It sounds like a straightforward question with a one-line answer. "How many cat breeds are there?" Give a number and be done with it. Except it's not that simple. And the funny part is why.
I looked up the figure one day, convinced it would be easy to find. I found 40. And 45. And 70. Even over 100. All of them "official." All of them different. Who's lying?
Nobody. Turns out there isn't just one number—because there isn't just one authority.
Why there is no magic number
There is no single global authority that decides what is a breed and what isn't. There are multiple feline associations, each with its own rules, and they don't always agree.
One of the most prominent associations recognizes around 45 breeds.
Another, more flexible one, hovers around 70.
And if you add in variations and newer breeds still "under development," you easily surpass 100.
It's like asking how many languages exist: it depends on where you draw the line between a "language" and a "dialect." Cats are much the same, just with fur.
What makes something “a breed”
A breed isn't just "a cute cat that looks a bit different." It's a group with physical and behavioral traits that repeat predictably from one generation to the next, recognized under a written standard by an association.
That's why the giant Maine Coon, the talkative Siamese, and the hairless Sphynx count as breeds: you know more or less what you're getting. And that's why many "exotic cats" you see online aren't actually recognized breeds at all.
The fact that almost nobody mentions
Here's the kicker. With all this talk about breeds, we forget the main point: the vast majority of cats in the world do not belong to any breed.
✅ WHAT NO ONE TELLS YOU: "No-breed" cats (mixed breeds, moggies, alley cats) aren't an inferior version. Thanks to natural genetic mixing, they often have FEWER hereditary health issues than many heavily selectively bred purebreds. Your rescue cat might just be the healthiest of them all.
So the next time someone brags about having a "purebred," remind them that nature—mixing freely without asking permission—has been making top-tier cats for millions of years, completely free of charge.
So, how many are there really?
The honest answer: between 45 and 70, depending on who you ask — and counting, since new breeds pop up every year. But if you're just looking for a wonderful companion, the exact number doesn't matter. What matters is the cat right in front of you.
And if you're curious about what their appearance reveals about them, there's actually a lot to unpack there—which I cover in cat breeds by color, where I separate facts from pure myths.
If you're still curious, keep pulling the thread:
→ Cat breeds by color: what their coat really says (and what's a myth)
The number of cat breeds: the truth "experts" won't tell you (and why it's not what you think)
Many people, when asking me how many cat breeds exist, expect an exact number. To be honest, I used to think so too, until I realized it's a bit of a trick question. It's not as simple as counting sheep. This isn't like counting planets, where established rules give you a definitive total.
It turns out that recognized cat breeds are governed more by politics than pure biology. A couple of "official" organizations—like CFA and TICA, for instance—are the ones that decide which breed is which. It's like having two competing soccer leagues, each with its own rulebook for what makes a major-league team. That's why the total count of cat breeds remains open-ended.
If you look at the CFA, it recognizes around 45 breeds. But head over to TICA, and that number jumps to about 73! And what about unregistered cats? Those common domestic shorthairs that make up the vast majority of our pets share the exact same feline heritage as purebreds. You see them on the street and wonder, "How many types of cats are there?" and the answer is: as many as your imagination can picture in terms of mixes and variations. The scoop is that while a handful of breeds are officially recognized, true feline diversity goes far beyond that. And if I'm being honest, mixed-breed cats are usually a win for health, saving you trips to the vet that easily cost as much as your weekly grocery run.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cat breeds are there exactly?
There is no single figure: it depends entirely on the cat registry or association. The most prominent ones recognize between 45 and 70 breeds, and that number grows as new breeds are accepted every year.
Is a mixed-breed cat worse than a purebred?
Not at all. Quite the opposite: genetic diversity usually means fewer hereditary illnesses compared to many purebred lines. "No-breed" definitely doesn't mean lower quality.
What is the most common cat breed?
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Actually, the most common feline worldwide isn't a specific breed at all, but rather the domestic shorthair or longhair moggie, which doesn't belong to any official breed standard.
Sources and background: figures vary depending on the governing cat association (each maintains its own official registry), which is why no universal count exists. The lower incidence of hereditary disorders in mixed populations compared to heavily selected purebreds is well-documented in feline genetics.
We gather and verify information while citing our sources. For any concerns regarding your cat's health, please consult your veterinarian.
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