A cat lives in every third household in Germany. But which velvet paws are the Germans particularly fond of? We show the 50 most popular cat breeds.
Who needs dogs? The most popular pet of the Germans is the cat. In 2020 around 15.7 million cats lived in German households. But which cat breeds are particularly popular in Germany? The pet magazine zooroyal.de has chosen the most popular cat breeds in Germany. Our ranking of the velvet paws is also based on this:
47th place
The list of Germany’s most popular cats begins with the California Spangled Cat, a breed of cats that was bred to make spotted wildcats suitable for living rooms. However, the California Spangled has been replaced by two other, very similar cat breeds. That is why they land further up in this ranking. The domesticated wildcat with its elongated and muscular body is said to have a lot of temperament and joy in playing. She loves to move around anyway. Once she has taken her owner to the heart, she remains loyal forever and shows herself from her best side: affectionate, social, gentle and cuddly.
46th place
Sokoke is a very special breed of cats. Its origin is in the Kenyan rainforest. Under the short-haired fur with the classic tabby pattern, there is an athletic body. Sokoke hangovers can weigh up to seven kilograms due to their muscle mass and strong bones. Nevertheless, the athletes from Africa are very affectionate cats when they have gained confidence in their owner after a long period of getting to know each other. They like to meow, rub themselves devotedly on the leg of their owner, are cuddly and demand attention. But sometimes they also need freedom – and lots of exercise.
45th place
A predator on the living room couch: The Chausie is a hybrid breed – a cross between the wild Egyptian pipe cat and the house cat. It combines the look, the athleticism and the urge to move of a wild cat with the cuddly nature of a human-related house cat. She therefore likes to be around people, but also loves hunting tours, from which she usually brings home a small “present”. The Chausie can’t stand boredom and loneliness. Owners should therefore be aware of their responsibility – also because a thoroughbred Chausie costs between 7,500 and 10,000 euros.
44th place
A coat like a dog: the hallmark of American Wirehair is a wiry and particularly thick coat. Because the individual hairs are bent and curled at the ends, the fur of the robust cat breed feels particularly rough. The American wire-haired cat is uncomplicated and full of life. In the family she gets along well with children and other cats. She loves to hunt outdoors, but with enough free space, play facilities and a scratching post, she will also be happy in apartments.
43rd place
The Australian Mist, often referred to as Spotted Mist and known in Germany as the Australian Blue Cat, is the only cat breed on the Australian continent. It owes its name not only to its origins but also to its typical coat pattern: it looks as if it were covered by a light veil. The Australian Mist is an excellent indoor cat: if you give it the choice between hunting mice or cuddling on the couch, it will always go for the latter. The veil cat is by no means lazy. She keeps her childlike spirit into old age, likes to romp around and explore every corner of the apartment.
42nd place
The cat breed with the permanent wave takes 42nd place. The name giving and characteristic distinguishing feature of the LaPerm is its curly, soft fur. Often it stands loosely from the body and gives the affectionate cuddly cat a slightly disheveled look. In England, LaPerms are also affectionately referred to as “lappies” because their favorite place is on the owner’s lap. Caresses are important, LaPerms really seek contact with people. In families, however, they usually only choose one caregiver.
41st place
The oriental longhair cat is also known under the name Javanese or Mandarin. The beauty with the typical almond eyes is characterized above all by its diverse character. She is intelligent, playful, has a great need for closeness, is sometimes cranky and always talkative – in doing so she makes use of a particularly wide range of meow noises. She loves to keep an eye on what’s going on at an observation post and carefully explores drawers and shopping bags. She suffers from loneliness.
40th place
The origin of the Thai cat lies in Siamese breeding: As Siamese cats became more and more graceful and dainty, not everyone liked it. Because the demand for the original stronger type increased, the Thai was recognized as a separate breed, which is often referred to as the “Siamese of the old type”. The similarities are correspondingly great – and the likelihood of confusion. Just like their slimmer relatives, Thai cats are extremely friendly, open-minded, curious, loving and in need of communication. Because they also need contact with conspecifics, they are not suitable as single cats.
