Cats are incredible animals that bring laughter, affection and joy to humans. Currently, there are about 100 officially recognized kitty breeds but surely, we do not know even half of them unless you are experts on the subject.
In this article on our site, we are not going to discover all the cat breeds there are but something better, the 10 rarest cats in the world ! Those that due to their physical characteristics stand out above the rest of the races and are particularly special.
If you want to adopt a feline with an unusual appearance, then you can discover the 10 strangest cats in the world.
LaPerm
One of the rarest cats in the world is the LaPerm, a breed native to Oregon, USA, named for its characteristic long, curly coat(as if "the perm" had been done). The first LaPerm cat was born female and hairless, but after a few months she developed a silky, curly coat due to a mutation in a dominant gene. The curious thing is that from then on, almost all the males of this breed are born without hair and many others lose it and shed it several times throughout their lives.
These felines have a sociable, calm and very affectionate character towards their humans, and they are balanced and very curious.
Sphynx
Another of the strangest cats in the world and best known internationally is the sphinx cat or sphynx cat that is characterized by not having fur, although this statement is not entirely correct, since in reality they present a very fine and short layer of hair almost imperceptible to the human eye and touch. Apart from the lack of fur, the Sphynx breed is characterized by a robust body and big eyes which are even more noticeable on its bald head.
These felines appeared by a natural mutation and have an affectionate, peaceful temperament and are dependent on their owners, but they are also sociable, intelligent and curious.
Exotic shorthair
The exotic chorthair or exotic cat is another of the rarest cats in the world that arose from the cross between a British shorthair and an American shorthair. This breed has the complexion of a Persian cat but with short hair, being robust, compact and with a rounded body. Due to its large eyes, short flat nose, and small ears, the exotic cat has a cute and sweet facial expression,it can even look sad sometimes. Its coat is short and dense, but still requires very little grooming and doesn't shed much, making it suitable for people with allergies.
This breed of cat has a calm, affectionate, loyal and friendly personality, similar to that of Persian cats, but they are even more active, playful and curious.
Elf or goblin cat
Continuing with the strangest cats in the world, we find the elf cat or goblin cat that is characterized by not having fur but being very intelligent. These kittens are named for their large resembling this mythical creature and they arose from the cross between a sphynx cat and an American curl relatively recently.
Because they are hairless, these cats need to bathemore frequently than other breeds, and they also don't get much sun. In addition, they have a very sociable character and are very smart.
Scottish fold
The Scottish Fold or Scottish Fold is another of the rarest cats in the world that comes, as its name suggests, from Scotland. The breed itself was officially recognized in 1974 but mating between members of this breed has recently been banned by the British Veterinary Association due to the large number of serious bone abnormalities that occur when reproducing them, as this breed of cats has a genetic mutation that affects your cartilage. Likewise, this problem can also cause arthritis in these felines and, although many defenders think that if the Scottish fold is crossed with the American shorthair or with the British shorthair this does not happen, the British Veterinary Association argued that all cats that have the folded ears suffer from this mutation.
The Scottish Fold is a medium-sized cat with a round head, large round eyes, and very small, folded earsforward, so it looks like an owl. Other notable features are its round feet and thick tail.
This breed of feline has short fur but they do not have a specific color. They have a strong temperament and also have a great hunting instinct, but even so, they are very friendly and adapt easily to new environments.
Ukrainian Levkoy
Another of the strangest cats in the world is the Ukrainian levkoy, a medium-sized kitten with an elegant appearance. Its main characteristics are the absence of fur or very little fur, its folded ears, its large, brightly colored almond-shaped eyes, its long, flat head, and its angular profile.
This breed of cat, which has an affectionate, sociable and intelligent temperament, was born a few years ago, in 2004, thanks to the crossing of a female Sphynx and a male with lop ears carried out by Elena Biriukova in Ukraine, that's why they are found only in that country and in Russia.
Savannah Cat
The Savannah cat is one of the rarest in the world. This genetically engineered hybrid breed emerged from the cross between a domestic cat and an African serval, and has a very exotic appearance, similar to that of a leopardIn addition, it retains many of the qualities and instincts of its wild ancestors. Its body is large and muscular, with large ears and long legs, and its fur has black spots and stripes like that of big cats. It is the largest breed that exists but even so, its size can vary greatly from one litter to another.
There is some controversy as to whether the domestication of Savannah cats is possible because, in addition to maintaining many characteristics of their ancestors as we have already mentioned, they also need a lot of space to exercise andThey can jump up to more than 2 meters high They can also become aggressive once they reach sexual maturity, so unfortunately there is a high rate of abandonment once they reach this point by their owners. However, they have a very loyal character and are not afraid of water.
Peterbald
This breed also includes one of the strangest cats in the world. It is the peterbald cat, a medium-sized breed originally from Russia that was born in 1974. These kittens arose from the cross between a donskoy and an oriental fur cat short, and are characterized by no fur, having long bat ears, long oval legs, and a wedge-shaped snout. They have a slim and elegant complexion and, although they can be confused with Egyptian cats or sphinxes, the peterbald does not have a potbelly like the others.
Peterbald cats have a peaceful temperament and are curious, intelligent, active and very friendly, but they are also dependent and ask for a lot of affection from their owners.
Munchkin
Another of the world's rarest cats is the munchkin, which, due to a natural genetic mutation, is a medium-sized cat with shorter legs than normal, as if it were a dachshund. Despite this, he does not have trouble jumping and running like other breeds, and he does not tend to develop the many spinal problems associated with this type of body structure.
Despite having their hind legs larger than their front legs, munchkins are agile, active, playful and affectionate kittens, and can weigh between 2 and 3 kilos.
Cornish Rex
And we add the Cornish Rex as another of the rarest cats in the world thanks to a spontaneous genetic mutation that caused its wavy, short, dense and silky fur on the back This mutation happened in the 1950s in the south-west of England, which is why it is called the Cornish rex cat.
These medium-sized kittens have a muscular and slim body, as well as their fine bones, but their fur can be any color and does not need much care. Cornish Rexes are highly intelligent, sociable, affectionate, independent and playful, and love contact with children.
