Wild-looking Cats You Can Adopt at Home
Domestic cats can look surprisingly like their big-cat cousins. Some breeds were bred with wild cats, while others simply share similar markings.
Bengal cats were created by crossing domestic breeds with the Asian Leopard Cat, giving them rich spotted and striped coats that resemble leopards. They keep a typical domestic cat temperament.
Savannah cats began as a mix of a domestic cat and a Serval. Depending on how many generations separate them from the Serval parent, kittens are labeled F1 through F5. Savannahs are large, very active, and enjoy walks and fetch.
The Abyssinian, though not related to wild cats, has a lion-like appearance with a golden ticked-tabby coat and striking eyes. They are intelligent, social, and can become depressed if left alone for long periods.
Bombay cats are described as the black panther of the domestic world and are very social, often seeking human attention.
The Egyptian Mau is one of the few naturally spotted breeds, meaning its spots appear without wild-cat crossbreeding. It is considered the closest house-sized cheetah.
The American Bobtail shares a bobcat’s short, stubby tail and muscular build, but its tail comes from a natural spontaneous mutation, not from breeding with bobcats.
Highland Lynx and Pixie-bob breeds are compared to lynxes because of their tufted ears and bobbed tails.
These breeds show that a touch of the wild can live in a home without the danger of large claws.
Key takeaways
- Bengals combine domestic cats with the Asian Leopard Cat for a leopard-like look.
- Savannahs are large, active, and descend from Servals.
- Abyssinians resemble lions and need social interaction.
- Bombays are black, social cats.
- Egyptian Maws are naturally spotted and cheetah-like.
- American Bobtails have a bobcat-like tail from a natural mutation.
- Highland Lynx and Pixie-bob breeds mimic lynxes with ear tufts and bobbed tails.
Ready to bring a cat or kitten home? Browse adoptable cats and kittens on Petfinnly.
Originally reported by iHeartCats. Read the full article.
Cover photo by Helena Jankovičová Kováčová via Pexels.
