Cat Breed Glossary

Founded 1979 · USA

One of the world's largest international cat registries. It recognizes a large number of breeds and is relatively quick to register new ones.

Founded 1906 · USA

One of the oldest and largest pedigree registries in the world. Known as an authority on cat shows, with strict breed standards.

Founded 1949 · Europe

An international federation of national cat clubs, widely recognized across Europe.

Founded 1910 · UK

The leading cat registry in the United Kingdom, governing British cat shows.

Founded 1988 · Germany

An international organization with member clubs around the world, recognizing a wide range of breeds.

Founded 1955 · USA

A cat registry in the United States, well regarded for its cat show management.

A short, rounded, compact body with broad shoulders and hips, short legs, and a round head.

A moderate, well-balanced build, slightly lighter than the cobby type.

A slim, muscular body with long, lithe legs and tail.

A standard build between foreign and cobby — neither too slim nor too heavy.

An extremely slender, muscular body with long legs and tail and a wedge-shaped head.

A large, long, and substantial body with a sturdy, weighty build.

Short fur that is relatively easy to care for and to keep clean of shedding.

Fur of medium length between short and long; regular brushing keeps it looking good.

Fluffy, elegant fur that needs daily brushing to prevent matting.

Breeds with almost no fur, requiring special care such as skin cleaning and keeping warm.

The most common coat pattern, featuring stripes, swirls, or an "M" mark on the forehead.

A single, solid color with no markings, covering the whole body evenly.

A pattern where only the extremities — face, ears, legs, and tail — are darker, as seen in the Siamese.

A two-color coat combining white with another color.

A coat of three colors — white, black, and orange — known in Japan as the "mike" cat.

A coat where black and orange are mixed together, resembling tortoiseshell.

Fur with a white base and dark tips that shimmers like smoke as the cat moves.

A measure of how rare or hard to find the breed is in Japan. More stars means rarer.

A measure of how well-known and popular the breed is. More stars means more famous.

How energetic and playful the breed is. More stars means more active.

How affectionate the breed is and how much it enjoys contact with people.

How vocal the breed is. More stars means more talkative.

How much grooming, such as brushing, the breed requires.

How much the breed sheds. More stars means more shedding.

A measure of the breed's intelligence and ability to learn.

How well the breed gets along in households with children.

How well the breed gets along with other pets such as cats and dogs.

Overall ease of care. First-time owners may prefer breeds that are easier to care for.