Some people think that cats are all the same. But there are so many breeds of cat out there! Here are some of the least common.

When it comes to cats, it can be surprising just how much variety there is between the species.

Like dogs, there are dozens of different cat breeds. Some are more common than others. Have you ever heard of the following 15 kinds of cat?

1. Turkish Angora

It’s pretty clear from this breed’s name where they come from. Yes, they originated in Turkey in the city that was once known as Angora (today, it’s called Ankara.) At one point in the 20th century, Turkish Angoras were so rare that Ankara Zoo had to start a breeding program to preserve them.

2. American Bobtail

This breed was first developed in the late 1960s from feral American cats. They may become more popular in the future, as they have many great traits, like being smart, friendly and tough. And let’s face it, Americans are patriotic, so they’ll want a true USA kitty!

3. European Burmese

Every single European Burmese cat is descended from a cat called Wong Mau, a Burmese who breeded with a Siamese cat. Some don’t recognize the European Burmese as a separate breed. But others are adamant that they aren’t any old Burmeses!

4. Chartreux

For centuries, Chartreux cats have lived among French monks. They were first documented in the 16th century, and researchers suspect that this breed’s ancestors traveled with knights from Persia during The Crusades.

5. Korat

Korat cats are native to Thailand. In the Middle Ages, a book of cat poems described Korats as good luck cats for Thailand. They only ever have blue silver-tipped fur.

6. Havana Brown

Despite the Cuban name, Havana Browns come from a very different kind of island. They were first bred in Britain in the 1950s.

7. Burmilla

Like Havana Browns, Burmillas come from Great Britain. But they’re a much more recent breed, originating in 1981. They came about when a Chincilla Persian cat mated with a Lilac Burmese before their owners had the cats neutered. When the owners saw the kittens, they realized they’d accidentally made a very beautiful new breed!

8. LaPerm

LaPerms look hairy because they come from a hairy decade. The first LaPerms appeared in 1982, thanks to a genetic mutation in some tabby cats. And this happened on a farm in Oregon.

9. Turkish Van

The first Turkish Vans came about in the Middle Ages. But they didn’t travel to the Western world until the 1950s. They finally traveled west thanks to two British vacationers (or “holidaymakers” as they would say) who fell in love with the breed.

10. American Wirehair

In the 1960s, one kitten in a litter had wiry hair. A breeder thought that this needed to be replicated and bought the kitten. Since then, the American Wirehair has become more and more popular, but they’re still pretty rare!

11. Devon Rex

Many people think that Devon Rexes look like elves or pixies. The Devon Rex came about in the 1950s, when a British woman took in a stray. The stray then gave birth to the first Devon Rex.

12. Kurilian Bobtail

This breed comes from some remote islands in the Pacific that are a part of Russia. In Russia and other European countries, they are somewhat common, thanks to their mouse catching skills. But they’re rarely seen in North America.

13. Norwegian Forest Cat

In World War Two, these cats were on the brink of extinction. Luckily, the Norwegian Forest Cat Club started a breeding program that brought their numbers up.

14. Minskin

The Minskin breed of cat was only recognized as an official cat breed in 2008. They’re the result of crossbreeding hairless Sphynx and Munchkin cats.

15. Egyptian Mau

The Cat Fanciers’ Association believes that there are only 6,700 Egyptian Maus in the world. But this might be because they’re too fast to count. They can run up to a speed of 30 miles per hour!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: Rarest, The Dog People