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Fancy cats are captivating. When people think of fancy cats, It brings thoughts of feline beauty, fragility, and sometimes even fluffiness. When I think of fancy cats, I think of cats befitting a royal family. The type of cat that looks Incredibly cool and has the wow factor. So, what are the most fancy cat breeds?
There are 8 cat breeds that should be considered most fancy. These cat breeds are the Bengal, Savannah, Manx, American Curl, Minuet, Selkirk rex, Ragdoll, and Nebelung. Fancy cat breeds are usually beautiful but are sometimes fragile.
Formatted another way that list of fancy cat breeds Is:
The 8 most fancy cat breeds are:
- Bengal
- Savannah
- Manx
- American Curl
- Minuet
- Selkirk Rex
- Ragdoll
- Nebelung
Let’s dig Into these fancy cat breeds and find out more about them!
Pro-Tip: If you are thinking of buying a cat or are a cat owner already, then you should be aware that taking care of the litter box can be a real chore. In this age of smart products, an automatic litter box has been created that actually makes life easier with taking care of the litter box. If you want to make your life much easier with a litter box that means you’ll never have to scoop litter again, check out the best automatic litter box on the market (in my opinion) on Amazon.
Bengal Cat
Bengal Cat Origin: United States of America
Bengal Cat Personality: Bengals are the “Peter Pans” of the cat world; they display endless energy and kitten-like curiosity throughout their lives. Bengals believe that age is a matter of the mind, not the body, and even senior cats are often found causing mischief!
The Bengal, like the Turkish Van, is a lover of water. However, not all Bengals are water sprites, so while some may happily follow you into the shower, others prefer to keep their paws dry while watching a tap run.
Bengal Cat Size: Bengals are heavily muscled medium to large-sized cats. Males weigh between 9lbs to 15lbs and females 6lbs to 12lbs.
Bengal Cat Coat: Bengals come in both shorthaired and longhaired variations, although the shorthaired Bengal showcases their unique coat patterns better than the longhaired variants.
The most striking feature of Bengal cats is their coat patterns. Spotted Bengals have rosettes along their coat reminiscent of leopards and jaguars, while marbled Bengals have “blurred” patterns more akin to the patterning of a snow leopard.
The patterns are distinct and vibrant, creating a captivating juxtaposition between the coat of a wild cat draped over the body of a domestic cat.
The hair follicles of Bengals often display an iridescent glitter when catching the light, making the Bengal appear to be frosted with fairy-sized diamonds.
Rarity: Although a relatively new breed, the Bengal has quickly gained a devoted following of cat enthusiasts and enjoys mid-level popularity.
Interesting Fact: The first Bengals bred resulted from crossing domestic short-hair cats with the wild Asian Leopard Cat. These F1 crosses were not permitted to show, and only the females were kept for future breeding.
The International Cat Association (TICA) formally recognized the Bengal cats in the late 1980s, and they achieved champion status in 1991.
To learn more about the Bengal cat check out my article: Are Bengal Cats Easy To Train? (Training and Tips).
Savannah Cat
Savannah Cat Origin: Originally bred in the United States of America, as a cross between an African Wild Serval and a domestic tabby
Savannah Cat Personality: Savannah cats have the intensity and hunt drive of their wild parents and grandparents. Their extreme agility and confident, outgoing personalities make these cats charismatic mischief-makers.
If there were a cat who could embody the spirit of “Dennis the Menace,” it would surely be the Savannah. They’re curious, energetic cats who adore exploring new places and “helping” their family do chores.
These cats are not ideal for first-time cat owners or homes with small animals. The Savannah believes in living out a real-life version of Tom and Jerry but with a decidedly darker ending than seen in the cartoons!
Savannah Cat Size: The long legs, overlarge ears, and hooded eyes are the visual legacy of the Savannah’s Serval blood. The Savannah is a medium to large-sized cat with the F1 crosses showing greater size variation between individuals.
