Cats are one of the most popular pets in family residences worldwide. It’s difficult to determine the rarest cat breeds around, but The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) tries to do just that every year.
The rarest cat breeds have the fewest rolls among breeders and owners.
It can be very difficult to track cat breeds because of their propensity to get about and the fact that a single litter of kittens could potentially have two or more fathers.
Interestingly, most of the breeds on the rarest list are energetic athletes who adore people and like to be involved with family activities.
The CFA identifies 45 breeds, each unique in its own right. While all cat breeds can be regarded as rare because around 95% of all cats are muggiest, below is a list of 15 of the rarest cat breeds found.
Contents Overview
Devon Rex Cat
The Devon Rex is one of several Rexes from the UK, but this is the rarest and most unusual. Usually referred to as the Alien or Pixie Cat, he has an elven face and large eyes.
The breed is very playful and can be quite deviant. They are energetic little felines and quite charming, devilish, and playful!
They are intensely possessive of their owners, so you will not get a minute to yourself when you own a Devon Rex.
These lovely cats have unusually short snouts, high cheekbones, extremely large, bat-like ears, and distinctive, wavy fur.
Sokoke Cat
The Sosoke is an inherently occurring, tiny wildcat found only in Kenya. This breed is a rare household cat that was once thought to have been bred with a wild cat.
These long-limbed, striped cats have distinctive, thickly-banded stripes. They make loving pets, despite their wild reputation and their wild looks.
Despite their wild origins, These Cats are happy to follow their people around, whether cleaning or watching TV!
A peace-loving, keenly aware, and smart shorthaired breed, the Sokoke is playful and family-oriented, forming close bonds with both feline and family members.
American Bobtail Cat
American bobtail cats developed innately, without any human interference, before feral cats with bobtails were bred together in the 1960s. They are keen to learn tricks and develop strong bonds with their humans.
They are loving and intelligent cats that have an unusual wild appearance. They are quite calm and friendly and tend to enjoy a good snuggle.
American Bobtail cat is quite dog-like if considered special friskiness and a sense of incident dog-like. They are known for their gorgeously spotted coats, which can be long-hair and short-hair.
Their rear legs are longer than their front legs for a cat, like a bear! They are very healthy and are not known to have major health problems.
Havana Brown Cat
English breeders first bred the Havana Brown to create a solid brown Siamese cat, and the first Havana brown in North America came from England in the 1950s.
They share their Siamese ancestor’s long faces and charming almond-shaped eyes. These chocolate brown kitties have bright green eyes that twinkle with mischief.
Havana Brown cats are determined by their puppy-like demeanor, obeying all around the home to satisfy their curiosity.
Havana Browns are striking and fairly keen by merging domestic black cats with Siamese cats. If you can gain the goodwill of a Havana Brown cat, you have a friend for life, but they may still at times be a bit of a loner!
Kurilian Bobtail Cat
The Kurilian Bobtail is another cat that is rarely seen outside his land. It’s considered that this beautiful, short-tailed cat grew from a genetic mutation that then became standard, resulting in an unusually short tail.
The Kurilian Bobtail comes from its home origin, the Russian Kuril Islands. They are also quite loving and playful!
The Kurilian Bobtail is a very heavy shedder, so curious owners will have to be prepared to pick cat fur off their clothes, furniture, and around else.
They are rather stocky, similar to bobcats, with striped or spotted long or short fur. They are fairly gentle and easy-going, making them ideal for home with children or cat-friendly pets.
Burmilla Cat
The Burmilla originated in the United Kingdom in 1980 when a Chinchilla Persian male had kittens with a Lilac Burmese female.
This rare cat breed has an unusual appearance the color of its coat reaches a pearl and is short, soft, silky, and very pleasant to the touch. They have distinct black rimming around their eyes and noses and very soft fur.
The Burmilla is an intelligent and kind animal, well-suited for living with people, as it is not prone to charge and has a sweet, calm, and good-natured character.
They make a lovely partner animal, as they tend to bond closely with their owners, are not needy, and are extremely loyal!
Egyptian Mau Cat
The Egyptian Mau is a medium-sized, shorthair rare cat breed with a spotty coloration. This cat is very kind, affectionate, calm, and curious.
These rare cat breeds developed from cats of ancient Egypt. t’s also one of the few domestic cat breeds with innately occurring spots on its coat. The Mau is an Egyptian word representing cat.
The Egyptian Mau is not only rare but is also a unique breed. It is the only breed of domestic cat that inherently has spotted fur.
The spots were not bred into this breed, they appeared naturally, and the spots are only present on the very tip of the fur and not down. The Egyptian Mau also carries the honor of being the fastest domestic cat.
Turkish Angora Cat
Turkish Angora comes from Ankara, Turkey, and their distinctive silky white coat is recognized. The earliest written histories mention the Turkish Angora come from 16th century France.
