How many breeds of Cats is there?

It's impossible to say exactly how many cat breeds there are. The number depends on what you consider a "breed," as different organizations have different criteria.

Here's a breakdown:

* The International Cat Association (TICA), one of the largest cat registries, currently recognizes 76 breeds.

* The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), another major registry, recognizes 45 breeds.

* The Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe), a global federation, recognizes 44 breeds.

Beyond these registries, there are many more cat varieties that are not officially recognized as breeds but are still distinct populations with unique characteristics. Some of these may be considered "landraces," which are naturally occurring varieties that have developed over time within specific geographic regions.

Therefore, while there are a relatively small number of officially recognized cat breeds, the true number of cat varieties is much larger and continues to grow.