Savannah Cat Coat: The Savannah has a short, dense coat and can be bred in standard and nonstandard colors.
Savannah Cat Color: The most popular colors Savannah’s are bred in are brown spotted, silver spotted, and black smoke tabbies. However, nonstandard colors like cinnamon, chocolate, blue, and seal are slowly gaining traction in the world of cat fanciers.
Rarity: Scarce
Interesting Fact: The Savannah cats are a hybrid cat breed like the Bengal and Ocicat. TICA recognized the Savannah as a domestic cat breed in 2001, with the Savannah achieving its first championship in 2012.
Despite this, many states have banned the private ownership of Savannah’s or required that private owners obtain a permit to keep a Savannah. The first-generation Savannahs can cost more than $20 000 per kitten!
To learn more about Savannah cats check out my article: Do Savannah Cats Need Company? The Wild Answers.
Manx
Manx Origin: The Isle of Man in the Irish Sea
Manx Personality: These cats are affectionate goofballs. Their friendly characters and loving cuddles make them easy cats to keep, even for first-time cat owners.
The Manx cat is the ultimate peacekeeper. Their affable even-tempered approach to life makes them social companions not prone to histrionics or trouble stirring amongst the other family pets.
Manx Size: The Manx has more than a passing resemblance to a bowling ball. They are heavily boned, short, stocky cats weighing between 6lbs to 11lbs.
Manx Coat: Originally, the Manx was a shorthaired cat. However, the Viking invasion into the Isle of Man saw the introduction of the Norwegian Forest Cat into the local Manx population. The resultant kittens had medium-length silky coats.
Manx Color: All significant cat associations accept both shorthaired and longhaired Manx variants. Manx are available in all colors and patterns except for chocolate, lavender, and pointed patterns.
Rarity: Rare
Interesting Fact: The Manx are born tailless due to a dominant mutation that occurred naturally in a single cat living in the local cat colony on the Isle of Man. The mutation then spread throughout the native cat population resulting in a cat breed characterized by their lack of tails.
American Curl
American Curl Origin: Lakewood, California. A feral black female cat, Shulamith, showing the curled back ears of the American Curl, was caught and used as the foundation parent for the entire American Curl breed.
American Curl Personality: American Curls are honey-sweet people-orientated cats. Their natural gentleness and dog-like loyalty make them a restful companion.
Older people may not have the mental or physical energy or inclination to deal with a Savannah cat’s outsized personality and crazy antics. However, the gently curious and docile nature of the American Curl would be the perfect fit for persons with chronic health issues, physical disability, or generalized fragility.
American Curl Size: The American Curl is an elegant fine-boned cat, classified as a small to medium cat by TICA. The females are a petite 5lbs to 8lbs, while the males are slightly heavier at 7lbs to 10lbs.
American Curl Color: American Curls are available in all colors and patterns and both shorthaired and longhaired variants.
Their most distinctive features are their fluffy ostrich-plume tails and their elegantly curved ears. The ears of an American Curl sweep backward in a dramatic arch accented by the lynx-like tufts gracing the tips of their ears.
Rarity: Rare
Interesting Fact: Like the Manx, the unique appearance of the American Curl’s ears is due to a naturally occurring dominant mutation.
When an American Curl is born, its ears are straight and only curl backward at 3 to 5 days old. At this age, their ears are tightly curled, almost like a cinnamon roll or rose. As time passes, the ears relax into the graceful arch of an adult.
Cats with straight or almost straight ears are sold to pet homes, whereas cats with ears curling at 90° to 180° are retained as future show cats and breeding animals.
Minuet Cat
Minuet Origin: United States of America
Minuet Personality: Minuets have been bred foremost to be the ultimate human companion. The breeders have exceeded brilliantly in creating a calm, friendly, outgoing cat who likes people. Many cats only like one person, but Minuets believes you can never have too many friends.
