Geography of domestic cat breeds

Most cat breeds originate in America. Here is a list of 80 breeds of pedigree domestic cat and the countries where they originated. The top country is by far America, as expected, and the second most prolific country in this respect is Britain. America is without question the greatest country for cat aficionados. It has the biggest marketplace, if you wish to call it that, for domestic cats.

The famous and doomed California Spangled. This was the world's most expensive cat at the time.

RELATED:  The History of the California Spangled Cat.

It should be noted, however, that the cat breeds represent quite a small percentage of the total number of domestic cats in America. I don't know the exact percentage but it'll be around 15% of all domestic cats in America will be purebred pedigree cats. The figure is around 10% in the UK.

The following breeds originate in America: Maine Coon, Mexican Hairless, Himalayan, Karakul (no idea about this breed), modern Persian (flat-face), Balinese, Ohio Rex, Kashmir (another breeder that I have not studied), Tonkinese, Bombay, California Rex, Oregon Rex, American bobtail, Javanese, Ragdoll, Snowshoe, Bengal, Ocicat, American Shorthair, American Wirehair, Exotic Shorthair, Somali, Tiffany, California Spangled, American Lynx, Malayan (no idea!), American Curl, York Chocolate, Ojos Azules, La Perm, Si-rex (I don't know this breed either) Selkirk Rex, Nebelung, Munchkin and RagaMuffin. Note: we have to add the other 14 or so dwarf cat breeds to the Munchkin.

RELATED: RagaMuffin Cat.

Cat breed originating in Britain include: British Shorthair, Colourpoint shorthair, Oriental shorthair, Cornish Rex, Havana Brown, British Angora, Javanese, Devon Rex, Scottish fold, Colourpoint British shorthair, Coupari (I don't think this breed exists any more), Tiffanie, Burmilla, Seychellois, Rexed Maine Coon and Suqutranese (another breed that I have never heard of). I am sure the last breed no longer exists.

RELATED: List of cat breeds with date and place of origin.

To the best of my knowledge, Australia has one purebred cat breed originating in its country namely the Australian Mist.

I list the remaining countries and the breeds originating in those countries:

• Burma (Myanmar): Burma;
• Canada: Cymric and Sphynx;
• Egypt: Egyptian Mau;
• Ethiopia: Abyssinian;
• France: Chartreux;
• Germany: Prussian Rex and German Rex;
• Holland: Dutch Rex;
• Iran: Persian;
• Isle of Man: Manx;
• Italy: Italian Rex, Colourpoint European Shorthair, European Shorthair;
• Japan: Japanese Bobtail, Japanese Bobtail longhair;
• Kenya: Sokoke;
• Russia: Siberian: Russian Blue, Kurilian, Urals Rex;
• Singapore: Singapura;
• Thailand: Siamese, Korat;
• Turkey:  Turkish Angora and Turkish Van.

If you can correct or add please do so in a comment. This list may be out of date or incomplete.

Source: Dr Desmond Morris: Cat World and myself. I added to the list which was made in 1992.

Difference Between Purebred and Pedigree Cats

Ahmmmm..there is a difference between purebred and pedigree cats but a purebred cat is a pedigree cat. Clear as mud, I guess.

All cats belonging to one of the over 100 cat breeds are purebred cats. And all purebred cats have a pedigree. A pedigree is a documented record of parentage going back several generations.

To be purebred the cat has to have parents and grandparents etc. that are cats of the same breed.

So, a mixed breed, random bred moggie cat can have a pedigree but cannot be a purebred cat.

Although it is unusual for a moggie cat to have a pedigree. Random bred cats of quality can be shown at shows. They don't have to have a pedigree as far as I am aware.

As it happens, because purebred cats can become inbred as a result of breeding between cats of the same breed and often of the same close family, outcrossing to moggies or cats of another breed is sometimes allowed.

On the face of it, this makes the cat non-purebred it seems to me but it appears that the cat associations decide what is and what is not purebred and it is important to breeders to ensure that the breed is as healthy as possible consistent with close breeding to fix the desired traits as laid down by the association's breed standard.


Purebred and Pedigree Cat from Michael Broad on Vimeo.



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