10 Rarest Cat Breeds In The World

Hey, you know, cats have been around for a long, long time, but did you know there are more to them than that cat that just seems to stick around after you feed it once? Here are 10 stories of some very rare kitties. Number 10. The Egyptian moths are fairly rare, with only a few naturally spotted breeds of this domesticated cat. They are a small to medium-sized cat that is one of the fastest known, clocked at being able to run more than 30 miles an hour, which is faster than my car. The moths were really popular in Europe until World War II, when the popularity of everything started going downhill, and it even started going extinct until Russian princess Natalie Trubetskaya began breeding them. Their lifespan is between 13 and 16 years. Hey, test your knowledge. What does maw mean in Egyptian? It simply means cat. Now you know. Number nine. The chartreux, which is even funner to say than maw, is a rare domestic cat from France recognized by many worldwide registries. They are known for their smiles because their tapered muzzles appear to be smiling. Farmers love them because they're good hunters, and they can be very, very quiet, seldom a meow or a cry. And they're smart. They can operate on and off buttons and open latch screen doors. Some of them can even fetch like dogs. They're good with children and other animals, and their lifespan is from 11 to 15 years. Number eight. The Turkish angora have been long-breeded. Okay, red. Breedage funner, though. From ancient central Turkey, they are known for their silky and elegant coats, as well as having one blue eye and the other amber or green. They are playful, smart, and athletic, and they tend to bond with one particular member of the family. They are very protective of that person from then on. Their lifespan is 12 to 18 years. Number seven. Ojos azules. Oh, I like that so much I may change my name to it. Were discovered in New Mexico around 1984, back when I could actually move like a cat. And its Spanish name means blue eyes. But by the time 1992 rolled around, there were only 10 of these cats in existence. Only the cats with the deep blue hygiene are considered ojos azules. Oh, I like that. What little is known about these rare creatures is that they are active, friendly, and affectionate. Their lifespan is 10 to 12 years. Number six. The Serengeti cat was developed by crossing a bengal, that's of the cat world, and an oriental short hair. Serengetis are spotted cats with long legs and very large round-tipped ears. They have a long neck that doesn't even taper when it gets to the skull. They are rare but gaining popularity because of their fun and outgoing personalities, like me. And they resemble wild cats from Africa. Their lifespan is 10 years. Number five. The black-footed cat. You know, you'd think they could give it an actual name, like ojos azules, only with black and feet. Anyway, these South African creatures are the smallest of the wildcat species in the world, with the adult male weighing just over four pounds. They are big-time nocturnal animals and will travel some five miles during the night just to find food. And it usually only gets moisture from its food. No water needed. It has become rare due to poaching, traffic accidents, and predatory animals. Its lifespan is 10 to 12 years. Are you memorizing these lifespans? You know, there will be a quiz at the end of this. Number four. The Japanese bobtail has a tail that strongly resembles that of a rabbit. Wouldn't it be a Japanese cottontail then? But like snowflakes, no two tails are exactly alike. Okay, so why does it not have a normal cat tail, you ask? I'm glad you asked. Here's the legend. Long, long ago, in a faraway land, a sleeping cat's tail caught fire. The feline reacted, of course, by running. And it ended up setting the entire town on fire. Well, a really pissed off emperor decreed that all cats have their tails chopped off to prevent similar blazing disasters. In reality, though, it's a natural genetic mutation. Boring. Let's go with the pissed off emperor. Tell your friends that one for sure. Their lifespan is 14 to 16 years. Probably half of that if their tail catches on fire. Number three. The Scottish fold cat looks like an owl because a natural gene mutation affects the cartilage and makes the ears bend forward. This change from normal ears occurs when it is between two and four weeks old. It was originally called the lop-eared cat, but its name was changed to the Scottish fold in 1966. These Scottish folds can sit, stand, and lay in almost human-like positions. They can even sit on their haunches and look like Buddha. Their lifespan is around 15 years. Number two. The Sphinx is that rare breed of hairless cat that we all see and say, wow, look at that weird naked cat. This cat, born of that natural genetic mutation thing again, came about in the mid-1960s. Then, ten years later, a few more sets of them were born in Toronto and Minnesota, and the big breeding effort was on. Now, this cat may look hairless, but the Sphinxster actually has their skin covered with fine hairs. And despite their naked appearance, they're actually about four degrees warmer than most other cats. They like to greet their owners at the door and are friendly with strangers. Their lifespan, 13 to 15 years. And finally, number one. From the land of Oz, we now have the munchkin cat, which is distinguished by its very short legs. Those legs, of course, are through natural genetic mutation, yada, yada, yada. This short cat was first seen on TV in 1991, and it has caused controversy among breeders of pedigree cats on genetic mutations. Because of this, several cat registries won't recognize the munchkin because of what they consider a genetic disease. But disease or not, the munchkin is a sweet-natured cat and responds well to being handled. Their lifespan is 12 to 14 years. That's all for today. So what are those lifespans? I told you there would be a quiz. Okay, anything 10 or over works for all of them. Hey, don't forget to like us and be sure to subscribe for more stories like this. Get addicted to the good stuff.