The gentle grace of the Persian is combined with the fun-loving mischief-making characteristics of the Munchkin to create the Minuet, a cat of boundless charm and charisma.
Their wide innocent eyes, comic sense of humor, and openly affectionate display of love make it impossible not to adore this pocket-sized rocket.
Minuet Size: Looking a little like a stretched-out slinky, the Minuet has a long low-lying body carried by short, sturdy legs. The Minuet has a cobby body and is surprisingly heavy for such a short cat. Most Minuets weigh between 7lbs to 8lbs and are classified as medium-sized cats.
Minuet Coat: The shorthaired Minuet has a plush all-weather double coat, whereas the longhaired Minuet has a long, silky topcoat and minimal undercoat.
Minuet Color: It is permissible to breed Minuets in any color or pattern accepted in the Munchkin and Persian breeds. Outcrossing with these breeds is still permitted until the Minuet’s gene pool is sufficiently large to sustain closed breeding programs.
Rarity: Scarce, only TICA has formally recognized the Minuet as a distinct breed.
Interesting Fact: Napoleon’s short stature was famous throughout the battles he waged, and his dismay at being vertically challenged continues to serve as a source of amusement.
For this reason, the comically short, the Minuet cat is sometimes likened to the flamboyant French man when they are called “Napoleon cats.”
Selkirk Rex
Selkirk Rex Origin: Montana, United States of America
Selkirk Rex Personality: Cats have developed a reputation for cool aloofness and diva-like attitudes. The Selkirk Rex failed to receive this memo; they’re a mellow, laid-back cat who is friends with everyone, including young children and cat-friendly dogs.
They are confident cats who are often taught to walk on a lead and enjoy outings with “their” people.
Selkirk Rex Size: A medium to large cat, weighing between 6lbs to 15lbs. They have a compact, heavy-boned frame, similar to the ultra-chunky British Shorthair.
Selkirk Rex Coat: The Selkirk Rex is available in shorthaired and longhaired variants and all colors. The shorthaired Selkirk Rex has a short, plushy coat with a salon-worthy wave, which many people have likened to the cuddly fur of a well-loved teddy bear.
The longhaired variety frequently sports a tousled bed-head look courtesy of the wavy curls extended throughout their coats.
Rarity: Somewhat rare
Interesting Fact: The first Selkirk Rex was a happy accident of fate when a Persian breeder bred a feral blue and white tortie female to his black Persian male. Three of the kittens born in the litter showed the curly coat of a Rex.
Unlike the other rex cat breeds, the gene causing the Selkirk Rex’s curly coat is dominant, which means you can have curly and straight-coated kittens born in the same litter.
The curly-coated cats are distinguished from their straight-coated littermates by examining their whiskers. Curly-coated cats have curly whiskers from day one.
Ragdoll
Ragdoll Origin: Riverside, California
Ragdoll Personality: Cats are not always the cuddliest pet to own; most of them are very conscious of their dignity and protective of their personal space but not the Ragdoll.
Named for its tendency to go boneless and floppy, like a ragdoll, when held, the Ragdoll is the ideal cat for someone looking for a sedentary affectionate cat.
These cats adore cuddles and naps. They’re a soothing cat to live with, and their gentle “murrs” quickly wind their owners around their paws.
Ragdoll Size: The Ragdoll is a true gentle giant; this tall affectionate cat weighs between 10lbs to 20lbs, with males weighing significantly more than females.
Ragdoll Coat: Ragdolls have a mid to long coat characterized by consistent point patterns (dark colors on the face, legs, tail, and ears) and gorgeous sapphire blue eyes.
Ragdoll Color: The Ragdoll comes in eight colors, two marking patterns (tabby and lynx stripes) and three coat patterns (colorpoint, mitted and bicolor). The Ragdoll has an elegant, almost luxurious appearance.