39th place
The Egyptian Mau is a graceful short-haired cat that has many myths entwined around it. Their typical polka dot pattern was already shown on historical wall paintings in Egypt. The original color of the Egyptian mau is brownish. Their eyes are large and almond-shaped. She is considered intelligent, playful, and strongly related to her people. This is why the elegant beauty with its historical roots can be easily integrated into every family.
38th place
In contrast, a fairly young breed from Great Britain with the sonorous name Burmilla lands in 38th place among the most popular cats. This is no coincidence: According to tradition, it is said to have originated from a coincidental crossing of a chinchilla Persian cat with a Burma cat. The fur of the short-haired velvet paw shimmers silver, its character can be described as sociable, playful and affectionate – the Burmilla is so much the latter that it is said to have unconditional love for its owner.
37th place
So she gropes in white boots, the Snowshoe. The medium-sized cat is originally from the USA and has Siamese ancestors. Her character is diverse: on the one hand she is self-confident, bold, curious, clever, headstrong and person-centered, on the other hand she has a pronounced need for rest. Young Snowshoe kittens are completely white. Only over time do they develop their various colors, only the “snowshoes” on the paws are guaranteed to remain white.
36th place
The Tonkanese bring together the best of their two famous tribal parents, the Burma and Siamese. She is lively and talkative like the former and as affectionate as the latter. This is no coincidence, because it is a cross between the two cat breeds. Her short fur is close and has a silky shimmer, her large, almond-shaped eyes shine brightly. She is considered affectionate, curious, sociable and therefore a great cat for families. However, owners should spend enough time with the Thai velvet paw.
35th place
35th place of the most popular cats in Germany comes from Thailand: the Korat cat. Their fur is described as “rain cloud gray”. The ends of the hair shine in a silver color, underneath it shimmers slightly blue. Also characteristic are the large, round and green shining eyes and the heart-shaped head. Korat cats have exceptionally fine sensory perception, but are therefore also very scared. The affectionate and cuddly breed is suitable for families – provided that things aren’t too wild at home.
34th place
A Balinese is smart, a loyal companion and a real chatterbox. No wonder, because it is actually nothing more than a long-haired Siamese cat – and therefore just as in need of communication as its famous relatives. Their stature is muscular and slender, my half-length coat is characterized by the black coloring on the ears, tail, paws and head. Balinese need an experienced owner. They are affectionate, playful, intelligent and especially curious. A varied environment is therefore important.
33rd place
The American Curl is instantly recognizable. The “curl” in the name does not refer to the fur of the house cat, but to the ears. Due to a genetic defect, their small and rounded auricles are bent outwards. Otherwise, American Curls are quite different because they are based on many pedigree cats, such as a Siamese, a Maine Coon or a normal house cat. Its essence is correspondingly diverse. However, all curls are considered friendly and suitable house and family cats.
32nd place
Nebelung: Behind this unusual name hides a plush house cat that is gray as fog. She comes from the Russian Blue and is therefore very balanced and calm. Like all domestic cats, the Nebelung likes to move around in nature, but has nothing against long petting and cuddling sessions on the couch. She is particularly popular as a family cat because of her close ties to humans.
31st place
Slim, elegant and still muscular: the Oriental Shorthair originally comes from Thailand and – like so many other cats in this list – descends from the Siamese. Its wedge-shaped head, green eyes and particularly large “bat ears” are particularly striking. The monochrome cat’s short fur is silky, and its urge to move is enormous. It is primarily suitable for experienced cat owners: the intelligent and very active cat is extremely affectionate, needs a lot of attention and does not like to be alone at all.
30th place
German Rex? The name of this cat breed may be reminiscent of the popular TV shepherd dog, but visually the two have nothing in common. The German Rex is a typical house and family cat. She is considered affectionate and loyal, as well as curious and playful. Their large ears and their thin and, above all, wavy fur are particularly striking.
29th place
The Singapura is the smallest pedigree cat in the world. At first it is reserved towards strangers, but it quickly thaws and then becomes an affectionate cat. With its small size and weight of two to three kilograms, the petite cat should not move to a family with young children.
28th place
The Ocicat looks very similar to the South American ocelot with its coat pattern. However, the similarity to the big cat is not reflected in its character: the Ocicat is gentle and cuddly. It is also a sociable velvet paw that is very open to people. It is said to have a level of loyalty that one would rather expect from dogs.
