Rarest Cat in the World?

Cat lovers know that felines come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colours. They also know that cat personalities differ wildly too. Some are friendly and want nothing more than to follow you around or sit on your lap, while others prefer their own company.

The breed, which is known to be very affectionate, emerged around the early 1980s in the U.S. as a mutation of cats bred for pest control. Sokokes were found as a naturally occurring native breed in the greater Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Preserve area in Kenya.

Ojos Azules is short-haired and has strikingly blue eyesJose Lodos Benavente/Getty Images These cats have a natural dominant-gene mutation that affects cartilage throughout the body, causing the ears to bend forward and down towards the front of the head. Celebrity owners include Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran , but vets have warned against their breeding as their genetic condition can cause them to have short and painful lives. The Cornish Rex has no hair except for down and is the result of a genetic mutation that originated in a litter of kittens born in the 1950s on a farm in Cornwall, U.K.

A Peterbald breed cat called Blob is judged at a cat show in 2019 in LondonJohn Keeble/Getty Images A breeder from Kentucky began developing the Bombay breed in the 1950s by crossing a sable Burmese with a black American Shorthair. According to the U.S. Cat Fanciers’ Association, they love to play fetch, are keen to learn tricks and form strong bonds with their humans. yhelfman/iStocks The Minskin is a breed of cat derived from intentional hybrid cross-breedings between the Munchkin and the Burmese, as well as the Devon Rex and the Sphinx.

There are now 71 cat breeds recognized by the International Cat Association (TICA)- excluding the average household cat, typically known as the domestic shorthair, while the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) only recognizes 40 breeds.

Playful and extremely active, this cat can usually be found in Iran, Iraq, and eastern Turkey, according to the CFA. Around 100 of them are born in the US each year, making it one of the rarest cat breeds in the world today.

Known for their curly fur, LaPerm cats are unique felines that can come in both long and shorthair. These highly intelligent cats wavy coat is the result of a mutation that was discovered in the 1980s, making them a relatively new breed. This cat breed tends to be very quiet yet highly playful and active, according to Petfinder.

This cat breed only recently made an appearance in the US, making it a beloved rarity. After the Second World War, this cat breed was nearly extinct but was saved by the efforts of breeders. Known for being extremely active and very adaptable to other animals and humans alike, Tonkinese cats have more of an innocent personality.Attention-craving and highly affectionate, Tonkinese cats are great companions for dogs, however they could annoy more laid-back animals since they need to be around creatures that have a similar activity level.

An attendee holds a Sweet Minskin cat during the 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City, U.S. February 11, 2017. The Devon Rex cat earned its name from its place of origin, Devonshire, in the United Kingdom. The breeds large eyes, short muzzle, prominent cheekbones, and huge, low-set ears create a characteristic elfin look, according to Petfinder.

The number of recognized cat breeds in the world varies by organization and is either 44 (Cat Fanciers Association (CFA)), 49 (Fdration Internationale Fline (FIFe)), or 73 (The International Cat Association (TICA)). It can be difficult to track the population numbers of specific breeds as that information is not typically released to the public.

However, in its native Turkey, the Turkish Angora was bred at the Ankara Zoo to preserve the unique cats. photo source: Flickr via torbakhopper The American Bobtail was a naturally occurring feral cat that was not selectively bred until the late 1960s .

Breeders in the United States established the American Bobtail by breeding feral domestic cats that had the signature short tails. photo source: Wikimedia Commons via Douglas Edwards The Chartreux is a rare breed of cat from France that is thought to have ancient origins. The earliest documented history of the Chartreux in France dates to early 16 th century and makes not of the breeds unique coat texture and color.

photo source: Wikimedia Commons via Dave Scelfo Havana Browns were purposely developed in the early 1950s in England by a group of British cat fanciers. The Havana Brown was first recognized as an official breed by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in 1958. In 1998/1999, Havana Brown breeders in North America were permitted to start breeding with unregistered black or blue domestic shorthairs, certain colors of Oriental Shorthairs, or chocolate point or seal point Siamese to increase the limited Havana Brown gene pool.

photo source: Flickr via Nickolas Titkov The Burmillaoriginated in the United Kingdom in 1981 when a Chinchilla Persian male accidentally had kittens with a Lilac Burmese female. The kittens produced by the accidental encounter were so beautiful that a breeding program was established for the newly created Burmillas. Like a few of the other breeds on this list, the LaPerm was a spontaneous genetic mutation in a regular litter of tabby cats.

Koehl eventually decided to isolate a few of the curly-haired cats and discovered that the curly gene was dominant in both parents. photo source: Wikipedia Commons via Effervescing Elephant The Turkish Van is not only one of the rarest cat breeds, it is also one of the most ancient. Turkish Vans were first brought to the West in 1955 when two British women, Laura Lushington and Sonia Halliday, were on vacation in Turkey.

They brought a male and female kitten back to England and began promoting the Turkish Van as a unique breed. The consistently low numbers of American Wirehairs registered makes it the rarest cat breed in the world.

