Although several big cat breeds are known for having spots, it is a trait that is far less common in domestic cats than you might think. Spotted domestic cats do exist; however, most are selectively bred for these coat patterns. Some breeds, like the Bengal, have prominent spots that cover most of their bodies, while others, like the Pixie-Bob, have a combination of stripes and spots. Here are seven breeds of spotted domestic cats to help you find your next speckled feline friend.
The 7 Spotted Cat Breeds
1. Bengal
The Bengal is arguably the best-known of the domestic spotted cat breeds. They look like a leopard, though obviously much smaller. This highly active cat will enjoy spending time on top of cupboards and units, or anywhere that is high off the ground. They are very intelligent, love to spend time with people, and can even be trained to perform tricks. Besides being one of the very few spotted breeds, the Bengal holds the distinction of being the best-known domestic cat breed with “rosettes” that are similar to the spots on leopards and ocelots.
2. Egyptian Mau
It is often said that cats never let us forget that they were worshipped as gods by the Egyptians, and this is especially true and fitting of the Egyptian Mau breed. Although this spotted cat breed obviously has Egyptian heritage, the modern Egyptian Mau breed was further developed in Europe, particularly Italy, from cats with origins traced to Egypt. With their green eyes, the Mau can come in silver, bronze, or smoke coloring, and despite their aloof appearance, they will actually form a very close bond with their human family members. The spots of the Mau are randomly situated on the body and may appear more like stripes in some instances.
3. Ocicat
Despite their name, the Ocicat was not bred from the Ocelot, though they were indeed named for their resemblance to the big cat. In fact, they were created through selective breeding programs involving Siamese, Abyssinian, and later American Shorthair cats. The first Ocicat resulted unexpectedly during attempts to develop an Abyssinian-pointed Siamese. Many colors of this cat are now accepted, but originally only four were considered standard: chocolate, silver, black, and lilac. The Ocicat is muscular and strong, with plenty of energy, but like the Bengal and the Mau, they are a loyal and loving cat that will bond closely with their human family members. The spots of the Ocicat may be elongated, which makes them look more like stripes in some instances.
4. Savannah
The Savannah is a large and athletic cat. They have a distinctive black nose, stripes down their back, and spots that may be round, oval, or elongated. This spotted cat breed requires daily interaction with their owner, and despite their stunning appearance, they remain a relatively rare breed that is not widely recognized around the world. The Savannah was created by breeding a Serval and a domestic cat, and the first example was born in the 1980s. While they have become more popular, they still are a rare breed to this day.
5. Pixie-Bob
The Pixie-Bob is a big domestic cat that looks like a brawler. They have a bobbed tail and their hair can be short or long. Many examples of this breed are polydactyl, which means that they have one or more additional digits on their feet. This is another spotted cat breed that originated in the 1980s. They tend to be tabby in appearance, with small spots, and they can have brown or green eyes. This rare breed is recognized in the United States by some cat registries, although recognition varies internationally, and the breed remains uncommon outside North America.
6. Serengeti
The Serengeti is a relatively new breed, having been first bred in the 1990s. They are derived from crosses between Bengal cats and Oriental Shorthairs, and they have long ears and long legs. The breed is very agile, loves to spend time with their humans, and has a tendency to be quite vocal, which only serves to make the stunning cat stand out even more. They can also get along very well with other cats and other pets, as long as they receive a proper introduction.
7. California Spangled Cat
The California Spangled Cat is very rare, and it is reported that there are only a few hundred of these cats alive today. They look like house leopards, but despite their appearance, they are actually quite docile and often prefer to spend time on the laps of their humans rather than run around outdoors. This cat was first bred with a very noble goal; writer Paul Casey and anthropologist Louis Leakey teamed up to create a domestic cat that looked like a leopard, in the hope that people would be far less likely to want to wear leopard fur if it looked like domestic cat fur.
Conclusion
Spotted cat breeds are rare and unique, though it is possible to find some examples of other breeds that have spots as their markings. However, the seven breeds here are examples of some of the best-known breeds that are recognized for having spotted markings. While they might look like wild cats, most of them love the attention of their humans just as much as many other domestic cat breeds.
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Featured Image Credit: Shvaygert Ekaterina, Shutterstock
The 7 Spotted Cat Breeds
2 Responses
Thank you for pictures of real cats with believable markings. Some of the pictures of cats with unusual marking on the internet were obviously photoshopped by children. If you act like children, people who are not children will know it.
Hi Annette, we are happy you enjoyed our post’s pictures. We do put a lot of time and effort into offering high-quality posts to our readers and love to hear appreciation. Thanks for your comment.