16 Rare House Cat Breeds You Might Not Know About

Although they are inherited the traits of American Shorthair cats is primarily a cat breed with golden eyes and a distinct snout, the American Wirehaired cat is somewhat different from others. The American Wirehaired Cat was the result of a random mutation of the litter of five cats born in 1966. It is listed as the rarest of 41 breeds by the Cat Fanciers Association. The fur is actually soft like others' but looks wiry and fun. They are tender, quiet, loving yet playful and active. American Wirehair loves playing indoor.

At first glance, people might think this is a result of the hybridization of the Bengal cat and a cheetah. But this is a purebred kitty was originated in the 1970s. The tabby coat, short hair, long legs are what a Sokoke cat owns. They are independent, active, all they need when you bring them home is an adequate room.

Nebelung is a pedigree kitty which is the longhaired version of Russian Blue. Their eyes are commonly yellow or green. They are loyal, have a quiet voice, are mild-mannered, but sometimes playful and charismatic. 

This breed is also known as Napoleon, who resembles the soft long hair of Persian and short round paws of Munchkin cat. Minuet was legally bred by Joe Smith on June 12, 1995, and was categorized by TICA (The International Cat Association) in January 2015. They are human-oriented, loving, highly active thanks to the dwarf legs of Munchkin parent, curious, and glamorous. Whoever wants to adopt this cutie might consider an adequate room with a lot of toys and interactive games.

LaPerm is the result of a spontaneous mutation of rex breeds. LaPerm felines have a shaggy and curly coat which makes them distinctive and recognizable among other cat breeds. But that doesn't mean LaPerm's coat is difficult to groom. In fact, thanks to the curls and waves, cat owners don't have to brush their fur regularly. LaPerms are adorable, friendly, intelligent, and affectionate. They will find a chance to snuggle up with their humans on the lap. Especially, these lovely felines will purr proudly when they are content.

Sounds really fancy, doesn't it? These balls of fluff are in need of daily groom since their fur is easy to form hairballs and patches of baldness. Chantilly-Tiffany is less mature than other cats which might take around 2 years to fully grow. This breed is affectionate, they love to enjoy company rather than being alone. They are loyal, cuddly, sweet, and lovable. 

Scottish Fold plus Exotic Shorthair, poof, Foldex cat!

With an owl-like round face and a teddy-bear physique, Foldex cat is very easy to capture people's hearts. It was first crossbred by Betty-Ann Yaxley in the province of Quebec, Canada, in 1993. After a while, Jeanne Barrette found this breed adorable and unique so she worked devotedly with it. In August 2008, this cat was recognized as a ‘New Breed’ for championship status by the Canadian Cat Association. Foldex cats are not needy but they love being around humans and other pets. They love to be patted, caressed, and cuddled whenever they have a chance.

The American Curl originated in June 1981 as a spontaneous genetic mutation in the domestic cat population. The most distinctive feature of this breed is their curled-backward ears. They are affectionate, playful, and friendly. Furthermore, they are easier to train some tricks like fetching than other cat breeds. If you own this cutie, make sure you are careful with their ears otherwise rough handling may damage the cartilage in the ear.

In 1987, a feral kitty in Montana gave birth to 5 kittens, one of them had unusual hair that was wooly and strikingly attractive. A breeder Jeri Newman took that cat and bred it with a Persian male. Turns out, Selkirk Rex was the result of genetic mutation, unlike Devon and Cornish Rex cats. This breed has a thicker and plusher coat than LaPerm. They are outgoing, fun, loving, and surprisingly smart. They are comfortable with children and cat-friendly dogs.

Dwelf is derived from "Dwarf" and "Elf", which indicates their unique and whimsical appearance. Dwelf cat is the combination of Sphynx, Munchkin cat, and American Curl. They have stubby short legs, hairless, and curled-backward ears. They are were bred in the United States, but pretty much everything else about their origin is a mystery. Regardless of the origin, Dwelf cats are sociable, playful, cheeky, and a sweetheart. Make sure you pay enough attention to them, physically and mentally.

They are the tiniest breed in terms of domesticated cats. Pint-sized stature, filled with wide-open round eyes, big and alert ears, Singapura cats govern human hearts easily and steadily. They crave attention, sometimes quite a bit demanding, but surely playing with Singapura cats will never get bored. They are high-energy, assertive, intelligent, and playful.

Werewolf cat is another name of this breed. They are considered the most visually unique look of all breeds. Their fur is abnormal black but their face is hairless, which makes people mistake them for a werewolf. In spite of their appearance, they are warm, loving, and loyal creatures. They get along well with humans, other cats, and dogs. a U.S. breeder named Terri Harris began crossing Munchkins with American Curls.

A U.S. breeder Terri Harris began crossing Munchkins with American Curls, as the result, an adorable cat with curled ears and short legs Kinkalow was born. They are currently one of the rarest cats in the world, which has had only 100 units. Kinkalow cats are curious, calm, social, loving, playful, and smart. They do not mind befriending children and other pets.

This breed is categorized as a legend since nobody knows exactly when and how they were originated. However, this French kitty was spotted roughly 600 years ago in some poems and artworks. Chartreux cats are non-aggressive, affectionate, good travelers, and generally very healthy. They get along with other pets and children very well. You can challenge and stimulate their brain with some tricks since they are intelligent.

Another name of this one-of-a-kind breed is Ringtail SAing-a-Ling. They have a curled tail like a husky's one due to the genetic mutation. Although they are still considering an experimental breed, no one can deny that American Ringtails are adorable, playful, communicative, and they specifically love water.

Playful, lighthearted, and mysteriously charming are what we can describe as a Bombay cat. This breed was first developed by Nikki Horner, a breeder from Louisville, Kentucky. She wanted to have a cat whose appearance was inherited by a Burmese cat but with black fur and the cooper eyes. After trying to develop 2 times, Bombay cat was born. Bombay cat was officially recognized and registered by the Cat Fanciers' Association in 1970.