If you don’t have time for the constant grooming that a longhaired cat requires but you still want a soft, fluffy feline, a medium-hair cat breed is a great middle-of-the-road option. These cats still require grooming, but a weekly brush is enough, compared to the daily brushing needed with breeds like Persians.
Apart from maintenance, there is also the aesthetic of a medium-hair cat — they are beautiful and unique in their own way. Lastly, with a medium-hair cat, you’ll still get the soft, fluffy, cuddle factor, but without long hair being left on every surface of your home.
We searched for all the medium-hair cat breeds that we could find and put this list together, with pictures, to help you choose the perfect medium-hair breed to bring home!
The 26 Medium-Hair Cat Breeds
1. Abyssinian
| Lifespan: | 9 – 15 years |
| Suitable for: | Active families with older children, singles around the home |
| Temperament: | Curious, playful, intelligent |
The Abyssinian is an affectionate, easy-to-care-for cat that typically has short to medium-length coats. These cats are medium-sized with large ears and a “ticked” coat, meaning that each individual hair has different colored bands. They are easy cats to have in the home, as they are low-maintenance and friendly with other animals and love to spend time with their owners.
2. American Bobtail
| Lifespan: | 15–20 years |
| Suitable for: | Families with children, seniors, multi-pet households, adventurous owners, first-time cat owners |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, active, affectionate, bold |
A fairly uncommon breed, the American Bobtail is an incredibly intelligent cat with a distinctively wild appearance. They are fairly large cats with characteristically short yet expressive tails. These cats can take 2-3 years to reach full maturity. Overall, they are interactive cats that love to be around humans and love to play.
3. American Wirehair
| Lifespan: | 15–17 years |
| Suitable for: | Any pet-friendly home |
| Temperament: | Lovable, agreeable, playful |
The American Shorthair is an easy-going breed that is generally placid and happy to entertain themselves. This is a powerful cat with a broad chest, muscular neck and body, and thick, strong legs. These cats are easy to care for with moderate grooming needs, and they don’t need a large amount of human interaction.
4. Balinese
| Lifespan: | 15–22 years |
| Suitable for: | Families with children or other pets, singles who are home often |
| Temperament: | Affectionate, inquisitive, outgoing, playful, athletic, sensitive |
The Balinese has a medium to long coat that is silky and straight and has darker tinting toward their paws, tail, and head. They are long, slender cats that are lively and active and enjoy playing with their owners and other cats. While they can be fairly independent at times, they will regularly come for a cuddle on their owner’s lap.
5. Bengal
| Lifespan: | 12–16 years |
| Suitable for: | Small families with plenty of space, experienced cat owners looking for a challenge |
| Temperament: | Willful, wild, mischievous, and entertaining |
The strikingly beautiful Bengal cat was created by crossing various domestic cats with the Asian Leopard cat, creating a unique, wild-looking feline with a distinctive spotted coat. This medium-hair cat is not for a novice owner: While they are generally sweet and loving most of the time, they can be unpredictable too. They are fun-loving cats that love to play and uniquely, love water.
6. Birman
| Lifespan: | 12 to 16 years |
| Suitable for: | Suitable for anyone looking for a friendly feline |
| Temperament: | Affectionate, social, gentle |
The Birman is a large cat with a long body and unusual markings. Their soft coats come in a variety of colors and are often pointed and/or mitted in pattern. They also have deep blue eyes. These cats are fairly territorial and can attach themselves to one owner. They generally keep to themselves but are known to become jealous if their owners don’t give them enough attention.
7. Chartreux
| Lifespan: | 12–16 years |
| Suitable for: | Singles, small and large families, seniors, and anyone looking for a quiet feline |
| Temperament: | Loving, docile, friendly |
A rare medium-hair cat breed from France, the Chartreux is a large and muscular feline known for their unique blue coat and short limbs. Their coats are waterproof and thick and often show breaks similar to a sheep’s coat. They are also widely adored for their smile: The shape of their muzzles and the structure of their head gives them the appearance of smiling.
8. Cyprus
| Lifespan: | 12–15 years |
| Suitable for: | Large families and active singles |
| Temperament: | Affectionate, loyal, lonely without humans |
Cyprus cats are highly energetic and athletic, with thick, medium- to long-haired coats. The breed was developed on the small island of Cyprus, where they adapted to the cooler, mountainous regions. These cats are expert hunters and have hunted fairly large prey, including rats, big lizards, and even snakes.
