There are a wide variety of domestic cat breeds recognized around the world. While the exact number is debated, most experts agree there are between 40-50 distinct breeds. So where does the number 71 come from? This seemingly arbitrary number actually has an interesting origin.
In the late 1800s, cat shows started becoming popular as a venue for cat breeders to show off their prized felines. In 1895, the first major cat show was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This event led to the establishment of several cat registries and breeder associations in North America and Europe over the following decades.
One of the most prominent was the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), founded in 1906. The CFA aimed to document and preserve pedigreed cat bloodlines by maintaining a registry and sanctioning cat shows. By the mid-1900s, they had recognized 71 specific cat breeds for showing and registration purposes. This became the canonical number of cat breeds for many decades after.
However, the 71 number was more bureaucratic than biological. Cat breeds are not nearly as genetically distinct as dog breeds, which were much more intentionally created through selective breeding. Most cat breeds occurred naturally over time through geographical isolation and random mutations. The CFA system did not capture the true complexity and fluidity of feline family trees.
How Cat Breeds Are Defined
There are a few key criteria used to define a distinct cat breed:
– Unique physical features – This includes coat color/pattern, body type, facial structure, etc. For example, the Siamese breed is known for its pointed color pattern.
– Consistent temperament – Some breeds tend to exhibit certain behaviors more than others. For example, the playful Abyssinian or the aloof Persian.
– Limited gene pool – The breed population originated from a small set of foundation cats and has been selectively bred over generations.
– Recognition by authorities – Official breed status is granted by cat registries and breeder associations.
However, cat breeds do not have nearly as much genetic divergence as dog breeds. Most breeds differ only in a handful of aesthetic traits, while still belonging to the same species with fully interbred populations.
The 71 Cat Breeds Recognized by CFA
Here is the list of the 71 cat breeds originally recognized by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in the mid-1900s:
| Abyssinian | American Curl | American Shorthair |
| American Wirehair | Balinese | Bengal |
| Birman | Bombay | British Shorthair |
| Burmese | Burmilla | Chartreux |
| Colorpoint Shorthair | Cornish Rex | Cymric |
| Devon Rex | Egyptian Mau | European Burmese |
| Exotic | Havana Brown | Himalayan |
| Japanese Bobtail | Javanese | Korat |
| LaPerm | Maine Coon | Manx |
| Norwegian Forest Cat | Ocicat | Oriental |
| Persian | Pixiebob | Ragamuffin |
| Ragdoll | Russian Blue | Scottish Fold |
| Selkirk Rex | Siamese | Siberian |
| Singapura | Somali | Sphynx |
| Tonkinese | Turkish Angora | Turkish Van |
| Aphrodite Giant | American Polydactyl | Australian Mist |
| Balinese-Javanese | Colorpoint Longhair | Munchkin |
| Nebelung | Ojos Azules | Peterbald |
| Savannah | Serengeti | Snowshoe |
| Sokoke | Somali Cat | Thai Cat |
This list covers most of the familiar breeds we know today. However, it also includes some variants and obsolete names no longer recognized. It does not comprehensively cover all breeds developed in subsequent decades. The 71 total seems arbitrary – some are duplicated names for the same breed, while many new breeds are not included.
Modern Cat Breed Counts
While the CFA stuck with its original 71 breeds for many years, other registries have updated their standards and recognition to include newer breeds. For example:
– The International Cat Association (TICA) currently recognizes 71 breeds
– The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) recognizes 78 breeds
– The World Cat Federation (WCF) recognizes 93 breeds
– The Cat Aficionado Association (CAA) recognizes 96 breeds
As you can see, the 71 number is far from universal. Most cat authorities today recognize between 50-100 breeds. However, it’s important to note that these represent formal pedigreed breeds meant for showing. Many registries still do not recognize new hybrid breeds like the Bengal. There are potentially hundreds of informal cat types, landraces, and populations worldwide not counted here.
Conclusion
While the Cat Fanciers’ Association popularized the number 71 for cat breeds, this count was very specific to their early 20th century breed standards. Modern cat registries recognize between 50-100 breeds based on updated guidelines. However, cat breeds do not represent distinct genetic populations.
There are only a handful of true cat species in the world. The domestic cat includes the European, African, and Asian wildcat lineages. All domesticated cat breeds today descend from and freely interbreed with these wild progenitors. Cat breeds are more fluid and overlapping than formal registries suggest. So an exact count is somewhat arbitrary and caters more to cat show regulations than biology.
References
Breeds recognized by major cat registries:
– Cat Fanciers’ Association: http://cfa.org
– The International Cat Association: https://tica.org
– Governing Council of the Cat Fancy: https://gccfcats.org
– World Cat Federation: http://wcf-online.de
– Cat Aficionado Association: http://fcca.org
Genetics of cat breeds:
– Driscoll, Carlos A., et al. “The taming of the cat.” Scientific American 300.6 (2009): 68-75.
– Lipinski, Monika J., et al. “The ascent of cat breeds: genetic evaluations of breeds and worldwide random-bred populations.” Genomics 91.1 (2008): 12-21.
