The Munchkin cat breed is a medium sized cat with extremely short legs and a long spine. Munchkin cat's movements are described as being like that of a ferret, so it has not the feline grace of longer legged cats. Munchkin cats have a thick body with a well-rounded chest. The breed may have long or short hair. Both varieties have plush, all-weather coats with a silky appearance. The longhair Munchkin has a plumed tail. Munchkin cats can be in any colour or coat pattern and their walnut shaped eyes and can also be any colour.

The need-to-know

• Playful and curious cat
• Sociable and dependent cat
• Somehow talkative cat
• Average build cat breed
• Requires grooming once a week
• Indoor cat
• May require familiarisation before living with children

The Norwegian Forest Cat is gorgeous, having bright emerald green eyes, a long flowing, silky coat, full mane, and magnificent 30.5 centimetre tail. This people-oriented breed is gentle and loving, including to other animals. A hardy, healthy feline that is naturally curious and athletic, the Norwegian Forest Cat is patient and not stressed easily. This breed is slow maturing, reaching full growth in about five years.

DID YOU KNOW? The cat of the Vikings, the Norwegian Forest Cat protected grain stores on land and sea from rodents. It is believed that these cats left their progeny on the shores of North America, explaining the breed’s presence on this continent.

The need-to-know

• Highly active and inquisitive cat
• Sociable and dependent cat
• Somehow talkative cat
• Larger stockier cat breed
• Requires grooming every day
• Outdoor cat
• Great family cat

The Ocicat is the only spotted domestic breed selectively bred to emulate cats of the wild. This muscular, athletic breed can be trained to play fetch and walk on a leash. A people-devoted feline, the Ocicat loves companionship and doesn’t like being left alone too long. This cat does well with other cats and cat friendly dogs. A healthy breed, the Ocicat may live to be 15 to 18 years old.

DID YOU KNOW? In 1964, Virginia Daly of Berkleg, Mich., experimentally crossed a Siamese with an Abyssinian hoping to produce an Aby-point Siamese. A male kitten in the litter was ivory with golden spots and copper eyes. Daly’s daughter named the breed Ocicat because the kitten, “Tonga,” resembled the spotted wildcat. Tonga was neutered and sold as a pet. A noted geneticist at Georgia University, Dr. Clyde Keeler, wanted to see a domestic cat that mimicked wild species that were becoming extinct. At his request, the breeding of Tonga’s parents was repeated, producing another spotted male, Dalai Dotson, who became the father of the Ocicat breed.

The need-to-know

• Highly active and inquisitive cat
• Sociable and dependent cat
• Very talkative cat
• Lean and elegant cat breed
• Requires grooming once a week
• Outdoor cat
• May require familiarisation before living with children

Oriental Longhair cats feature a long, lithe and elegant, Siamese-style body with a triangular wedge-shaped head and ears. The coat is long and silky, but unlike the Persian cat, there is no woolly undercoat and coat lies flat against the body and so is officially classified as a semi-longhair. The tail forms a magnificent plume. The range of possible coat colours includes everything from solid colours to smokes, tipped or tabby types. All Oriental Longhair cats have almond-shaped green eyes, except for the whites, which may have green or blue eyes, or be odd-eyed (two different coloured eyes).

The need-to-know

• Highly active and inquisitive cat
• Sociable and dependent cat
• Very talkative cat
• Lean and elegant cat breed
• Requires grooming every day
• Outdoor cat
• May require familiarisation before living with children

The Oriental is a sleek, elegant cat with large, flaring ears and almond-shaped eyes. A playful, spirited breed, the Oriental has a vivacious personality. This people-oriented feline usually forms a close bond with one person. Those who give an Oriental the affection she needs will find she does anything to please them. This is a healthy breed that can live for 15 years or longer.

DID YOU KNOW? Originating in the 1950s, the Oriental was selectively bred from Siamese. The breed has two coat varieties, shorthair and longhair, both of which can appear in litters. The Oriental longhair actually has a medium-length coat and is considered rare.

The need-to-know

• Highly active and inquisitive cat
• Sociable and dependent cat
• Very talkative cat
• Lean and elegant cat breed
• Requires grooming once a week
• Outdoor cat
• May require familiarisation before living with children

A gorgeous longhair breed with a pansylike face, the Persian looks like a fluff ball but under the coat is a muscular, sturdy body. With her sweet personality, the Persian is a charming pet for all ages. The breed features solid, bicolour, calico and tabby varieties, which include a multitude of colours and patterns. The Persian Solid may be coloured white, blue, black, red, cream, chocolate, and lilac. All have brilliant copper eyes, except the pristine white solid colour, which may be copper, deep blue or a combination of blue and copper. The Persian Bicolour features a combination of colours as well as patterns of tabby. All have brilliant copper eyes, except the silver tabby with white, which may have green or hazel eyes. The Persian Calico has a white coat splashed with vivid patches of red and black. The dilute calico is patched with blue and cream, and chocolate and lilac calicos have patches of chocolate and red or lilac and cream, respectively. The Persian Tabby, known for being extroverted and fun, comes in three patterns, classic, mackerel and patched. This breed requires daily brushing and occasional baths and should strictly be an indoor pet.