9. Domestic Medium Hair
| Lifespan: | 15–18 years |
| Suitable for: | Families with children and other pets, first-time cat owners, pretty much any loving cat parent |
| Temperament: | Ranges from independent and reserved to outgoing and sociable |
A hybrid hailing from a mix of both short-hair and long-hair breeds, the Domestic Medium Hair cat is a muscular breed that can come in an infinite variety of coat patterns and colors. Given that this breed has diverse genetics from mixed breeding, they can vary widely in temperament but are generally playful and easy-going.
10. Egyptian Mau
| Lifespan: | 13–15 years |
| Suitable for: | Apartment living, families with older children, most lifestyles |
| Temperament: | Strong-minded, active, fearless, playful |
One of the few breeds of naturally spotted domestic cats, the Egyptian Mau has spots that occur only on the very tips of their fur. They have a muscular body and the shorter front legs characteristic of wildcats. One of the most recognizable traits of the breed is the long, dark dorsal stripe that runs the length of their spine. These cats are also one of the fastest domestic breeds, capable of speeds of up to 30 mph.
11. European Shorthair
| Lifespan: | 15-20 years |
| Suitable for: | Families and individuals who are home to provide interaction and stimulation |
| Temperament: | Adaptable, affectionate, playful, intelligent, predatory, shy, territorial |
Originating in Sweden, the European Shorthair is a medium-sized muscular cat with a short to medium-length coat. These cats are expert hunters and are often used as capable ratters, and they get along well with other pets. They are intelligent and playful cats that are ideal for families with small children. This breed is fairly rare and has been named the national cat of Finland.
12. Exotic Shorthair
| Lifespan: | 8–15 years |
| Suitable for: | Seniors, children, families with other pets |
| Temperament: | Families with pets and children, seniors |
Developed as a shorthaired version of the fluffy Persian, the Exotic Shorthair is similar to Persians in several ways. They have the same flat nose and face and gentle and calm personality. These cats are highly affectionate and tend to show more love and affection toward humans than most other breeds, and they don’t like being left at home alone.
13. Havana Brown
| Lifespan: | 10 – 15 years |
| Suitable for: | Attentive owners, families, households with other pets |
| Temperament: | Alert, intelligent, friendly |
The result of breeding a Siamese and domestic black cat, the Havana Brown has a unique chocolate-colored coat with no markings or patterns. These cats are playful, highly curious, and social, preferring to greet guests rather than hide away, as most other breeds do. A unique trait among Havana Browns is their love of playing with and grooming their owner’s hair while riding around on their shoulders.
14. La Perm
| Lifespan: | 10–15 years |
| Suitable for: | Active families, those looking for a loving and friendly cat, and those with other pets |
| Temperament: | Loyal and loving, intelligent, easy to train, friendly, and gets along with other pets |
Developed in the U.S. completely by chance, the La Perm is a curious and easy-going cat with a docile and highly affectionate nature. They are a medium hair cat that has a characteristically curly coat (hence the name, “La Perm”) that can come in many colors and pattern variations. These cats are outgoing and friendly in nature and are said to be hypoallergenic, which is ideal for owners with allergies.
15. Manx
| Lifespan: | 10–14 years |
| Suitable for: | Seniors, apartment residents, families |
| Temperament: | Active, affectionate, social, even-tempered, adaptable |
Famed for their short and stubby or otherwise non-existent tail, the Manx breed originated on the Isle of Man. Along with the genetic mutation that causes their unique stubby tail, these cats are also known for their short front legs, rounded head, and soft, thick, double-layered coat. They are social cats that get attached to their owners, often following them around like puppies. They also learn simple commands faster than most other breeds.
16. Munchkin
| Lifespan: | 12–15 years |
| Suitable for: | Families with pets, families with older children, social lifestyles |
| Temperament: | Curious, friendly, intelligent, playful |
Also commonly known as a “sausage cat,” the Munchkin’s most notable characteristic is their very short legs, which are caused by a genetic mutation. There is a great deal of controversy surrounding the breed due to health and mobility issues. The breed is still fairly new, so it is still unclear how much of an effect the unique mutation will have on the health of this breed.
17. Ocicat
| Lifespan: | 10–15 years |
| Suitable for: | Active families who are home most of the time |
| Temperament: | Energetic, active, intelligent, affectionate, social, playful |
The Ocicat looks like they have wildcat genes, but in fact, they have none. They are typical of a domestic cat except in their coat colors and markings, which are usually made up of contrasting spots. They have a strong and muscular body with a large head that is longer than it is wide. Despite their appearance, they are sociable, friendly, and even-tempered felines.
