Cats are chock full of physical characteristics that make them downright adorable, from their sweet little faces to their long, expressive tails. While every cat is cute in our books, some purebreds have unique features that make them strikingly beautiful. If you’re searching for the most beautiful cat in the world to adopt or fawn over digitally, we have you covered.

Read on to find the 17 most beautiful cat breeds and learn a little more about their appearance and temperaments.

The 17 Most Beautiful Cat Breeds

1. Abyssinian

The Abyssinian is a medium-sized cat with a ticked tabby coat. Each hair of its coat is banded with different colors. The Abys is often hailed as one of the oldest cat breeds, dating back to ancient Egypt. Mummified remains of cats resembling the modern Abyssinian have been found in Egyptian tombs from 4,000 years ago.

The Abyssinian is an athletic and attention-seeking cat that keeps a close eye on the goings on in its home. It’s fast, agile, and always game for spirited playtime with its humans. This breed is highly intelligent and prone to boredom, which can lead to problem behaviors. It wants to explore every nook and cranny of your home and isn’t afraid to climb or jump on anything.

2. American Curl

The American Curl is a relatively new breed, first appearing in California in the early 1980s. Its trademark curled ear, from which it got its name, resulted from a spontaneous natural mutation. American Curl kittens are born with normal, straight ears, which will begin curling within 48 hours.

This breed is known for its friendly, affectionate, and active temperament. They form dog-like attachments with their humans and are as happy engaging in playtime as they are with a good snuggle on the couch. American Curls don’t reach full maturity until they’re around 2 or 3 years old and often retain a kitten-like playfulness throughout their lives.

3. Balinese

The Balinese is a long-haired cat with point coloration like their closely related cousin, the Siamese. It was first introduced in the 1940s after a long-haired Siamese kitten spontaneously appeared in a litter born in America. The Balinese are sometimes also known as Long-Haired Siamese.

Since the Balinese shares DNA with the Siamese, it only makes sense that the two breeds have almost identical personalities. The Balinese cat loves to be the center of attention and can be somewhat demanding of their human family members. It has a very intense interest in the activities around them, always wanting to be involved in whatever the family is doing. The Balinese are highly intelligent, friendly, and playful.

4. Bengal

The Bengal is another relatively new cat breed, resulting from the deliberate crossing of an Asian leopard cat with a domestic cat. This beautiful and exotic hybrid wasn’t fully established until the 1970s when a breeder brought together Asian leopard cat hybrids with other domestic cat breeds. The goal was to create an exotic and wild-looking feline with the personality of a domestic house cat.

Bengals are soft, sweet, and affectionate cats. They tend to form a tight-knit bond with one particular human but remain personable and social with the other household members. Bengals are smart and highly curious and need constant stimulation to stay happy. Most enjoy the occasional romp in the bathtub and can even be taught tricks.

5. Birman

The Birman is a long-haired, color-pointed cat with a silky coat and beautiful blue eyes. While there is no official record of this breed’s origin, most believe it had its start acting as companions for the temple priests in Burma.

Birmans are highly social cats that enjoy nothing more than curling up in their owner’s laps. This people-oriented breed is very social, often following its humans around the home to feel included. They are very patient and tolerant, making them great for households with children. Birmans hate being alone, though, so it’s ideal to have another kitty if you spend much time outside the home.

6. Egyptian Mau

The exotic-looking Egyptian Mau is a short-haired cat with a naturally spotted coat. This rare breed likely originated in Egypt, though DNA studies show the Egyptian Mau we know and love today is mostly of North American and European origin.

This breed is highly athletic, requiring an engaging and stimulating environment. They love water and thrive best alongside humans who provide plenty of opportunities for them to be athletic. The Egyptian Mau is friendly and interactive with their family members, though they tend to bond more intensely with just one person.

7. Exotic Shorthair

The Exotic Shorthair was developed to be a short-haired version of a Persian, so the two breeds are similar in many ways. Exotics share many of the same physical traits as Persians without the high-maintenance coat. In the 1950s, American Shorthair breeders began secretly breeding their cats with Persians, Burmese, and Russian Blues to recreate this breed’s beautiful look in their shorthair cats.

Like the Persian, Exotic Shorthairs have gentle and calm personalities. Their curious and playful demeanor makes them a little livelier than their long-haired counterparts. This breed is a fantastic lap cat that isn’t afraid to show affection to its humans.

8. Himalayan

The Himalayan cat is a colorpoint version of the Persian created by crossing a Siamese with a Persian. It combines the best personality and physical traits of the cats from which it was born. Like its Persian heritage, the Himalayan has large eyes and a snub nose. Its Siamese blood provides the pointed color on its ears, tail, paws, and face.

Himalayans are intelligent, gentle, and loving. This breed is laidback to the point that some would consider it sedate. They enjoy playing, though they’re not as active or athletic as other breeds. Like their Persian cousins, most Himalayans prefer to be lap cats over energetic extroverts like their Siamese ancestors.

