16 Rare House Cat Breeds We Didn’t Know Existed

New cat breeds appear all the time. Some appear as a result of accidental mutations, and some as a result of long and careful work for many generations. Short-fur, bald, yellow-eyes, cats that look like tigers and leopards with curled ears and short legs — breeders can get really creative.

We at Bright Side also love cats and we found some of the most rare, new, and unusual cats that people all around the world own.

1. American Wirehair

The fur of these cats looks very wiry (which is why the breed has this name) but in fact, it’s just as soft as other cats’ fur. The cats of this breed are never brushed after washing in order to keep the natural beauty of their fur. American Wirehairs are really curious and obedient and they can easily adapt to change.

2. Sokoke

African Sokoke cats look like Cheetahs. They have spots on their bodies, big ears, and they are really active. The breed appeared at the end of the 1970s and became popular throughout Europe very fast. Sokoke cats are independent and not demanding but their owners need to make sure they have enough room to play.

3. Nebelung

Nebelungs originated from Russian blue cats. Young Nebelungs can be quite aggressive toward guests, but they are really nice to their owners. Another interesting feature of this breed is that they have a really quiet voice.

4. Minuet

Minuet cats originated from Munchkin cats and Persians. These cats don’t require any specific type of care and their high intelligence and absence of aggression make them ideal pets. They were actually first called Napoleon cats, because they’re so short, like Napoleon Bonaparte.

5. LaPerm

LaPerms are some of the most unusual cats in this compilation. They are special because their fur is permanently curly.

6. Chantilly-Tiffany

The Chantilly-Tiffany is a cat has long, silk-like fur in a chocolate color and amber eyes. The cats of this breed are really smart, friendly, and have a great attitude toward children. They don’t need a lot of special care, the only thing you need to do is take good care of their long fur.

7. Bombay cat

Bombay cats look like Bagheera from Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli stories. Despite their name, they were not bred in India but originated in the US. Their look is really impressive: with amber-like yellow eyes and smooth dark fur — they look like black panthers. Their appearance, however, doesn’t stop these cats from being very good house pets.

8. Foldex cat

Foldex cats look a lot like toys. This is a combination of British Shorthair, Scottish Fold, and Persian cats. They have a lot of fur and they are quite friendly. They can’t live without their owners.

9. American Curl

The special feature of the cats of this breed are their ears, which are an unusual shape. Curls can have both long fur and short fur, they can be any color, the only thing that matters is that the ears should be curled. Curls are very loyal and communicative cats with great health.

10. Selkirk Rex

It’s not only LaPerms that have permanent curly hair. Selkirk Rex cats also have this fur. This is a combination of Persian, British, and some exotic breed with a dominant curly fur gene. Selkirk Rex cats look like small bears and they are really loyal and kind. Their fur has to be taken care of every day, otherwise, there may be problems.

11. Dwelf

These cats are a combination of Sphynx, Munchkins, and Curls and they have all the usual features of these breeds: a small cat with short legs, curled ears, and no fur. These cats look like magical creatures. Taking care of Dwelf cats is not easy: they love warmth, they need to be washed often, and their eyes, nose, and ears should be cleaned every day.

12. Singapura cat

Singapura cats are the smallest cats in the world. They have excellent health and they don’t require any special care. Many people get these cats because of their small size.

13. Lykoi

Lykoi cats are like wolves. They have a unique kind of black fur that looks like a possum’s hair. And the fact that they don’t have any fur on their faces makes them look like werewolves, this is where the name of the breed comes from. However, despite their look, Lykoi cats are very loyal and friendly pets.

14. Kinkalow

This combination of Munchkins and American Curls has features from both breeds. Their petite stature and their short legs come from Munchkins and their curled ears come from Curls. At the moment, there are just about 100 Kinkalow cats in the world, but the breed is becoming more and more popular.

15. Chartreux

This is one of the oldest European breeds that were originally bred about 600 years ago. Chartreux cats are huge cats with honey-like eyes, blue fur, and independent personalities. They are good pets, but they can be jealous if you have other animals.

16. American Ringtail

American Ringtails are a new breed and not everyone is in agreement yet that it is really even a breed. Their tails are curled in the back like Husky’s tales. Ringtails are playful, curious, communicative, and unlike other cats, love water.

Would you like to get one of these cats? If yes, which one?