18. Ragamuffin
| Lifespan: | 12–17 years |
| Suitable for: | First-time owners, busy owners, families |
| Temperament: | Playful, curious, social, independent, talkative |
Once considered a variant of the Ragdoll cat, the Ragamuffin is now recognized as a separate breed and is known for their friendly character and their medium- to long-length coat. They are large, muscular cats that can take up to 5 years to fully physically mature. Like their Ragdoll cousins, they are laidback, easy-going cats that are often considered a lazy breed.
19. Ragdoll
| Lifespan: | 12–17 years |
| Suitable for: | First-time owners, busy owners, families |
| Temperament: | Playful, curious, social, independent, talkative |
The Ragdoll is a large and stocky cat with a medium-length, color-point coat, and striking blue eyes. They get their name from their tendency to go limp and relax like a ragdoll when picked up, and they are considered to be a lazy breed. They are also known to be one of the most “dog-like” breeds due to their even and playful temperament and their attachment to their owners.
20. Scottish Fold
| Lifespan: | 11 – 15 years |
| Suitable for: | Families with children, families with dogs, apartment living |
| Temperament: | Friendly, social, and docile |
The Scottish Fold is an easily recognizable breed due to their forward-folded ears. The breed has a unique genetic mutation that affects the cartilage throughout their bodies and causes the folding of their ears. They are placid and easy-going cats that typically become highly attached to their owners, and they are highly playful and intelligent.
21. Siberian
| Lifespan: | 11–18 years |
| Suitable for: | Active families looking for an affectionate and playful cat |
| Temperament: | Affectionate, intelligent, tough |
The Siberian is an ancient breed, a centuries-old domestic cat that originated in Russia. They have a hardy, thick coat that protects them from the cold Russian temperatures and is easy to groom and care for. They are well known for their agility, powerful, muscular bodies and their endearing soft round eyes. They are fairly rare outside of Europe due to the high costs of importation.
22. Somali
| Lifespan: | 9–16 years |
| Suitable for: | Active families, those available to play with their cat often, families with children, multi-pet households |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, curious, loves to play, affectionate |
Believed to have originated in Somalia, the Somali cat is most recognized by their bushy tails, large eyes, and oversized pointed ears, earning them the nickname of “fox cat.” They typically have a striking golden-brown coat “ticked” with black, but they can come in a variety of other colors and patterns.
23. Tonkinese
| Lifespan: | 10–16 years |
| Suitable for: | Seniors, Apartment dwellers, Families with older children |
| Temperament: | Playful, Intelligent, Loyal & loving, Curious |
A domestic cat breed developed by crossing a Siamese and a Burmese, the Tonkinese cat shares many traits with their parent breeds, including the pointed coat pattern and a lively and active personality. They are highly social cats that love to be around people and consequently, quickly become lonely and bored when left alone. Like their Burmese parents, they are often seen acting in dog-like ways, like fetching and following their owners around.
24. Turkish Angora
| Lifespan: | 15–20 years |
| Suitable for: | Households with kids and other pets, owners who can provide daily mental and physical stimulation |
| Temperament: | Social, intelligent, energetic, sensitive, good with other pets |
Originating in Turkey, the Turkish Angora is an ancient breed and has been documented as far back as the 17th century. They are most well known for their snow-white, medium- to long-length coats, but they can be found in a variety of other colors too. These cats are intelligent, playful, and affectionate and bond strongly with their human owners.
25. Turkish Van
| Lifespan: | 13–17 years |
| Suitable for: | Families that aren’t overly affectionate and want a low-maintenance pet with hilarious antics |
| Temperament: | Funny, mischievous, clumsy, dignified, intelligent, energetic |
The Turkish Van was developed in the U.K. from a variety of Turkish breeds and is fairly rare. They are most recognizable by their “van-patterned” coat in which the colors are restricted to the head and tail only, leaving most of their body white. They are social cats that bond strongly with their owners and are playful and lively felines ideal for families.
26. Wildcat
Developed from two small wildcat species, the European Wildcat and African Wildcat, these cats are not for novice owners. They are largely solitary, nocturnal, and highly predatory. They typically have long, pointed ears with large eyes and are generally larger than most domestic cats, with a characteristically long tail that can exceed one-half of their body length.
Conclusion
From the ever-popular American Wirehair to the exotic and unique Somali, there’s no shortage of medium-hair cat breeds to choose from. These kitties are a great option if you don’t want to have to deal with the grooming needs of a long-haired breed, and they come in so many shapes, sizes, and temperaments that you’re sure to find a perfect fit for your family. Whenever considering adding a new pet to your household, always make sure to do your research and ensure that their care requirements align with your lifestyle and that you can give them the love and attention that they deserve!
Featured Image Credit: Fazlyeva Kamilla, Shutterstock
The 26 Medium-Hair Cat Breeds
