breeds existing today. While most cats enjoy time alone and will seek human contact sporadically, ragdoll cats enjoy participating in the day-to-day chores and will follow their favorite human around the house.

Despite the breed can be a little needy from an affection point of view, they are not very high energy and they don't need much attention when it comes to draining their energy.

The breed was born very recently, during the 1960s. The breeder Ann Baker was breeding seeking a silky long coat and friendly personality.

Despite being so gentle and cuddly, this cat breed is characterized by their large size, often called Gentle Giants. Females can weigh 15lbs or more and males can hit numbers higher than 20lbs.

Fun Fact About Ragdoll Cats

Ann Baker, instead of introducing the new breed to the traditional registries, created her breed registry, the IRCA. Today, IRCA still exists but with much lower adoption.

Siamese

Siamese Cat

Siamese Cats are quite ancient breed, original from Thailand. Some of the first written manuscripts talking about the cat breed date back to the 1300s.

They are characterized by having deep blue eyes and a coat that fades to dark on their face and their legs.

The breed will likely engage with their humans, either by talking (Siamese cats are very vocal and will talk back) or learning new tricks. Because of their intelligence and energy, Siamese cats are considered high-maintenance cats and are not recommended for families that won't be able to provide enough enrichment.

Fun Fact About Siamese Cats

It is said that the first siamese to reach America was called "Siam" and arrived around 1878 to meet the US President Rutherford B. Hayes, her cat dad.

Persian

Persian Cat

The Persian cat is also an ancient breed, with the first documented hieroglyphics dating back to the 1600s.

This cat breed is characterized by having a flattened face and their ability to lounge and rest, even more so in their adult and geriatric years.

They are an intelligent breed that will get to learn about your mood and routine but won't often engage in mischievous behavior (like bengals or savannah cats).

Although they make excellent pets and they are not very demanding, their flattened face can come with health issues like shortness of breath or allergies.

Fun Fact About Persian Cats

Air travel can be particularly dangerous for animals with "pushed-in" faces (the technical term for this type of face is "brachycephalic"). For this reason, pets such as bulldogs, pugs, and Persian cats are banned from traveling by plane.

Maine Coon

Maine Coon Cat

Maine coons are one of the largest domestic cat breeds but their size is not representative of their warm and gentle personality.

This breed is fond of people and gets on well with other pets in the household. They are the ideal cat for big families as they are also known for being very good with children.

They are muscular cats, well proportioned with large and expressive oval eyes.

Fun Fact About Maine Coon Cats

The largest Maine Coon registered was more than 34lbs and measured 48.5 inches from the tip of the nose to the tail! This feat is available in the Guinness Book of World Records.

American Shorthair

American Shorthair Cat

Oftentimes wrongly identified as domestic shorthair, the American shorthair is a breed of its own, with individual traits and personalities.

The American Shorthair is characterized by having an amicable and friendly personality. They are moderately active and will enjoy exercise, but without enough enrichment, this breed can easily get overweight.

The best way to keep these cats active is with teaser toys and cat trees. Wait... you don't have a cat tree? They are worth it!

Fun Fact About American Shorthair Cats

Despite they are very common in America, American shorthair is also popular around the world, particularly in Europe.

Sphynx Cat

Bold features, hairless and friendly personalities are the main characteristic of Sphynx cats, but the list does not stop here.

Sphynx cats are very social animals and will be very approachable with their owners, greeting them when they get home and happy to meet family friends. The breed is quite active and demanding, so without a cat companion or good play sessions every day, they can become destructive.

Because they have no fur, Sphynx cats will need additional care during the hot months of summer and the cold months of winter. A heated cat bed and a cooling blanket will do.

Fun Fact About Sphynx Cats

Contrary to popular belief, the hairless Sphynx cat is not hypoallergenic. Allergies come from Fel d-1 protein which is most common in saliva and urine, so the fact that this breed doesn't have hair does not necessarily mean it is hypoallergenic.

Is there hope for allergic people? Do hypoallergenic cats exist?

Abyssinian

Abyssinian Cat

Abyssinian cats are outgoing and active. Their short coat exhibits shades ranging from gold to cinnamon giving them a very elegant and exotic aesthetic.

Their large and expressive eyes are as big as their personalities but can be a scary cat at times and are not very prone to socializing.

This breed is very smart and eager to please those humans which whom they have a close relationship, which makes them very trainable cats.

Fun Fact About Abyssinian Cats

Genetic testing has shown that Abyssinian cats are related to Egyptian cats, and they are one of the oldest existing cat breeds.

Siberian Cat

Siberian cats are energetic, intelligent, and playful. They love to give and receive affection and are a very trainable cat breed.

Siberian cats have a great reputation for being friendly, even with people they never met before. They will greet regular and new people in the household often looking for pets or treats.

With medium to large bodies and prominent musculature, these cats are made for the outdoors. They display a thick triple coat that's most prominent around the neck, with a ruff at the collar and long belly hair.