All cats are beautiful in their own unique way, and besides appearance, many breeds have other appealing aspects, like temperament, playfulness, and intellect. That said, there are truly head-turning, beautiful breeds around, and this article is dedicated to them! Each of these breeds has striking features that make them uniquely beautiful and a joy to own.
We scoured the internet for the most beautiful cat breeds on the planet and compiled this list of 14 that rise above the rest and are among our favorites.
The 14 Most Beautiful Cat Breeds
1. Abyssinian Cat
| Size: | 12-16 inches |
| Color: | Red, ruddy, chocolate, cinnamon, blue, lilac, and fawn |
| Temperament: | Quiet, intelligent, and curious |
The Abyssinian is a medium-sized cat that comes in a wide variety of beautiful colors. They are agile cats with strong bodies and slender legs, with round, wedge-shaped heads and distinctive tufts on the tips of their ears. They love to be around humans and tend to get rather attached to their owners. They are extremely intelligent animals that are exceedingly curious about their surroundings.
2. Bengal Cat
| Size: | 14-18 inches |
| Color: | Brown, silver, charcoal |
| Temperament: | Athletic, alert, curious, loving |
The Bengal is a strikingly beautiful cat indeed, with a distinctive spotted coat that harkens back to the breed’s wild origins. The breed was developed by crossing an Asian Leopard cat with a domestic cat, giving it the appearance of a miniature Bengal Tiger. Despite this wild appearance, these cats are loving, sweet, and gentle pets that bond strongly with their owners, although they are certainly more active and athletic than the average housecat!
3. Birman Cat
| Size: | 15-18 inches |
| Color: | Seal, blue, lilac, chocolate, red, cream, and tortie |
| Temperament: | Loving, affectionate, gentle |
With their distinctively long and fluffy coats and loving personality, these cats are about as cuddly as they come! They are almost always white but can come in a wide variety of pointed colors too. They are highly affectionate animals that thrive on being close to their owners and do not enjoy being left alone. While they are generally quiet and docile animals, they are still playful and active enough to keep you busy!
4. Bombay Cat
| Size: | 13-20 inches |
| Color: | Black |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, playful, attention-seeking |
The short-haired Bombay has a beautiful jet-black coat with striking green eyes that make them one of the prettiest cat breeds around. They have a character and temperament that is just as wonderful and a playful, curious nature that makes them ideal to have around children. These cats need a great deal of attention, and you’ll soon find destroyed household furniture if they are not getting adequate playtime!
5. Exotic Shorthair Cats
| Size: | 10-12 inches |
| Color: | Chocolate, brown, sable, silver, ebony cream, tan, red, orange |
| Temperament: | Easygoing, gentle, affectionate |
The Exotic Shorthair was developed as a shorthaired version of the Persian, and as such, they have a similar personality and similar physical traits too, including a flat face and nose. The only real difference is the lack of a thick and fluffy coat, so if you’re looking for a Persian without the grooming needs, the Exotic Shorthair is ideal!
6. Himalayan Cat
| Size: | 17-19 inches |
| Color: | White, cream, and various points |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, affectionate, devoted |
The beautiful Himalayan breed is a long-haired cat that was developed by crossing a Persian with a Siamese, resulting in a breed with a luxurious long coat and pointed coloring. They are playful and affectionate cats that get along well with children and get attached to their owners, but they can be shy and wary of strangers. While they are mostly docile animals, they are playful at times and get along great with other cats and pets.
7. Maine Coon Cat
| Size: | 30-40 inches |
| Color: | Solid black, blue, cream and white, occasionally tortie |
| Temperament: | Friendly, affectionate, playful |
Often referred to as the gentle giants of the cat world, these massive cats are a striking breed indeed. With their fluffy coat and large size, they can be intimidating but are one of the most loving and affectionate breeds around. They are highly intelligent and can even be trained to respond to their names! They are easygoing cats that do not demand much attention, and uniquely among felines, they enjoy being in water.
8. Persian Cat
| Size: | 14-18 inches |
| Color: | Silver, blue silver, red, brown, blue, cream, camo, and cream camo |
| Temperament: | Gentle, quiet, docile |
The Persian is one of the most popular cat breeds in the world and for many good reasons. They have a beautiful, fluffy coat, a distinctive flat face and nose, and a laidback, easygoing temperament that makes them ideal to have around children. They are also highly affectionate animals that love to be around their owners and retain their kitten-like playfulness well into adulthood.
9. Ragamuffin
| Size: | 12-18 inches |
| Color: | Blue, brown tabby, white, tortoiseshell, mink |
| Temperament: | Docile, friendly, sweet |
Just like their close cousin, the Ragdoll, the Ragamuffin is a sweet and loving cat that wants nothing more than to be close to their owners. They have extremely thick and dense fur that is soft and luxurious, making them appear far larger than they actually are. They are ideal family cats due to their docile nature but can be rather shy around strangers.
10. Ragdoll
| Size: | 17-21 inches |
| Color: | Pointed seal, chocolate, blue, lilac, red, and cream |
| Temperament: | Sociable, calm, gentle |
The Ragdoll is an affectionate yet undemanding breed. They are large, muscular, and long-haired cats with soft and luxurious fur and large blue eyes. Their name comes from their tendency to go limp and relaxed when being held, like a ragdoll. While they are certainly beautiful to look at, their main claim to fame is their docile, placid temperament and affectionate nature.
11. Scottish Fold
| Size: | 14-16 inches |
| Color: | White, black, blue, red, cream |
| Temperament: | Sociable, energetic, curious, playful |
The Scottish Fold is a truly unique and beautiful breed, with short, folded-back ears after which they were named. They are sensitive animals that need to be raised gently and in a calm environment to nurture their curious and sociable personality. They are also highly intelligent animals that can be taught tricks, and they love to be close to their owners. One of the unique traits of the breed is their love for other animals — they can often be found cuddling up with the family dog!
12. Siamese
| Size: | 11-15 inches |
| Color: | Silver, orange, brown, cream, blue, lilac |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, social, affectionate |
The sleek, athletic, and agile Siamese needs no introduction. They are one of the most recognizable and popular breeds in the world, partly due to their affectionate and friendly nature and their uniquely beautiful appearance. They are also one of the oldest breeds on the planet, believed to have originated in the 14th century. They are highly sociable animals that do not enjoy being alone, and as such, they are often kept in pairs.
13. Siberian
| Size: | 15-18 inches |
| Color: | Can be found in almost all colors — most commonly, orange, gray, black, and white |
| Temperament: | Affectionate, intelligent, playful |
The Siberian is often described as being a “dog-like” cat, following their owners around from room to room. The breed hails from the frigid taiga of Siberia, which likely contributed to their long, thick coat. They have a somewhat wild appearance but are highly friendly and affectionate with their family and make great playmates for children. That said, they are independent animals that are affectionate and playful on their terms only!
14. Toyger
| Size: | 9-13 inches high |
| Color: | Brown, silver, snow, charcoal, blue |
| Temperament: | Friendly, calm, sweet |
The Toyger cat is arguably one of the most strikingly beautiful cats on this list, with a wild-looking coat of tiger-like stripes. Despite their appearance, the Toyger is an affectionate and loving cat that does well in a family home. The breed was created by crossing a Bengal with a domestic shorthair and has no wild blood. They are medium-sized, muscular cats with long bodies and short coats.
Conclusion
As cat owners, we believe that every cat is uniquely beautiful, and this list contains just a few of our favorites. If you feel that we’ve left any out, please let us know in the comments!
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Featured Image Credit: catinrocket, Shutterstock