DID YOU KNOW? Though the origin of the Persian is not known definitely, the breed is believed to have come from Angora cats from Turkey crossed with other longhair cats from Persia, Afghanistan, Burma, China, and Russia. Cats from these blended lines were imported to Europe in the 1600s.

The need-to-know

• Calm cat
• Friendly but independent cat
• Quiet cat
• Average build cat breed
• Requires grooming every day
• Indoor cat
• Great family cat

Pixie-Bob cats are a large breed and resemble bobcats in many ways, perhaps the most obvious being the short tail (although the tail can be almost non-existent, through short or can even be long). The body is muscular, the face pear shaped and the ears have tufts. The woolly coat stands out from the body and has a spotted pattern on a light tan to a reddish background. Most Pixie-Bob cats have black fur and skin on the bottom of their paws, tipped ears, heavy ear hair, black lips, and white fur around the eyes but with black eye skin. Most are short-haired, but some are long-haired. Eyes are gold or greenish gold. The Pixie-Bob cat is one of the few breeds that allows polydactyl toes (extra toes) in its standards, with a maximum of seven toes.

The need-to-know

• Highly active and inquisitive cat
• Sociable and dependent cat
• Somehow talkative cat
• Larger stockier cat breed
• Requires grooming every day
• Outdoor cat
• Great family cat

The Ragdoll is one of the most popular longhair cat breeds. Social and loving, this cat enjoys people and gets along well with children and dogs. The desire to be near her family has earned her the affectionate nickname “puppycat.” The Ragdoll can be taught to fetch and come when called. Playful throughout their lives, these cats mature slowly in three to four years.

DID YOU KNOW? The Ragdoll originated in the early 1960s when a Persian breeder, Ann Baker of Riverside, Calif., bred a semi-feral longhaired white cat resembling an Angora to cats she found or owned. The offspring of “Josephine” had unique, endearing temperament traits that Baker selectively bred in creating the breed.

The need-to-know

• Calm cat
• Sociable and dependent cat
• Quiet cat
• Larger stockier cat breed
• Requires grooming every day
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Needs some out-door space
• Great family cat

The Russian Blue is easily distinguished with her emerald green eyes and silver-tipped blue coat. Though naturally shy, this feline is affectionate toward her family and gets along well with older children. Highly intelligent, the Russian Blue has been reported to open doors. This clean, quiet-mannered cat thrives in a consistent, routine environment. The Russian Blue is a healthy breed that does well when left alone for long periods.

DID YOU KNOW? The Russian Blue is believed to have descended from the royal cats of Russian czars. The breed has been known by several names, including Archangel Blue or Archangel Cat, since it is believed to have originated in Russia’s port city of Arkhangelsk on the White Sea. Other names are Spanish Blue, Foreign Blue and Maltese Blue.

The need-to-know

• Highly active and inquisitive cat
• Sociable and dependent cat
• Quiet cat
• Lean and elegant cat breed
• Requires grooming once a week
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Needs some out-door space
• May require familiarisation before living with children

Beautiful and unusual, the Savannah is a domestic hybrid that has the exotic look of its ancestor, the African Serval, with striking dark spots, bold markings, hooded eyes, and a short, thick tail. Known for her remarkable personality, the adventurous Savannah loves to play in water, can be trained to walk on leash and enjoys playing fetch. This affectionate cat forms strong bonds with her family and does best with daily interaction.

DID YOU KNOW? The Savannah resulted from the crossbreeding of a domestic female cat to a male African Serval. The kitten, born April 7, 1986, was named “Savannah,” from which the breed takes its name. This first-generation hybrid cross had traits of both domestic cats and African Serval.

The need-to-know

• Highly active and inquisitive cat
• Friendly but independent cat
• Somehow talkative cat
• Lean and elegant cat breed
• Requires grooming once a week
• Outdoor cat
• May require familiarisation before living with children

With her uniquely folded ears, round face and wide eyes, the Scottish Fold is described as looking like a pixie, an owl or a teddy bear. A mellow, loving breed, this cat adapts easily to new environments and enjoys adults, children and other pets. The Scottish Fold usually bonds to one person, following you from room to room like a loyal puppy. This playful, intelligent breed has two coat varieties, longhair and shorthair.

DID YOU KNOW? All Scottish Folds can be traced back to a white female barn cat with unique folded ears, named “Susie,” who was born in 1961 on a farm near Coupar Angus in the Tayside Region of Scotland.

The need-to-know

• Playful and curious cat
• Friendly but independent cat
• Somehow talkative cat
• Average build cat breed
• Requires grooming once a week
• Outdoor cat
• Great family cat

This is a medium to large cat with heavy boning that gives the cat surprising weight and an impression of power. It has a chunky build, short muzzle and a round head. Selkirk Rex cats can be long- or short-haired. All three types of coat hair - guard, awn and down hairs - are found in the Selkirk Rex cat breed and they are all wavy, giving the coat a soft feel. The curliness of the coat varies with age, gender, climate and season. In the Selkirk Rex Longhaired cat breed, the tail curls are plumy and stand out away from the tail. The ruff hairs are longer and frame the face. Selkirk Rex cats come in all coat colours and patterns.

The need-to-know

• Playful and curious cat
• Sociable and dependent cat
• Somehow talkative cat
• Average build cat breed
• Requires grooming every day
• Needs some out-door space
• Great family cat