Most Popular Cat Breeds in Australia
RAGDOLL
Originally from the west coast of California, the beautiful Ragdoll name is derived from the tendency of individuals from the original breeding stock to go limp and relaxed when picked up.
They are best known for their docile, placid temperament and affectionate nature.
Their friendly demeanour and sweet temperament makes them get family pets.
They have single coats, meaning it is less likely that their fur will matt or shed as much as some other cat breeds. They require regular brushing to keep their coats looking and feeling fabulous.
Ragdolls are perfectly fine with self-led activities throughout the day but also love to play with their family. Giving them the attention they crave and having interactive toys for them to stimulate themselves is important. Variants of the ragdoll: Rugamuffin cat.
Personality traits of a Ragdoll include: Friendly, sweet temperament and affectionate, gets along well with children and other pets.
Common health concerns for Ragdolls include: Urinary tract infections, heart and kidney diseases, hair balls and obesity.
BENGAL
A hybrid breed, said to have been crossed with Asian leopard cats, a wild species native to southeast-Asia.
They are striking in appearance, known for their resemblance to a leopard.
Bengal cats are highly energetic and playful and love to run, climb and explore their surroundings. They enjoy solving puzzles and learning tricks.
Their high-energy nature means that they need mental stimulation and lots of playtime throughout the day. You can even take this beautiful creature for a walk!
Their coats are easy to maintain and low maintenance. A weekly brush with a soft bristle will do the trick! They aren't massive shedders but this may increase with seasonal changes.
Personality traits of a Bengal include: Playful, energetic, explorer and sociable.
Common health concerns for Bengal cats include: Gastrointestinal problems, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), patella luxation and urinary tract infections.
MAINE COON
While the origin of these cats can't be known for certain, it is said that Maine Coon cats are one of the oldest cat breeds, originally from the state of Maine, US. Much like their fluffy partners, the Turkish van cat, they love water!
They are known for their thick fur coat and muscular appearance as well as their gentle nature and ability to adapt to their environments.
They aren't fussy about their whereabouts, as long as there is room for them to exercise, play and move around. They may need a bit of encouraging to move and mental stimulation is a must otherwise they are quite happy to laze around, putting them at risk of obesity.
Their grooming needs are relatively high with recommended brushing of up to 3 times per week in order to maintain their beautiful coat.
Traits of a Main Coon include: Gentle, quiet, adaptable, muscular, friendly and intelligent.
Common health concerns for Main Coon cats include: Heart diseases, spinal muscular atrophy, hip dysplasia, stomatitis, kidney disease.
BRITISH SHORTHAIR
British Shorthair cats, as the name suggests, are said to have originated from Great Britain after the Romans brought them to England to assist with catching mice. Fun fact: the Somali cat also originated in Great Britain, despite its name!
This popular cat breed have a thick, dense coat that gets even thicker in winter. Despite this, their grooming needs are relatively low as they house a single coat. You'd get away with brushing this cat breed just once a week, perhaps more during seasonal shedding.
British Shorthairs are noisy breathers and often suffer with shortness of breath as a result of their shorter snouts. They are playful and affectionate and appreciate 15-30 minutes of play time with you per day.
Personality traits of a British Shorthair include: Playful, affectionate, loyal and easy-going.
Common health concerns for British Shorthair cats include: Cataracts, heart and kidney diseases.
RUSSIAN BLUE
Russian Blue cats are independent creatures that love a routine. They aren't afraid to vocalise their needs and you'll be sure to hear about it if they want attention.
They have easy-to-maintain, sleek, grey coats and barely shed, making them easy to groom and a great pet to have for a family with allergies. Brushing once a week to maintain their lush coats is efficient enough.
The Russian Blue breed, although super friendly with those familiar to them, can be shy and cautious around strangers.
Their exercise needs are moderate but they need stimulation throughout the day. They love to play with toys and a cat tower is a must. They're quick runners too so catch them if you can!
Personality traits of a Russian Blue include: Sleek, vocal, fast, sociable with those that are familiar, shy with strangers and hypoallergenic.
Common health concerns for Russian Blue cats include: Obesity, kidney and eye diseases.