By the start of the cat in Europe, about the late 1800s early 1900s, the Turkish Angora was a well-established breed.
Turkish Angora is known for their loveable and flexible nature, readily bearing other household pets, though they still prefer large and in charge.
They are known as national treasures in their country of origin. They swiftly achieved popularity not just for their amazing grace but for their unique, silky coat.
Korat Cat
The Korat cat comes from Thailand, which is believed to be a good luck charm. They are best known for their dazzling, silvery-blue coats.
Korat cats are breeds that can only be found in one color, a silvery-blue hue. It is an intelligent and playful active cat that forms strong bonds with people and is very vocal, different from other breeds.
Korat cats are beloved for their characters and their coat’s rich color! They have wide, almond-shaped, often green eyes, devoted, lively, and small.
After you bring the cat home, expect a clever, sweet companion to remain by your side. The Korat retains his stunning looks and is easy to groom because his coat is short and sheds very little.
LaPerm Cat
The LaPerm is one of the rarest cats globally and is named after its unusual, curly fur. It is one of a few breeds with innately curly hair, which is where they get the name LaPerm from.
The very devoted breed emerged around the early 1980s in the U.S. as a mutation of cats bred for pest control. They later became popular because of their looks.
The friendly LaPerm has a clown-like personality and a habit of getting into mischief. This is very curious, so expect to spend numerous hours hunting around the house trying to find him.
This is the unique trait of the rare LaPerm Cats and their friendly, lap-cat tendencies. Their coats are low-maintenance, as they tend to shed less than cats with straight fur!
Tonkinese Cat
Hailing from Canada, the lovely and uncommon Tonkinese cat is a cross between the Burmese and the Siamese. Blending these two breeds is created a line of intelligent, engaging, and vocal cats.
This is an elegant breed with aquamarine eyes and coat colors described as champagne, blue, and platinum.
The Tonkinese is a unique, rare combination of Siamese and Burmese cats. These cats are extremely intelligent, as well as fairly active and vocal.
They have the long-limbed build of a Siamese cat, blended with a Burmese cat’s plush fur and round face. The result is a truly adorable, soft, bright-eyed creature!
Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest Cat has the natural tools to endure freezing temperatures in the forests of Norway. It has a double-layered coat and tufted areas around the ruff, the tail, britches, and paws.
They are capable of climbing some of the highest trees in the forest. The Norwegian forest cat is a beautiful, thick, fluffy coat of light grey or red color.
The Norwegian Forest Cat sports a thick, waterproof coat that protects it against the freezing winters of Scandinavia.
Their large, hardy stature may look imposing, but they’re a social and people-oriented breed. They love to be around their owner, which will be on their terms and make a very well-adjusted member of the family.
Minskin Cat
The Minskin is a relatively new breed of cat created by crossing the Sphynx and the Munchkin. The Minskin adopts the hairlessness of the Sphynx and the short legs and smallish stature of the Munchkin.
This breed is believed to be friendly and devoted, and they will get along with all family members, including children.
Outgoing and affectionate, these cats are ideal indoor companions. The Minskin is an active breed; obviously can’t jump as high as other cats because of shorter legs.
Minskin cats are snuggly and have warm skin and super-short, velvety fur! These are some of the fluffiest cats, and they’ve got big, hearty natures to match perfectly for any cat lover!
Serengeti Cat
The Serengeti cat is beautiful and graceful. He looks like a smallish leopard, but he is amiable despite his wild appearance.
The Serengeti was bred from a Savannah cat; it has no wild blood, unlike its ancestors. As a result, it makes an ideal family pet and gets along with all family members, including children.
Serengeti’s are friendly, energetic, stubborn, and playful animals that love nature walks and active games very much.
Despite its wild nature, this cat is friendly to people. In addition to meowing, the Serengeti makes a lot of sounds that cannot be heard from any other cat. He is, however, self-confident and easily bored.
Chartreux Cat
The Chartreux is a renowned hunter and world-famous mouser! This rare cat breed has been coveted for this and its thick, plush, water-repellent coat.
This is a fascinatingly delightful cat with lightning-fast reflexes and a love of play. The Chartreux cats do vocalize, but they rarely meow, and when they do, it is an unusual noise.
Chartreux cats have big, round eyes, denoted by truly lovely blue-grey fur. This cat loves to chirp and talk. This sweet-natured cat will likely pick a famous person to bond with and follow!
They become bound to humans quickly, including children in the family, so they make great family pets.
Summary
Most cat breeds might be muggiest or mixed breed cats, and there are unique breeds that display unusual and even unique physical attributes. However, these rare cats make pet owners fall head over heels.
We have included 15 of the rarest breeds, but there are sure to be new breeds that are still at the practical or developmental stages, which will gain reputation in the coming years.
You may also check: 10 teacup cat creeds