Cats are incredible animals that give us affection, joy and make us laugh. There are currently around 100 officially recognized breeds, but we certainly don’t know even half of them unless we are an expert on the subject.
In this AnimalWised article, we are not going to show you all the cat breeds that exist, but rather something better, the 10 rarest cats in the world ! Those that, due to their physical characteristics, stand out from the rest of the breeds and are particularly special.
If you want to adopt a cat with an unusual appearance, then you can discover the 10 strangest cats in the world.
LaPerm
One of the rarest cats in the world is the LaPerm, a breed originally from Oregon, United States, named for its characteristic long, curly fur (as if it had a perm). The first LaPerm cat was born female and hairless, but after a few months it developed silky, curly fur due to a mutation produced by a dominant gene. Interestingly, from then on, almost all males of this breed are born hairless, and many others lose their fur and molt several times throughout their lives.
These felines have a sociable, calm and very affectionate character towards humans, and are balanced and very curious .
Sphynx
Another of the strangest cats in the world and best known internationally is the Egyptian cat , which is characterized by having no hair, although this statement is not entirely correct, since they actually have a layer of very fine and short hair , almost imperceptible to the human eye or touch. In addition to the absence of hair, the Shpynx breed is characterized by having a robust body and large eyes that stand out even more on its bald head.
These felines appeared through a natural mutation and have an affectionate, peaceful and dependent temperament towards their owners, but they are also sociable, intelligent and curious.
Exotic shorthair
The Exotic Shorthair is another of the rarest cats in the world, which was created by crossing a British Shorthair with an American Shorthair. This breed has the complexion of a Persian cat but with short hair, being robust, compact and with a rounded body. Due to its large eyes, short, flat nose and small ears, the exotic cat has a tender and sweet facial expression , and can even seem sad in some situations. Its fur is short and dense, but it still requires very little care and does not shed much hair, making it very suitable for people with allergies.
This breed of cat has a calm, affectionate, loyal and friendly personality, similar to that of Persian cats, but they are even more active, playful and curious.
Elf Cat
Continuing with the strangest cats in the world, we find the elf cat, which is characterized by having no fur and being very intelligent. These cats have this name because they look like this mythical creature and emerged from the recent cross between the sphynx cat and an American curl.
Since they don’t have fur, these cats need to be bathed more often than other breeds and they also can’t get too much sun. They also have a very sociable character and are very resourceful.
Scottish fold
The Scottish Fold is another of the rarest cats in the world that comes, as its name suggests, from Scotland. The breed was officially recognized in 1974, but mating between members of this breed is prohibited due to a large number of serious bone anomalies that have occurred. The Scottish Fold cat is medium-sized and has a rounded head, large, round eyes, and very small ears that fold forward, resembling an owl. Other notable features are its round feet and thick tail.
This breed of feline has short fur but does not have a specific color. Its temperament is strong and it also has a great hunting instinct , however, it is very friendly and adapts easily to new environments.
Ukrainian Levkoy
Another of the rarest cats in the world is the Ukrainian Levkoy, a medium-sized, elegant-looking feline. Its main characteristics are the absence of hair or very little hair , its folded ears, its large, almond-shaped eyes of bright colors, its long, flat head and its angular profile.
This breed of cat has an affectionate, sociable and intelligent temperament. It was created recently, in 2004, thanks to the crossing of a female sphynx and a male with floppy ears, made by Elena Biriukova in Ukraine. For this reason, it is only found in that country and Russia.
Savannah Cats
The Savannah cat is another of the rarest in the world and also one of the exotic cats . This genetically engineered hybrid breed was created by crossing a domestic cat with an African serval, and has a very exotic appearance, similar to a leopard . Its body is large and muscular, with large ears and long paws, and its fur has black spots and stripes like those of big cats. It is the largest breed in existence, but its size can vary greatly from one litter to another.
There is some controversy regarding the possible domestication of Savannah cats because they need a lot of space to exercise and can jump up to 2 meters high . However, they are loyal to their owners and are not afraid of water. Countries such as Australia have already banned these cats because they have a very negative effect on native fauna. In addition, there are several NGOs fighting against the breeding of these animals because many of these cats become aggressive when they reach adulthood and the abandonment rate is very high.
Peterbald
The Peterbald is a medium-sized breed originally from Russia that was created in 1974. These cats were created by crossing a Donskoy and an Oriental Shorthair cat, and are characterized by their hairlessness. They have long bat-like ears, long oval paws and a wedge-shaped snout. They have a slim, elegant build and, although they can be confused with Egyptian cats, Peterbalds do not have a potbelly like the others.
Peterbald cats have a peaceful temperament and are curious, intelligent, active and very friendly, but they are also dependent and require a lot of affection from their owners.
Munchkin
Another of the rarest cats in the world is the munchkin, which, due to a natural genetic mutation, is a medium-sized cat with shorter than normal legs , like a sausage . It is considered one of the smallest cats in the world . Despite this, it has no problems jumping and running like other breeds, and it also does not tend to develop many of the spinal problems associated with this type of body structure.
Despite having larger hind legs than front ones, munchkins are agile, active, playful and affectionate cats, and can weigh between 3 and 3 kilograms.
Cornish Rex
And finally, the Cornish Rex, a breed that emerged through a spontaneous genetic mutation that gave rise to its wavy, short, dense and silky fur on the back . This mutation occurred in the 1950s in the southwest of England, which is why it is called the Cornish Rex cat.
These medium-sized cats have a muscular, slender body and fine bones, but their fur can be any color and they don’t require much grooming. Cornish Rexes are very intelligent, sociable, affectionate, independent and playful, and they love contact with children .
Felipe Surgek is the creator and the heart behind S2Pets. Passionate about animals, Felipe has extensive experience in the pet world, having lived with a variety of animals over the years. His love and knowledge of pets shine through in every article he writes, providing readers with a detailed and heartfelt insight into pet care and happiness.
Felipe shares his experiences and lessons, offering practical tips and recommendations for pet owners of all kinds, whether it’s a dog, cat, or even exotic pets. His commitment to providing relevant and accessible information helps build a community of pet owners who are more informed and ready to offer the best quality of life to their companions.
In addition to his hands-on experience, Felipe also uses artificial intelligence tools to ensure the content on the site is always up-to-date and accurate. This makes S2Pets a reliable resource for those looking to care for their pets in the best way possible.
