When you adopt a cat from a shelter, the staff there will often be able to give you an idea of what breed your new furry friend might be.
If the cat was a stray, however, it can be difficult to determine its breed just by looking at it. There are some characteristics that certain breeds tend to have that can help you narrow down the possibilities, though.
How to Tell What Breed My Cat is?
If you’ve found a cat and are wondering what breed it is, there are a few things you can look for to help narrow down the possibilities.
- Consider the size of your cat. If it’s a large cat, it’s likely that it’s a Maine Coon, Ragdoll, or Himalayan.
- If it’s a medium-sized cat, it could be a Birman or a Siamese.
- If your cat is small, it might be a Devon Rex or a Sphynx.
- Next, take a look at the fur. And if your kitty has short fur that lies close to the body, it might be a Devon Rex or Sphynx. Both of these breeds are known for their lack of hair. These two breeds are also known for having very little undercoat, so their fur tends to look sleek and smooth.
- If your cat’s fur is medium length and lies flat against its body, it could be a British Shorthair or a Russian Blue.
- Another clue is the coat. Long-haired cats are usually Persians, Ragdolls, Maine Coons, or Exotic Shorthairs.
- Is the fur short and sleek? Then it might be a British Shorthair or an American Shorthair.
- If your cat has curly fur, it could be a LaPerm or Selkirk Rex.
- Think about the color of your cat’s fur. If it’s solid black, white, or gray, then it could be any number of breeds (including mixed breeds).
- But if your cat has tabby markings – stripes running horizontally across its body – then it might be an Abyssinian or a Bengal.
- Cats with calico coloring – patches of black, white, and orange – are usually tortoiseshells (but not always).
So those are some things to keep in mind when trying to figure out what breed your cat is. Of course, these are just generalizations and there are always exceptions.
If you’re really unsure, you can always take your feline friend to for a professional opinion!
Conclusion
Keep in mind, if you narrow it down to one or two possible breeds based on coat type, size and length, there’s still no guarantee that’s what your cat actually is.
The only way to know for sure is through DNA testing – but even then, mixed-breed cats can sometimes throw off the results!
So in the end, always no need to figure out what breed your cat is. Simply enjoy spending time with your unique feline companion regardless of its background.
His professional interests include humane education, ethics, small animal behavior, and veterinary. As a pet lover from school life, having grown up with two cats and a dog. If he isn’t spending time with his friends and family, Justin enjoys traveling. Learn more about Justin here.
