Cats come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns. With over 70 recognized cat breeds worldwide, identifying your cat’s breed can be tricky if you don’t have pedigree papers. However, there are some clear signs you can look for in your cat’s physical characteristics and personality traits that may point to a particular breed. While it’s impossible to know for sure without a DNA test, here are some tips for making your best guess at your cat’s breed from a picture.
Look at your cat’s coat length and texture
One of the most telling features of a cat’s breed is their coat. Some breeds are known for their long, flowing coats like Persians and Maine Coons, while others have short, dense fur like Siamese and Devon Rex cats. Look closely at the length and texture of your cat’s coat. Long and silky or very short and curly coats can indicate specific breeds. Here are some of the most common cat coat types and associated breeds:
| Coat Type | Breeds |
|---|---|
| Short, dense | Siamese, Devon Rex, Oriental Shorthair |
| Long, silky, flowing | Persian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Turkish Angora |
| Wiry, coarse | Cornish Rex, Selkirk Rex |
| Fluffy, dense | Manx, British Shorthair |
| Hairless | Sphynx |
Of course, many mixed breed domestic cats or “moggies” may have a coat that resembles a purebred cat without actually being that breed. But if your cat’s coat stands out as distinctly long or short, it could indicate there’s a specific breed in their ancestry.
Examine the face and head
A cat’s facial features and head shape can also point to certain breeds. Look for these distinguishing characteristics:
– Ears: Large, tufted ears may mean your cat has some Maine Coon lineage. Folded or curled back ears could signal Scottish Fold or American Curl ancestry.
– Eyes: Almond-shaped eyes tilt up slightly at the outer corners in breeds like Siamese, Burmese, and Tonkinese cats. Large, round eyes are seen in Persians and exotic shorthairs.
– Muzzle and nose: The muzzle refers to the length of the upper jaw – longer muzzles give more of a “horse head” shape while short muzzles make cats appear flat-faced. Flat-faced breeds include Persians and exotic shorthairs. Pointed noses are a signature of Siamese cats.
– Head shape: Overall head shape can indicate breed, for example the large rounded head of British shorthairs or the narrow, triangular wedge of Siamese cat heads. Maine Coon cats tend to have broad, rectangular heads.
Look at your cat’s body type and size
Does your cat have a stocky and muscular build or a long, slender frame? Certain breeds are known for having characteristic body types:
– Cobby, muscular: Persians, British Shorthairs, Scottish Folds, Burmese
– Slender, flexible: Siamese, Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, Oriental breeds
– Large, sturdy: Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, Ragdoll
Your cat’s size can also indicate breed. For example, if your cat is exceptionally large – over 15 pounds or so – it likely has some Maine Coon lineage. Very small cats under 7 pounds could have Singapura or other oriental breed ancestry. Most moggies tend to be medium-sized between 8-12 pounds.
Take note of your cat’s legs and paws
Looking closely at your cat’s legs and paws can reveal further breed clues:
– Long hind legs: This trait is signature of Siamese and oriental breeds.
– Short legs: Munchkin cats have a genetic mutation that shortens their legs. Other breeds like Persians and Scottish Folds tend to have shorter legs.
– Large paws: Extra-large, round paws are typical of Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest cats.
– Polydactyly: Does your cat have more than the usual 18 toes? Extra toes are commonly seen in Maine Coons and other working cat breeds.
Observe any distinctive markings
Markings like spots, points, tuxedo patterns, stripes etc. can indicate breed:
– Colorpointed: This refers to darker coloration of the ears, face, legs, tail and mask in contrast to a lighter body. It is signature of Siamese cats but also seen in other oriental breeds.
– Tuxedo: Distinct black and white coloration with white paws, chest, and muzzle is the classic “tuxedo cat” pattern seen in many breeds including British Shorthairs.
– Spotted: Bengals and Egyptian Maus are spotted cat breeds. Devon Rex and Cornish Rex cats sometimes sport a spotted coat.
– Tabby: Bold, striped mackerel or spotted tabby patterning occurs naturally in many cats and is not specific to any breeds. But may indicate random-bred ancestry.
– Bicolor: Van pattern cats with color mostly on the head and tail could have Turkish Van ancestry.
Look for any distinctive features specific to certain breeds
Some unusual physical features are directly linked to very specific breeds to look out for:
– Folded ears: Scottish Fold cats have ears folded forward and down due to a genetic mutation.
– No hair: The Sphynx and Peterbald breeds are known for their hairless coats.
– No tail: The Manx breed has a naturally short or absent tail.
– Rex coats: Cornish Rex and Devon Rex cats have extremely short, rippled coats. Selkirk Rex have thick, curly coats.
– Oriental eyes: Siamese-type cats should have bright blue crossed eyes as kittens that change to aqua or green as adults.
If your cat possesses any of these very distinctive traits, it’s a good bet they have recent ancestry of that breed.
Consider your cat’s personality and behaviors
While personality is not solely determined by breed, some breeds do tend to exhibit characteristic temperaments and behaviors:
– Active and athletic: Abyssinians, Bengals, Savannahs
– Affectionate, loyal: Ragdolls, Turkish Vans, Maine Coons
– Laidback, mellow: British Shorthairs, Persians, exotic shorthairs
– Intelligent, social: Siamese, Tonkinese, Burmese
– Quiet, shy: Russian Blues, Norwegian Forest Cats
– Quirky, clownish: Japanese Bobtails, Manx
If your cat is strongly exhibiting a personality typical of a certain breed, there may be some of that breed in its ancestry. However, since personality is so variable even within breeds, this should be considered just one possible factor, not definitive proof of breed background.
Check your cat’s pedigree papers
If your cat came with pedigree papers or you acquired them later, then you can be certain of its breeds. Reputable breeders provide registration documents from cat breed associations like TICA and CFA which verify purebred status. The papers will list your cat’s registered breed, parents, and lineage back several generations. For example, paperwork showing multiple generations of Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, or other specific breeds in your cat’s background confirms it is purely that breed.
Consider having a cat DNA test done
If you want definitive proof of your cat’s breed background, having it DNA tested is the way to go. Cat DNA tests analyze your cat’s genetic code to detect any pure breeds in its ancestry and estimate the percentage of each breed represented. Some well-known cat DNA kits include:
– Basepaws
– Wisdom Panel
– Cat DNA ID Test by Optimal Selection
These tests can reveal surprising breed mixes. For example, your cat may appear Siamese but actually have no Siamese lineage according to the DNA results. Genetic testing gives you the most reliable answer on your cat’s breed makeup.
Conclusion
While cat breeds can be tricky to identify from looks alone, paying attention to your cat’s physical traits, personality, and any pedigree papers can provide good clues to its breed background. Look for distinguishing coat types, body build, head shape, markings, and any distinctive features associated with particular breeds. Factor in pedigree papers or DNA test results if available. With some detective work, you may be able to make an educated guess what breeds make up your one-of-a-kind cat! But even with mixed ancestry, all cats are pedigrees of one breed: perfect!
