When it comes to the many different breeds of cats, it can sometimes be difficult to tell which is which.
Different breeds of cats have unique needs based on many contributing factors such as coat type, size, and temperament.
Identifying your cat’s breed can help you to better understand their needs in order to select a suitable food that provides them with specific, tailored nutrition for a complete and balanced diet.
Cat Breeds – defining characteristics
If you think you have an idea of which breed your cat is, you can click a breed in the list below and be taken straight to the corresponding entry:
If your answer is ‘none of the above’, then it’s possible your cat is a domestic cat, which are covered later in the article.
If you’re struggling to determine which breed your cat is, then simply browse through the below list of cat breeds and see if you can spot some familiar features!
Bengal
Often known as “little leopards”, the Bengal is a very striking cat, with a short, silky, distinctive coat that resembles the coat of a jungle cat. The Bengal breed tend to be confident, curious and independent by nature, they like to be active. Their large eyes and paws make them incredibly effective hunters and they love to climb. This cat breed has a sleek, muscular build and a thick tail.
Adult male weight: 5-8kg
Adult female weight: 4-6kg
British Shorthair
The British Shorthair is a powerfully built cat with strong legs, a broad chest, and a distinctive large round head. Their tail is thick and tapers slightly at the end to a rounded tip. Their short coat is dense and plush with a crisp texture and doesn’t lie flat to their body. This cat breed tends to have a calm and quiet nature, they are affectionate and generally placid.
Adult male weight: 6 – 9kg
Adult female weight: 4 – 6kg
Maine Coon
Maine Coons are one of the largest cat breeds in the world. Their long, thick coats add to their imposing stature. Fully grown Maine Coons have a double coat, with a fine, soft undercoat covered by medium-length outer hairs. Maine Coons rarely meow, instead most have a soft chirp or trill. This cat breed is highly social, known for their sweet, gentle and friendly nature, they like to be with you whatever you are doing.
Adult male weight: 6 – 10kg
Adult female weight: 4 – 7kg
Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest Cat has an even temperament, is self-assured, friendly and easy-going. Despite their large size, they are gentle and affectionate cats with a laid-back, calm nature. However, they can be very playful too. The Norwegian Forest Cat is one of the few cat breeds that enjoys water. Originally bred to adapt to harsh winters, they have a very thick coat, a dense undercoat and medium-long, water-repellent ‘guard hairs’.
Adult male weight: 4 – 9kg
Adult female weight: 3 – 7kg
Find out about ROYAL CANIN® Norwegian Forest Cat food.
Persian
The Persian is a quiet, gentle and affectionate breed. They have a quiet, musical voice, but communicate mainly with their large, expressive eyes. A long, luxurious coat with a dense undercoat is the hallmark of the Persian cat. The hair on the ruff can reach 20cm in length and this breed requires daily grooming. This cat breed tends to prefer being on the ground and doesn’t often climb. Persian cats eagerly play with toys, but are equally happy to lie quietly in a favourite spot.
Adult male weight: 5 – 7kg
Adult female weight: 3 – 5kg
Find out about ROYAL CANIN® Persian cat food.
Ragdoll
The Ragdoll is one of the larger cat breeds and has a semi-long, silky dense coat and striking blue eyes. Ragdolls are known for their laidback and friendly nature, they will play for a while but much prefer to relax. The ragdoll breed has a tendency for clumsiness, meaning they’re not known for their climbing or hunting skills!
Adult male weight: 5 – 9kg
Adult female weight: 4 – 6kg
Siamese
Siamese cats are well known for being one of the loudest breeds and will frequently communicate with their owners vocally. Their short, sleek coat has distinctive colour points, darker shading to the face, ears, tail and paws which give the Siamese their iconic look. This cat breed is loving, loyal, intuitive, demanding and sociable – they thrive on attention. Siamese cats are very intelligent and playful, they are often able to entertain themselves for hours.
Adult male weight: 4 – 7kg
Adult female weight: 3 – 5kg
Sphynx
The Sphynx breed is most known for its lack of fur, their hairless appearance gives way to a sensitive skin which is said to feel like warm chamois leather. They have large ears, prominent cheekbones and a muscular body. The Sphynx is very sociable, lively and intelligent. They can often be trained and are known to act the clown, these characteristics makes them a popular choice for family pets.
Adult male weight: 4 – 7kg
Adult female weight: 3kg
Find out about ROYAL CANIN® Sphynx cat food.
Types of domestic cats
Did you spot your cat? If not, it’s extremely likely that your feline friend is of the domestic variety. Technically speaking, a cat isn’t recognised as purebred unless it comes with pedigree certification documents.
“Out of the 100 million pet cats worldwide, the vast majority are not-pedigree or crossbred cats; their parentage is not documented as neither of the parents is a registered pedigree.”
– showmeengland.co.uk
However, some cats have certain features that are unmistakably associated with a specific breed, these features may hint towards your cat’s heritage and ancestry.
The terminology for cats that aren’t purebred can be quite fluid. Popular terms for non-pedigree cats include:
- Domestic longhair/domestic shorthair
- Moggie
- Mixed-breed
- Cross-breed
Domestic cats can come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours – depending on their lineage. Their coat patterns can vary extensively, as can their personalities and character traits.
Cat breed identification
For those of you who would like to know more about your cat’s heritage, a variety of feline DNA tests are available in the UK. The results of these tests help to establish your cat’s lineage through analysis of their genetic profile, including factors such as:
- Coat colour
- Fur length
- Fur type
Your vet can tell you more about cat DNA tests and offer advice on reputable products and procedures.
ROYAL CANIN® Cat Food Ranges
Of course, regardless of their heritage, the most important thing is that you appreciate your cat’s individuality and love and care for them throughout their life. This includes making sure that they’re getting the nutrients they need to help support optimal health.
Each breed of cat has specific nutritional needs, that’s why ROYAL CANIN® has developed a range of breed-exclusive formulas for cats.
These products are tailor-made for individual nutritional requirements and are based on more than 45 years working closely with a network of expert breeders and veterinarians worldwide.
To see our variety of breed-exclusive products, check out our Feline Breed Nutrition range.
Or, take a look through our Feline Health Nutrition range for products that cater to your cat’s age and lifestyle.