27th place
As the name suggests, the British Longhair comes from Great Britain *. The plush fur invites you to be petted, which the cat also likes to expressly demand. With its friendly and balanced nature, the British Longhair gets along with conspecifics as well as with dogs.
26th place
Turkish Van is not a vehicle, but a friendly and sociable cat. Coming from Turkey, the cat needs a lot of space and attention. Since the van cat is extremely intelligent, it quickly finds out how doors and the like can be opened and repeatedly surprises its owner with small pranks.
25th place
With its black fur and copper- to gold-colored eyes, the Bombay cat is reminiscent of a panther. The rather small cat is patient and intelligent. In addition, Bombay cats are very willing to learn and should be encouraged by their owner. Even if it is reminiscent of a big cat, the Bombay is cuddly and seeks close contact with people.
24th place
The European Shorthair is a sturdy and balanced cat that is more of an outdoor cat than a couch potato. The character of the European Shorthair is very different – everything is possible from the cuddly cat to scratchy four-legged friends.
23rd place
Whether short or long hair – the Selkirk Rex’s fur is softly curled. The cat, which weighs up to seven kilograms, has a strong human connection and feels particularly at home in families with children. In addition to its affectionate character, the Selkirk Rex has another specialty: a gentle and patient nature.
22nd place
Are you allergic or don’t feel like having a badly hairy cat? Then the Cornish Rex may be the right house tiger for you. Although the Cornish Rex is not completely allergy-proof, it loses comparatively little hair due to the structure of the fur. Shyness is a foreign word for cats with wavy to curly fur. The cat convinces with its affectionate and affectionate character.
21st place
The Somali cat needs a lot of space and activity in order to be able to live out its high urge to move. The cuddly velvet paw just barely missed the top 20. Despite their attachment, Somalis are not pure lap cats and can sometimes react jealously if they see their position in the household in danger.
20th place
Slightly curly but short hair and large ears are the characteristics of the Devon Rex. The cat breed owes its special appearance to a coincidental coat mutation. The medium-sized cat (50 centimeters head-torso length) is very people-oriented and prefers to follow its owner at every turn.
19th place
The cousin of the Persian cat is the exotic shorthair. The cartoon character Garfield was designed based on the model of this cat breed. Indeed, the character traits of the red, hungry male cat are quite typical of the Exotic Shorthair. The exotic they are rather cozy animals with a very low urge to move. With their relaxed and friendly nature, Exotic Shorthair cats are suitable for families as well as singles.
18th place
The Turkish Angora is the national animal of Turkey * and it is also very popular in Germany. Allegedly even the Prophet Muhammad owned a Turkish Angora cat. This breed of cats is a playful and intelligent cat that always wants to be challenged. The Turkish Angora is very people-oriented and social and should not be kept alone.
17th place
The oriental Burmese cat is extremely intelligent. The rather small cats are playful and curious creatures. Allegedly, Burmese are said to have a particularly long lifespan; in some cases an average age of 18 years is reported.
16th place
The slim Abyssinian cat is reminiscent of a miniature puma. The cat, which comes from the Middle East, has many typical characteristics of oriental cat breeds: playful, curious and very attentive. The Abyssinian cat has a great urge to move and needs sufficient mental and physical activity. Due to her open-minded nature, she is suitable as a family cat. But: She wants to experience and discover a lot and is not just a cuddly cat.
15th place
The German longhair cat is a medium to large breed that was only recognized as a pedigree cat in 2012. The long-haired cat has a very human, friendly and uncomplicated nature. That is why the German Longhaired Cat is an ideal house cat: It is quite undemanding and frugal with regard to its keeping conditions.
14th place
A fluffy cat can claim place 14 for itself – the Siberian cat. Despite the plush fur, hardly any care is required, because the Siberian cat is largely able to independently keep its own fur clean and free of knots. Since she is a very social animal, she enjoys company. The loyal cat is playful and by no means afraid of water: a dripping faucet can provide entertainment for hours.
13th place
This cat is immediately noticeable – after all, it lacks the fur that is typical of cats. The skin of the Sphynx cat is only covered with a slight fluff. Therefore, the loving and affectionate Sphynx cat should also be kept as a house cat, because the lack of fur means it has little protection against the weather. Since the naked four-legged friends are very sociable, it is not recommended to keep them alone.
