cat

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The video thumbnail images includes a split image of a lion and an orange cat are shown against a vintage map.

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domestic cat summary

List of selected shorthair breeds

incat

Also known as: Felis catus, domestic cat, house cat

Written by J. Anne Helgren

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jan 8, 2025 • Article History

Also called:: house cat or domestic cat

Related Topics:: cats as pets; 9 (Lives of) Famous Cat Lovers; Norwegian Forest Cat; Siamese; feral cat

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A selection of shorthair breeds of domestic cats is given in the table.

Selected shorthair breeds of cats
name	origin	characteristics	comments
Abyssinian	probably Egypt	regal appearance; lithe body with long slender legs	resembles the sacred cat of ancient Egypt
American Shorthair	U.S.	broad muscular body; thick dense fur	hardy; natural hunter
American Wirehair	U.S.	medium to large in size; curly coat	rare outside the U.S.
Bengal	U.S.	spotted coat; hind legs shorter than forelegs	cross between Asian leopard cat and American Shorthair tabby
Bombay	U.S.	elegant appearance; resembles Indian black leopard	cross between Burmese and black American Shorthair
British Shorthair	England	broad body with short legs; short thick tail	oldest natural English breed; many varieties
Burmese	Burma (Myanmar)	medium-sized; glossy, thick coat	related to the Siamese
Chartreux	France	robust; all shades of blue-gray	one of the oldest natural breeds
Cornish Rex	England	curly short coat; large ears	named after the Rex rabbit
Devon Rex	England	coat slightly coarser than Cornish Rex; pixie face	nicknamed “poodle cat”
Egyptian Mau	Egypt	graceful body; distinct spot pattern and banded tail	mau is Egyptian for “cat”
Japanese Bobtail	Japan	triangular head with large ears; rabbitlike tail	symbol of good luck
Korat	Thailand	silver-blue coat; heart-shaped face	native name Si-Sawat; considered to be good luck
Manx	Isle of Man	tailless or with stump; double coat (soft undercoat beneath longer, coarser hairs)	tailless gene can cause skeletal defects and stillbirths if not bred with a tailed cat
Ocicat	U.S.	typically cream coat with dark or light brown spots and markings	cross between Abyssinian, American Shorthair, and Siamese
Oriental Shorthair	U.S., U.K.	long lithe body; vivid green eyes	numerous colours unique to the breed
Russian Blue	Russia	blue with silver tipping; plush double coat; fine-boned but muscular	considered omens of good luck
Scottish Fold	Scotland	typically folded ears; short, round, well-padded body	folded ear gene can cause crippling when two such types are mated
Siamese	Asia	sapphire-blue eyes; long lean body	noted for its intelligence and unpredictable behaviour
Sphynx	Canada	hairless; large ears	rare outside North America
Tonkinese	U.S.	blue-green eyes; medium-sized	cross between Siamese and Burmese