Rarity: Popular
Interesting Fact: Ragdolls are occasionally referred to as the “daughters of Josephine.” Josephine was the fluffy white stray cat that Ann Baker used to found the Ragdoll breed.
To learn more about the Ragdoll check out my article: Do Ragdoll Cats Drink Water? The Best Reasons.
Nebelung
Nebelung Origin: United States of America
Nebelung Personality: The Nebelung is not short on brainpower; this highly intelligent cat is a devoted and loyal friend to “his” family but remains wary and shy around strangers.
The Nebelungs love routine and quiet, peaceful homes. The good-looking Nebelung is not a cat who enjoys the chaos inherent to children and dog-populated homes.
Their austere appearance and dignified approach to life belie the affectionate, good-natured charm of these cats.
Nebelung Size: The Nebelung is a medium to large-sized cat with elegant proportions and an aristocratic presentation. Nebelung cats weigh between 7lbs to 15lbs, with the males being taller and heavier than the females.
Nebelung Coat: The Nebelung was born to inspire tales of adventure and star in the wild imagining of fantasy and folklore. Their oracle-green eyes and frosted silver-blue coats convey a regal appearance to this most gorgeous of cats.
Nebelung Color: The Nebelung has a long coat and, unlike many other cat breeds, is only available in a solid, smokey blue pattern.
Rarity: Rare
Interesting Fact: Cora Cobb, the founder of the Nebelung breed, understood the magic inherent to her cats when she named the breed. Nebelung is a derivative of the German word “Nebel,” meaning fog or mist. The name was chosen as a reference to the silver-tipped smoky blue of the Nebelung.
The Nebelung’s color and body shape are courtesy of their Russian Blue ancestry.
Conclusion
Fancy cat breeds are sometimes beautiful, sometimes fragile, but always interesting. Some of the fancy cat breeds that I identified are cool to learn about. The three that I think are the most interesting on this list are the Nebelung, the Minuet, and the Manx. Sometimes rare cats are some of the coolest.
| Fancy Cat Breeds | Description |
| Bengal | Unique coat patterns, muscled. |
| Savannah | Large, sleek, and agile. |
| Manx | Stocky, Cuddly, from the Isle of Man. |
| American Curl | Fluffy tails and curled ears. |
| Minuet | Low-lying body with short legs. |
| Selkirk Rex | Wavy curls, mellow, from Montana. |
| Ragdoll | Cuddly, floppy, from California. |
| Nebelung | Elegant, rare, from the USA. |
If you enjoyed this article, please check out a few more:
- 10 Reasons Your Siamese Cat Is So Mean: Click Here.
- 18 Reasons Maine Coons Are The Best Cats: Click Here.
- 4 Best African Cat Breeds (African Domestic Cats): Click Here.
Here are some of my favorite cat products
In addition to checking out some other More Meows articles, I hope you’ll check out some of my favorite cat products as well. These are affiliate links, so if you end up using them, I’ll get a commission at no extra cost to you. These are the products I really do find most helpful.
Litter Box: I started out with normal, traditional litter boxes for my cat. Then, I tried this automatic litter box on Amazon (affiliate link), which helped reduce the litter upkeep. Finally, I am now a believer in the Litter-Robot 3 Connect on Amazon (affiliate link). This robotic litter box is not for everyone based on the price tag, but for me the benefits (very little upkeep, works efficiently, clean, mobile app) far outweighed the cost.
Cat Tree: I have purchased a couple of this Amazon Basics Cat Tree on Amazon (affiliate link). My cat spends a lot of time on and around this cat tree, which I position near my sofa. She uses the scratching posts on this cat tree multiple times a day, which means she is not scratching the sofa instead.
Cat Water Fountain: I love this cat water fountain on Amazon (affiliate link). There are three main benefits to having a water fountain like this for your cat. The first benefit is that it keeps water running so that your cat doesn’t need to drink still water. The second benefit is that it filters the water. The third benefit is that it will keep your cat hydrated!