We at Bright Side adore these graceful and majestic creatures. Today we invite you to learn more about the rarest cats that can be found all over the world.

They spend most of their time resting in dense vegetation in ravines, watching out for their prey. Kodkods are actually very good climbers , with a strong muscular system that allows them to climb high trees.

They live in Brazil and Argentina, but their spotted fur allows them to hide among the tree leaves so perfectly that scientists observe them very rarely . The sand cat inhabits the sandy places of our planet, like the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. They feel perfectly safe among sand, stones, and a lack of fresh water.

Modern species behave nothing like our pets, staying away from people and remaining wild. They’re very protective of their homes, and they store food in hollow trees and hide it by covering it with bushy branches. The color of their fur can differ from reddish or dark gray with rusty-cinnamon stripes to brown with rosette-shaped spots.

They’ve been historically rare and are now endangered , so people keep an eye on their breeding and protect their places of habitat.

of the Rarest Cat Breeds

Cat lovers know that felines come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colours. They also know that cat personalities differ wildly too. Some are friendly and want nothing more than to follow you around or sit on your lap, while others prefer their own company.The U.S. Cat Fanciers’ Association, which is considered the main pedigree certifying organization, recognizes 44 distinct purebred breeds.The list below, compiled using popular petting websites, features some of the less-common breeds.

LaPerm

The LaPerm is one of the rarest cats in the world and is named after its unusual, curly fur. The breed, which is known to be very affectionate, emerged around the early 1980s in the U.S. as a mutation of cats bred for pest control. They later became popular because of their looks.

Ragamuffin

The Ragamuffin is a large, fluffy cat that is descended from the ragdoll cat. It was established as a separate breed in the mid-1990s. They’re friendly but known to be lazy, making them ideal for people wanting an easy-going indoor pet.

Korat

Originating from Thailand, the Korat cat is a silvery-blue colour. It first appeared in the U.S. in the 1950s and arrived in the U.K. in the 1970s. Although it looks similar to a British Shorthair cat, it is not as stocky.

Sokoke

The Sokoke is of the rarest breeds. It is a lean, medium-sized cat with a long, graceful body and slender legs. Sokokes were found as a naturally occurring native breed in the greater Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Preserve area in Kenya.

American Wirehair

American Wirehair is a larger cat and has a harsh, wiry coat. Each individual hair is crimped or hooked and they require grooming at least once a week. The breed emerged in 1966, when one wire-haired kitten was born in a litter of New York farm cats.

Ojos Azules

Ojos Azules—”Blue Eyes” in Spanish—are a very rare breed of cat originating from New Mexico. The first cat of that type was found in 1980 and the breed is known for their deep blue eye colour.

Scottish Fold

These cats have a natural dominant-gene mutation that affects cartilage throughout the body, causing the ears to bend forward and down towards the front of the head.The breed, first discovered at a farm in Perthshire in Scotland in the 1960s, is known for being good-natured.Celebrity owners include Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, but vets have warned against their breeding as their genetic condition can cause them to have short and painful lives.

Colorpoint Shorthair

The variety was initially created by crossbreeding Siamese cats with the American Shorthair in the 1940s. However, only The Cat Fanciers’ Association and the World Cat Federation are the only major groups that recognize them as a standalone breed.

Cornish Rex

The Cornish Rex has no hair except for down and is the result of a genetic mutation that originated in a litter of kittens born in the 1950s on a farm in Cornwall, U.K.

Peterbald

The energetic and friendly Peterbald breed was created in 1994 in St. Petersburg, Russia, by a cat enthusiast. It was the result of an experimental mating of a Don Hairless and an Oriental Shorthair.

Bombay

A breeder from Kentucky began developing the Bombay breed in the 1950s by crossing a sable Burmese with a black American Shorthair. The Bombay was bred to resemble the black leopard found in India.

American Bobtail

American Bobtails are loving and intelligent cats that have a distinctive wild appearance. According to the U.S. Cat Fanciers’ Association, they love to play fetch, are keen to learn tricks and form strong bonds with their humans.

Minskin

The Minskin is a breed of cat derived from intentional hybrid cross-breedings between the Munchkin and the Burmese, as well as the Devon Rex and the Sphinx. They have sparse coats, short legs, large ears and prominent whisker pads. The breed was developed by Paul Richard McSorley in Boston in 1998.

Turkish Van

The Turkish Van cat, a natural breed that originates from the Middle East, is known for its unique pattern.The breed got its name from its distinctive pattern which involves a colored head and some tail markings.Solidly built, this semi-long-haired cat has a very powerful body and takes up a full 3 to 5 years to reach full maturity, according to online pet adoption website Petfinder.Playful and extremely active, this cat can usually be found in Iran, Iraq, and eastern Turkey, according to the CFA. Around 100 of them are born in the US each year, making it one of the rarest cat breeds in the world today.