12th place
As the name suggests, the Russian blue cat originally comes from Russia *. The animal with the shimmering gray fur is considered smart and very affectionate. However, the Russian Blue doesn’t like too much hustle and bustle: She likes to be quiet. She is shy and distant towards strangers. The Russian Blue is a playful cat – and that until old age.
11th place
The gray velvet paws impress with their calm and level-headed manner: Carthusian cats are the perfect family cats, because in addition to their calm character, the cats get along great with children and other animals.
Place 10
Cats without a breed or pedigree: The domestic cats barely make it into the top 10. They originally come from Egypt. The medium-sized four-legged friends are available in all imaginable variations. Therefore there is no such thing as a classic appearance. Since house cats should by definition be free from crossbreeding with other breeds, their fur may only have naturally occurring colors. In contrast to noble cat breeds, the raceless house cat is a surprise package with regard to its character: everything from cuddly to shy is included.
9th place
According to legend, the race of Saint Brima goes back to a white temple cat that kept a dying priest company. At the moment of his death, the Holy Burma is said to have taken on its current appearance: the eyes were colored blue, her head, tail and legs golden brown and the paws white. Holy Burma differs primarily in character from its fellow species. It is important to please its owner. This makes the Holy Burma easy to educate and particularly good. Because of its lovable character, the Birman is the ideal family cat.
8th place
The Persian cat has also made it into the top 10 of German cat favorites. Daily brushing is essential because of their long and thick fur. Even if Persian cats often look a bit grim with their face shape and small nose, they are friendly and cuddly cats. They are known for their particularly calm, peaceful and serene manner.
7th place
The Savannah cat is an exotic cross between the serval, i.e. a wild cat, and a house cat. As a result, on the one hand it has the hunting instinct and urge to move around of a wild cat, on the other hand it is affectionate and loving like a house cat. When keeping Savannah cats, however, it should be ensured that species-appropriate keeping is officially controlled. Because the cats are not typical outdoor cats. Only controlled clearance or clearance in the enclosure is permitted.
Rank 6
It is not without reason that the Ragdoll cat is nicknamed the “rag doll”. The cat with the friendly disposition looks almost like a stuffed animal. A ragdoll can weigh up to 10 kilograms and can reach an impressive shoulder height of up to 40 centimeters. Ragdoll cats are playful creatures with dog-like attachment who can’t stand being alone.
5th place
Slim, elegant and communicative – the Siamese is one of the top 5 German cat breeds. The exotic cat is very communicative: it purrs, moans, coo, babble and thus clearly communicates its mood. Siamese cats are also intelligent, sensitive and very affectionate. They follow their people everywhere and show themselves to be cuddly and playful. Due to its close relationship with people, the Siamese cat is also used as a therapy animal that helps disabled children or dementia patients.
4th place
The British Shorthair is a cat of coziness. The velvet paw, which tends to become overweight, can be found in a wide variety of colors. The character of the British Shorthair should vary depending on the coat color. For example, cream-colored cats are cuddly and blue cats are distant. Regardless of the coat color, the plush four-legged friends are not only popular with cat lovers, they are also in demand for TV spots and advertisements.
place 3
The specialty of the Bengal cat is the specially patterned fur, which is reminiscent of a big cat. The cat, also known as the leopardette, is one of the particularly friendly pedigree cats. Besides a cuddly character, Bengal cats are very playful, active and need a lot of activity.
place 2
The Norwegian Forest Cat is physically perfectly adapted to life in the forests of its home country. Their medium-long and thick fur is immediately apparent, as are the lynx-like ears. Despite their wildcat-like appearance, the big cats (100 to 130 centimeters head and tail length) are known for their gentle and cuddly character.
1st place
First place among the most popular cat breeds in Germany is the Maine Coon. The cat originally comes from the USA * and is one of the largest pedigree cats (up to 120 cm head-tail length). Maine Coons are very people-oriented and affectionate – they are sociable and friendly even when dealing with conspecifics, dogs and children. It is not without reason that the cat is nicknamed “dog cat”, because you can walk with it like a dog.
Do you remember the first sentence of this photo story: “Who needs dogs?” Quite a few people! That’s why you will also find the 50 most popular dog breeds among Germans here – with at least as much potential to melt away.