PERSIAN
The history of the Persian cat cannot be certain but it is thought that, as the name suggests, they originated in Persia, (now Iran) around 4000 years ago. The short haired version of the Persian cat is called an exotic shorthair cat.
Persians are not an active breed and much prefer to lie around relaxing than play. Their large coats can cause them to overheat if they get too hot so it's a win win for them to stay put!
They are calm, elegant and gentle cats that love attention. Since they aren't particularly active, they'll need some enticing to play in order to not become overweight. Be mindful of their shorter snout, it'll cause them to breath noisily!
Their volume of fur means they need to be brushed daily in order to avoid skin and coat diseases and prevent matting.
Personality traits of a Persian cat include: Not active, gentle, calm, elegant, quiet and attention loving.
Common health concerns for Persian cats include: Entropion, kidney disease, hip dysplasia, brachycephalic airway syndrome, skin diseases and dental disease.
SPHYNX
Probably the world's most recognisable cat - the Sphynx, also known as the hairless cat.
Although this breed looks to have no fur, they actually do! A very fine coat, almost like a fuzz. They produce a lot of oil and so to avoid becoming greasy, it's advised to bathe them regularly. A build up of oil can cause itchy and bumpy skin infections and we don't want that!
They are sensitive to both hot and cold weather because of their lack of coat and so protection and regular skin checks are key.
Sphynx cats love to be centre of attention. They are very lively, acrobatic and love to entertain - traits that are similar of those to a Japanese bobtail cat. They need a lot of stimulation and are very active, thriving on interactivity.
Personality traits of a Sphynx include: Lively, entertaining, acrobatic, loves being centre of attention and active.
Common health concerns for Sphynx cats include: Skin diseases, dental disease, ear infections, myopathy and heart disease.
SIAMESE
Siamese cats are known for their slender and elegant appearance with their inquisitive faces and blue eyes. They are commonly bought or adopted in pairs.
This affectionate breed are impressive to say the least. They are quite the explorers and love to jump and occupy themselves with activity. They can even be trained to walk on a lead!
The bond that Siamese cats form with humans is special. They are vocal and opinionated so you'll always know what they need. Keep them occupied throughout the day with interactive toys and dedicate your full attention to them for a good amount of time every day.
Their fur doesn't shed too much and they only need to be brushed once a week to maintain their coat, making them perfect if you're looking for a cat with low grooming needs.
Fun fact: If you crossbreed a Siamese cat and a Burmese cat, you'd create a breed called the Tonkinese cat!
Personality traits of a Siamese cat include: Vocal, opinionated, affectionate, loyal, great companion, elegant, active and playful.
Common health concerns for Siamese cats include: Asthma, allergies, gingivitis and liver disease.
DEVON REX
The Devon Rex cat is known for its distinct characteristics. They house a short, curly coat that comes in different colours but is fragile and brittle. Too much brushing or bathing can break it and so it's best to use a damp cloth to clean this breed, especially as they can become greasy if not wiped down!
This cat breed love to play, climb and jump and are bundles of fun. They are very much "people cats" and love to be around others.
They are highly loyal and responsive to their people. They are classed as hypoallergenic, making them perfect for families that have allergies to cats.
Personality traits of the Devon Rex include: Playful, fun, sociable, loyal, responsive, hypoallergenic and active.
Common health concerns for Devon Rex cata include: Hip dysplasia, heart disease and luxating patella.
BURMESE
Burmese cats are a sociable and smart breed of cat that aren't a fan of being left alone. So if you're one to leave the house all day, this probably isn't the cat for you!
These muscular, athletically built cats can be trained to search for balls and toys. They are energetic and active and love interaction with you. They very much enjoy living with other pets - especially dogs - and do best in households with people willing to play with them.
This beauty doesn't require much grooming and doesn't shed much either. You'll get away with only brushing them once a week to keep up their pretty appearance.
Personality traits of the Burmese include: Sociable, smart, playful, easy to welcome into a home, easy to train and energetic.
Common health concerns for Burmese cars include: Burmese head defect, eye diseases, skin diseases and heart disease.