LaPerm

Known for their curly fur, LaPerm cats are unique felines that can come in both long and shorthair. These highly intelligent cats’ wavy coat is the result of a mutation that was discovered in the 1980s, making them a relatively new breed.This cat breed tends to be very quiet yet highly playful and active, according to Petfinder.

Chartreux

Sometimes referred to as “the smiling blue cat of France,” this cat breed is said to have enjoyed a quiet life when they were brought to France’s Carthusian monasteries by Crusaders. This breed is considered to be the national cat of France.This cat breed only recently made an appearance in the US, making it a beloved rarity.After the Second World War, this cat breed was nearly extinct but was saved by the efforts of breeders.

Tonkinese

Known for being extremely active and very adaptable to other animals and humans alike, Tonkinese cats have more of an innocent personality.A cross between the Burmese and Siamese, these cats are intelligent, very vocal and engaging.

Egyptian Mau

Just 6,700 Egyptian Mau cats have been registered with the CFA, making them one of the world’s rarest cat breeds.It is also the only natural domesticated breed of spotted cat, according to Petfinder. A medium-sized cat, this feline is extremely playful, active and energetic with very well-developed muscles.

Minskin

With its short legs and stocky body, this feline has been compared to the Corgi dog.Outgoing and affectionate, these cats are ideal indoor companions. The Minskin cat is a result of crossbreeding between the Munchkin and Burmese cats with the addition of Devon Rex and the Sphynx.

Norwegian Forest cat

Native to Norway, the Norwegian Forest is very playful and active and is well-known for its fun-loving spirit.This breed is very family-oriented and tend to bond to several people at once.Known for being very friendly towards other pets, these cats are very docile and intelligent, according to Petfinder.This cat breed is quite rare, but can mainly be found in Europe.

Kurilian Bobtail

The Kurilian Bobtail cat is a super rare breed, with only around 100 cats in North America alone, according to TICA.While many breeds’ unique features are developed with human assistance and manipulation, the Kurilian Bobtail is a completely natural breed with no two tails that look alike. They’re known for having extremely short tails, a truly unique characteristic of the breed’s physical appearance.

Devon Rex

The Devon Rex cat earned its name from its place of origin, Devonshire, in the United Kingdom.“The Devon Rex is a breed of unique appearance. The breed’s large eyes, short muzzle, prominent cheekbones, and huge, low-set ears create a characteristic elfin look,” according to Petfinder.

The 16 Rarest Cat Breeds Ever

We atWe bet you hadn’t heard of them before today!

Black-footed cat

This is one of the smallest cat breeds and can be found only in the south of Africa. Their weight is rarely over 5.4 lb, and their head-to-body length can reach 17″. Despite the name, only

Fishing cat

We used to think that cats hate water, but this cat proves us wrong. Their most peculiar feature is the

Iberian lynx

The Iberian lynx is one of the rarest and most endangered species of wild cats on the planet. The used to prey all over the territory of modern Spain and Portugal. However, today they can be found only under the protection of the Doñana National Park.

Jaguarundi

Jaguarundi – what a name! They are found in Mexico and South America and, in fact, scientists know little about them – only their characteristics and habitat. It’s a shame that such a beautiful

Kodkod

This small-headed wild cat lives primarily in Chile and in some areas of Argentina. They spend most of their time resting in dense vegetation in ravines, watching out for their prey. Kodkods are actually

Margay

The Kodkod’s neighbor in South America spends most of its day in the trees. What amazes us about this cat is that it can jump from one tree branch to another and get down a tree like a squirrel. Their strong legs allow margays to

Rusty-spotted cat

This petite cat weighs no more than 3.5 lb, which makes it

Clouded leopard

What grace! Well, it’s almost like a real leopard but a bit smaller. A clouded leopard’s head-to-body length reaches 32″, which is 22″ shorter than an ordinary leopard. It is believed that the clouded leopard is

Oncilla

The oncilla, also known as the little spotted cat, is the breed we know the least about. They live in Brazil and Argentina, but their spotted fur allows them to hide among the tree leaves so perfectly that

Sand cat

The sand cat inhabits the sandy places of our planet, like the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. They

Wildcat

Despite totally different looks, the wildcat is the closest relative to the sand cat. However, it looks more like the ordinary cat you have at home for a reason: wildcats were the first cat breed that was

Geoffroy’s cat

Geoffroy’s cat is the same size as a domesticated cat. But unlike house cats, they

Flat-headed cat

They’ve been considered extinct for a very long time, hiding at the top level. They live in the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, and scientists still doubt the number of species there. This cat really loves water and hunts in rivers. One peculiar feature was observed:

Asian golden cat

Another type of cat that hides so well you’ll have a hard time seeing it in wild nature. Scientists use special digital collars to learn more about this cat‘s habitat and behavior. They stay active during the day and

Colocolo

South American colocolos are the same size as domestic cats. When they feel a threat or danger, they

Bay cat

The bay cat, also known as the Bornean cat, got its name from the place where it lives: the island of Borneo. They’ve been