List of Some Kitten Breeds

"A kitten is in the animal world what a rosebud is in the garden," said English poet Robert Southey. Breeders of kittens would agree that these animals bring beauty to their surroundings, along with plenty of energy and amusing antics. If you hope to own a purebred kitten, you'll find more than four dozen breeds eligible for championship competition in The International Cat Association (TICA). The organization suggests you research the breeds you're considering before deciding which type of kitten to buy.

  1. Fabulous fur

    • TICA describes the Balinese as "a Siamese with a long coat." The Burmese is a medium-sized cat with a silky, dark-brown coat. Havana kittens grow into medium-sized, muscular cats with richly colored coats, while the Himalayan has a long coat that requires frequent grooming. The LaPerm has curly hair that makes it appear as if it just stepped out of a beauty salon. The Birman has a light-colored, semi-longhaired coat and blue eyes, along with a build TICA calls "stocky." A shiny, black coat and copper-colored eyes highlight the Bombay. The Nebelung has long hair, green eyes and a silky blue-gray coat. Water resistance characterizes the semi-long coat of the Norwegian Forest Cat, a breed with large ears and a triangle-shaped head. The Russian Blue has short hair and a silvery blue coat.

    An echo of wild cats

    • Abyssinians resemble small mountain lions or cougars and have a "dramatically marked, expressive face," comments TICA. Striking spots or marbling distinguish the Bengal's coat from other cats, with some Bengal kittens resembling small leopards. Toygers are bred to resemble tigers. The spotted Ocicat features a wild look and large body.

    Exotic kitties

    • "A potato on toothpicks" is the description TICA assigns to the Charteux, a cat that only comes in blue. The Egyptian Mau has green eyes and appears to stand on its tiptoes due to its back-leg length. The Maine Coon is a large cat with a semi-longhaired coat and bushy tail. TICA comments that the rounded body of the Manx may remind you of a bowling ball. The Cymric is a long-haired version of the Manx, a cat which lacks a tail. American Wirehairs are medium-sized, muscular cats that need regular bathing to prevent skin problems. The medium-haired Ragdoll "is one of the largest of the cat breeds and takes up to four years to reach full maturity," notes TICA. Peterbalds have very short coats or lack hair completely. Buyers can choose between longhair and shorthair versions of the Pixiebob, which grows into a muscular cat.

    Familiar friends

    • American Shorthair kittens grow into medium-sized cats with strong, contrasting patterns. The Persian has a long, flowing coat on a short body. The Siamese is a long, slender cat with slanted eyes. A medium-length coat and graceful appearance highlight the Turkish Angora. Snowshoe kittens combine traits of the American Shorthair and Siamese. The British Shorthair and Longhair have round faces, wide eyes and chubby cheeks. Oriental Shorthairs and Oriental Longhairs belong to the Siamese family.