9. Maine Coon

The Maine Coon is one of the largest domesticated cats and without a doubt one of the prettiest cat breeds in the world. It can be either long- or medium-haired, with a soft, silky coat and long, bushy tail. Some have tufts of hair on their ears like a lynx. Maine Coons are one of the oldest natural breeds in North America, originating in Maine in the 19^th century.

Don’t let the Maine Coon’s giant size fool you, these large cats may have a demanding presence, but they’re gentle giants. This breed is highly intelligent and easy to train. They’re loyal to their family members but aren’t clingy. These sweet-tempered cats make great companions for children, other cats, and even dogs.

10. Norwegian Forest Cat

The Norwegian Forest Cat is known for its long, glossy hair and wooly undercoat necessary for it to stay warm in the cold climate where it originated. This large breed has a similar stature to the Maine Coon, with long legs, a sturdy body, and a big, bushy tail.

The Norwegian Forest Cat is a friendly and intelligent breed with much energy. Though it may take some time to warm up to people, this breed is highly loyal and affectionate to its family members. They are independent, undemanding, and not known for being lap cats.

11. Persian

Persians are easy to recognize thanks to their snub noses, chubby cheeks, and long, luscious coat. This breed is very old, going as far back as the 1600s, though some fanciers believe it may be even older. After Queen Victoria took a liking to Persians in the 1800s, the breed became popular with the upper-class British folk.

Persians have a very sweet, gentle, and calm demeanor. They enjoy lounging around and aren’t known for being high-energy. These giant fluff balls bond well with their family members and other cats but aren’t opposed to being left alone for short periods.

12. Ragdoll

Ragdolls are a large breed with a semi-long, silky coat. Though they can take up to four years to reach their full size, they have a bulky frame and sturdy, muscular body. Ragdolls are known for their distinctive blue eyes. The breed was developed in California in the 1960s.

With a name like Ragdoll, you’d expect this breed to be laid-back and docile – and that’s exactly how they are. These beautiful cats love to be held and would be perfectly happy spending all day in your arms. They’re smart, gentle, and have an intense craving for human attention. Despite this longing for affection, Ragdolls are never demanding.

13. Russian Blue

The Russian Blue is a breed with distinctive dark, bluish coloring. They have short, dense coats and bright green eyes. The Russian Blue originated in Russia in the 1800s, but it wasn’t until it reached Great Britain that the breed took the cat world by storm.

Russian Blues are sweet and loyal cats, though they can initially be shy. They develop deep connections with one family member and will even become so in tune with that person that they become sensitive to their emotions. This breed is highly social but still requires alone time, often retreating to a quiet nook for naps.

14. Scottish Fold

The Scottish Fold’s trademark folded ears gives these beautiful cats an owl-like appearance. As adorable as this breed is, its ear deformity is caused by a developmental abnormality, osteochondrodysplasia (OCD), which affects its cartilage and bone. Folds have malformed bone structures and may develop degenerative joint diseases. For this reason, it is illegal to breed Fold cats in some countries.

Scottish Folds are sweet, charming, and easy to live with. They’re affectionate and bond equally with all members of their family. Because of their osteochondrodysplasia, this breed needs to be handled gently.

15. Siamese

Siamese cats are very distinctive with their blue almond-shaped eyes, triangular heads, and large ears. These beautiful cats have short, glossy coats and slender bodies. They were the first recognized Asian cat breed, having been developed in Thailand sometime between the 14^th and 18^th centuries.

Siamese cats are intelligent, very talkative, and affectionate. They form deep bonds with their owners and thrive on human company. They like to be a part of everything going on in their homes and will follow you around everywhere you go. Siamese cats are notoriously demanding and don’t like to be left alone for too long.

16. Siberian

Siberians are medium to large cats with muscular bodies and big, bushy tails. They’re very similar to Norwegian Forest Cats and are likely related to one another in some way. The Siberian originated in Russia, where they are still cherished as the national cat.

Siberian cats are known for their adventurous personalities and easygoing demeanor. They have a dog-like quality thanks to their affectionate nature and devoted loyalty. Siberians are vocal cats that always want to be involved in all household activities.

17. Turkish Angora

The Turkish Angora has a long, elegant, ballerina-like body and soft, silky fur. They are a medium-sized breed most often seen in white, though other colors do occur. Originating in Turkey, this naturally occurring breed has been around since the 15^th century.

Turkish Angoras are intelligent cats that bond well with their humans. They’re highly affectionate, affable, and playful, making them a top pick for families with children. They get along with everyone and doesn’t like being left alone for too long. The Turkish Angora wants to actively participate in all of your activities and is very persistent in getting your attention.

Final Thoughts

As you can now see, beautiful cats come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities. If you’re looking for the most beautiful cat in the world to adopt, we hope that our list provided you with a great jumping-off point. No matter which cat you choose, it will enrich your life!

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Featured Image Credit: Pavel Sepi, Shutterstock