Each year the 'Cat Fanciers Association' (CFA) examines data from breeders & owners to figure out which breeds are most popular.
They recognize 45 breeds & the rarest cat breeds are those that have the fewest registrations among breeders & owners. Here are 10 of the rarest breeds.
PERSONALITY: affectionate, friendly
COAT: short or long; variety of colors & patterns
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 11-15+ years
CFA RANKING: 41/45
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: u.s.
YUVAL HELFMAN
PERSONALITY: adaptable, even-tempered
COAT: short, wirey; variety of colors & patterns
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10-18 years
CFA RANKING: 45/45
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: u.s.
BOY_ANUPONG
PERSONALITY: alert, outgoing
COAT: long, variety of colors in pointed pattern
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10-20 years
CFA RANKING: 30/45
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China or the u.s.
BAUHAUS1000
PERSONALITY: curious, lively
COAT: short, black
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 9-13 years
CFA RANKING: 37/45
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: u.s.
MORGANLEFAYE/GETTY IMAGES
PERSONALITY: INTELLIGENT, SOCIAL
COAT: short OR LONG; WHITE, GREY, SILVER
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10-16 years
CFA RANKING: 39/45
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: u.K.
TOMAS RYANT/EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES
PERSONALITY: MELLOW, LOVING
COAT: short, THICK; BLUE GREY
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 8-13 years
CFA RANKING: 34/45
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE
ELMAZ SELYAMETOVA/EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES
PERSONALITY: outgoing, smart
COAT: sparse, short, soft; variety of colors & patterns
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12-17 years
CFA RANKING: 33/45
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: u.s.
nynke van holten/getty images
PERSONALITY: CURIOUS, ACTIVE
COAT: SHORT; TAN, CREAM, SEPIA
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 11-18 years
CFA RANKING: 31/45
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: SINGAPORE
NYNKE VAN HOLTEN/GETTY IMAGES
PERSONALITY: MISCHIEVOUS, GRACEFUL
COAT: SHORT, WHITE
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10-12 years
CFA RANKING: 38/45
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: THAILAND
GOPFASTER/GETTY IMAGES
PERSONALITY: alert, loyal
COAT: SHORT, silver blue
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12-15+ years
CFA RANKING: 40/45
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: THAILAND
jacques julien/getty images