cat breeds
Every breed reviewed and scored on the five categories that count: cuteness, fluffiness, gremlin factor, royal energy, and loaf form. Honest write-ups, real breed facts, and no pretending your favourite is above criticism. Pick a breed, or read the guides below.
breed profiles
maine coon
The gentle giant. Enormous, shaggy, dog-like. Scores 88.
norwegian forest cat
A weatherproof cat out of Norse legend. Scores 86.
ragdoll
The floppy, devoted lap cat. Goes limp when held. Scores 86.
british shorthair
Round, plush, easygoing. The finest loaf reviewed. Scores 85.
persian
The fluffiest aristocrat. Beautiful, and high-maintenance. Scores 84.
russian blue
Elegant, reserved, and remarkably long-lived. Scores 83.
bengal
A mini-leopard with the top gremlin score. A handful. Scores 80.
abyssinian
The tireless acrobat. Clever and never still. Scores 80.
scottish fold
The folded-ear charmer, with a serious welfare warning. Scores 80.
siamese
Sleek, blue-eyed, and never, ever quiet. Scores 79.
sphynx
Hairless, warm, and fiercely affectionate. Fluffiness: 4. Scores 76.
patterns and colours
Not every cat is a breed. Most are magnificent moggies wearing a pattern. Here is what your cat's coat actually tells you.
what breed is a tabby cat
Tabby is a pattern, not a breed. The most common coat there is.
what breed is a tuxedo cat
The black-and-white suit, explained by a cat who wears one.
what breed is a calico cat
Tricolour, lucky, and nearly always female. Here is why.
what breed is an orange cat
Ginger is a colour, every one is a tabby, and most are male.
breed guides
most affectionate breeds
The soppiest, clingiest cats going, ranked by warmth.
fluffiest breeds
Maximum floof, and the grooming bill that comes with it.
biggest breeds
A lot of cat, from the Savannah to the Maine Coon.
hypoallergenic breeds
The honest truth: no cat is allergy-free, but some are kinder.
rarest breeds
Cats so scarce most people never meet one.
Upload a photo and get your own cat rated across all five categories. Free, no sign-up.
rate your catMore from my desk: the cat name generator and the chairman's journal.