Cat breeds and pet insurance

Domestic shorthairs – also referred to as common house cats or moggies – are the most common pet cat in Australia.³ They don’t belong to any particular recognised cat breed and are simply characterised by their short fur. These domestic cats are typically playful, docile, and quiet. They make great companions for children and adults alike.

The domestic shorthair is one of the oldest natural (non-pedigreed) English breeds. Early settlements in America also introduced them as working cats to eradicate rats and other pests. These kitties then become known as American shorthairs.⁴

Due to their mixed parentage, domestic shorthairs don’t have any known hereditary conditions. However, common house cats can be prone to obesity and should have a balanced diet.

The British shorthair is a pedigreed domestic shorthair. These cats are distinctively stocky with dense fur and a round face. The breed was once known as British Blue due to their solid grey-blue coat, but they come in other colours too. The British shorthair breed is known to be gentle and easy-going, making for good house pets. They are also quite happy on their own and can entertain themselves.⁶

The British shorthair is one of the oldest identifiable cat breeds in the world. Theories suggest they were brought to England by Roman legionaries for pest control and quickly became street and farm cats.

While they’re considered a healthy breed, British shorthair may inherit hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a form of heart disease) or develop urinary tract and kidney issues as they age.⁷

The tabby is not a specific cat breed but rather a coat pattern many domesticated cats and genetic lines have. Tabbies tend to have distinctive stripes or whorl patterns on their fur. They also often have a marking in the shape of an ‘M’ on their forehead. Common groups of tabby cats include the mackerel (striped), classic, Agouti (ticked) and Egyptian Mau (spotted) tabby.⁸

The origins of the tabby are unknown, although it’s thought felines with a tabby pattern descend from African wildcats.⁹ Tabbies are mixed breeds and not typically prone to health issues, although watch out for heart or kidney problems in their later years.

Regarding personality traits, tabbies are very outgoing, playful and curious, which is why you often spot them roaming the neighbourhood and playing with other pets or kids. They’re the cool cats on the block!

The Ragdoll is a long-haired cat breed easy to recognise with distinctive, luxuriant colourpoint fur and blue eyes. It’s one of the largest breeds of domesticated cats, but don’t fret because these lovable felines are very gentle and patient. They don’t mind being petted and held, so some people call them lap cats. Their calm temperament is ideal for seniors and people who live in apartments.

The Ragdoll cat breed has been traced back to California in the 1960s and may have resulted initially from breeding a domestic long-haired white cat and a Burmese-like cat.¹⁰

Ragdolls may have long fur but not an undercoat, so matting and shedding shouldn’t be an issue. However, they’re prone to certain conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, urinary tract/bladder infections and weight gain, mostly because of their sedentary nature.¹¹

The Burmese breed is distinctive both physically and temperamentally. The Burmese cat has a slender frame, glossy fur and eyes slanting toward the nose. In terms of personality, this breed is extremely affectionate and intelligent; they can even be trained to perform tricks and play fetch! On the flip side, Burmese cats are very demanding and cry for attention when they’re not feeling heard.

The Burmese cat originated from Myanmar (formerly Burma) near the border with Thailand and shares ancestry with the Siamese breed. The breeds were bred together to produce kittens bearing the rich walnut brown colour Burmese cats are famous for today.¹²

This smaller gene pool means Burmese cats can be prone to congenital facial and head defects, feline orofacial pain syndrome (FOPS), muscle weakness and heart problems.¹³

The Siamese is a pedigree cat breed characterised by their elongated body, triangular head, and almond-shaped eyes. The Siamese cat is not only beautiful but equally intelligent and affectionate. They like to be active and jump off perches and can be trained to walk on a lead.

The Siamese cat is thought to have originated from Thailand (formerly Siam). In ancient times, Siamese cats were favoured by royal families due to their appearance and athletic nature. They were often gifted to European and American dignitaries, after which the breed became more commonplace in the West.¹⁴

Siamese cats can be prone to upper respiratory infections, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA; a vestibular disease that affects the ears) and heart conditions.¹⁵

The Persian cat is a long-haired breed most recognisable for their squishy face, short nose and big eyes. In terms of their personality and temperament, Persian cats are relatively gentle and docile but are also known to experience random bursts of energy which they sometimes use to climb curtains or shelves.

The Persian is an ancient pedigreed cat. The breed was exported from Iran (ancient Persia) to Europe and other parts of the world sometime around the 14^th century.¹⁶

Despite their long history, Persian cats aren’t immune to health issues. They can be predisposed to a skin condition called idiopathic seborrhea (increased oil formation on the skin that creates clumps in the fur), eye problems and polycystic kidney disease (PKD).¹⁷

The Russian Blue has a striking bluish-grey fur unique to the breed. That ‘blue’ coat is the result of a diluted gene. Russian Blues are known to be loving and highly affectionate but are also fiercely independent by nature.

The breed likely originated somewhere in northern Russia, specifically around the Arkhangelsk area. It’s rumoured that Russian Blue descended from cats kept by Russian Czars.¹⁸

There are no specific health concerns related to the Russian Blue, mainly because it’s a natural breed with enough genetic diversity. Common inherited disorders in senior Blues may include hip dysplasia and hyperthyroidism, an endocrine system disease.¹⁹

The Maine Coon is the largest domestic cat breed in the world. In fact, some male cats can weigh up to 8kg and measure up to 100cm in length (from nose to tail). Maine Coons are big in size and personality. They’re gentle giants who love attention, which is good because they require daily grooming to keep their fur under control and plenty of exercise to keep their weight in check.

The Maine Coon originated from the state of Maine in the United States. The long-haired breed is native to those parts of America.²⁰

The breed is generally hardy, although Maine Coons can be prone to hereditary conditions, mainly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia, spinal muscular atrophy, and kidney issues.²¹

The Sphynx cat is a hairless breed and, therefore, easy to recognise. They’re not entirely without hair but have soft downy fur and can feel like a warm peach when you touch them. They also tend to have large ears and wrinkled skin. The Sphynx is a very social and energetic breed, meaning they’ll do just about anything for attention.

Originally called Canadian hairless as the breed originated in Canada, three hairless kittens are said to be the original ancestors of the Sphynx. However, the breed is not the result of selective breeding but rather a natural genetic mutation.

The Sphynx has no genetic predispositions to diseases. However, hairless cats can suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, myopathy (systemic muscle weakness), and skin conditions such as urticaria pigmentosa, which causes dark spots and rashes on the body.²²