Last Updated on October 21, 2023 by Fumipets
Exploring the Mystique of 13 Asian Cat Breeds
Asian cat breeds possess a unique allure that has captivated cat lovers worldwide. These feline companions come in various sizes, coat patterns, and personalities, offering something for everyone. In this article, we delve into the intriguing world of Asian cat breeds, shedding light on their distinct characteristics and charm.
Asian Cat Breeds
On every continent, cat breeds have developed and continue to do so, but Asia is the original home of more well-known cat varieties than you would realize. The beautiful and fluffy cats you may already be familiar with as well as some uncommon felines featured in ancient art are just a few of the magnificent breeds that the Asian continent has bestowed onto the globe.
These exclusively Asian cat species are rare, storied, and adored as royalty across much of this continent, from Japan to China to Myanmar. Learn about 13 cat breeds that originated and were raised in Asia, the biggest continent in the world.
The 13 Asian Cat Breeds
1. Persian Cats
Lifespan: 10-17 years
Temperament: Docile, relaxed, independent, easy-going,
Color: White, black, grey, cream, tabby, calico, tri-color, Himalayan, and many more
Height: 14-18 inches
Weight: 7-12 pounds
One of the fanciest and fluffiest long-haired house cat breeds is the Persian. They are among the most well-liked pedigreed feline species in America because of their elegant, flowing coats, endearing looks, and laid-back personalities.
Although it existed long before the Victorian period, this cat’s renown began during that time. The origins of Persian cats are said to have been in Persia (modern-day Iran) or Turkey in the 1600s, however, their early history is still hazy.
The faces of lap cats, Persian cats are lively, inquisitive, elegant, and affectionate. If you can tolerate a prolific shedder, they make excellent pets since they don’t like to climb or leap.
2. Siamese Cats
Lifespan: 8-12 years
Temperament: Intelligent, trainable, independent, needy, affectionate
Color: Chocolate, seal, lilac, cream, blue, fawn, red, cinnamon
Height: Up to 14 inches
Weight: 8-12 pounds
A cat with remarkable coat colors, brilliant blue eyes, a long, straight nose, a long, triangular head, a slim frame, and a short, silky coat that is close to the body is shown here. Siamese cats are more than simply attractive, however. Additionally, they are quite trainable, loving, outgoing, and indisputably brilliant.
One of the oldest and most storied cat breeds to have come from Asia is this gorgeous feline. Noblemen employed Siamese cats as guard cats because they regarded them as royalty.
A general at the English embassy received the first Siamese cats in Europe as a gift from the King of Siam in 1880.
3. Burmese
Lifespan: 9-13 years
Temperamental: Friendly, affectionate, demanding, people-oriented, alert, active, intelligent
Color: Red, cream, blue, lilac, fawn, chocolate, cinnamon, champagne, platinum
Height: 10-12 inches
Weight: 6-14 pounds
A Burmese cat’s preferred hiding spot is behind the window treatments. They are avid climbers and jumpers. Originating in Burma (modern-day Myanmar), this big, heavily-boned, muscular cat with a short, glossy coat was revered in the country’s temples and monasteries.
When Dr. Joseph C. Thompson arrived in the country in 1930 with a cat he called Wong Mau, these cats also arrived. This cat later served as the “founding” mother of the adorable, affectionate, and almond-eyed Burmese cats you now have in your house.
4. Oriental Shorthair
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Temperament: Loving, curious, talkative, intelligent, loyal, affectionate, extroverts,
Color: Solid colors, smoke, shaded, tabby, bicolor
Height: 9-11 inches
Weight: 8-10 pounds
Oriental Shorthairs resemble Siamese cats in appearance. After World War II, breeders attempted to revive the declining Siamese cat population by producing a green-eyed cat that looked like the Siamese cat but had a variety of coat colors.
Like its Siamese relatives, this cat species is talkative, inquisitive, intellectual, and affectionate. The Oriental Shorthairs get along well with people who have strong personalities, athletic body types, and large ears.
5. Bengal
Lifespan: 12-16 years
Temperament: Intelligent, energetic, playful, confident, alert, social
Color: Golden, brown, orange, rust, sand, ivory
Height: 13-16 inches
Weight: 8-15 pounds
If you encounter a Bengal cat, you can mistake it for a little tiger due to its unique look that resembles its wildcat relatives. These cats, however, are very much household pets in the present day.
In 1963, California-based breeder Jean Mill combined an Asian Leopard cat with a Domestic Shorthair cat to create the Bengal, which has Asian origins. She wanted to make a cat with a domestic cat mentality and an exotic appearance like a large wild cat.
She was successful because these cats have traits from tigers, such as their distinguishing markings and vigor. The fact that these cats like the water, though, is intriguing!
6. Korat
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Temperament: Possessive, loyal, energetic, playful, territorial, quiet,
Color: Blue-gray
Height: 15-18 inches
Weight: 6-10 pounds
The Nakhon Ratchasima province of Thailand is where the Korat cat breeds originate. Even though old artifacts date them to the 13th century, korat cats are uncommon.
This silvery-blue cat, also known as the Si-Sawat cat, is a genuine good luck symbol in its native land. Due to their similarity to Siamese cats and their blue coats, Korat cats were initially introduced to Europe in the 1800s and earned the nickname “blue Siamese.”
7. Japanese Bobtail
Lifespan: 8-12 pounds
Temperament: Active, intelligent, sweet, playful, social, territorial
Color: White, cream, blue, red, brown, tortoiseshell, silver
Height: 8-9 inches
Weight: 6-10 pounds
These cats date back a thousand years, according to Southeast Asian and Japanese artifacts. The most distinguishing characteristics of Japanese Bobtails are their shorter, stubby, bunny-like tails, which are known as the ‘pom’. Their tails are the product of a genetic mutation that occurs spontaneously.
Japanese Bobtail cats are said to have originated in China and Korea, according to some accounts, while others think they were brought to the country from Japan by Japanese monks who employed them to keep vermin away from their scrolls. Before tamed house pets, it was against the law to possess one of these cats.
8. Turkish Angora
Lifespan: 12-18 years
Temperament: Good-natured, playful, controlling, talkative, graceful
Color: White, black, blue, cream, red, spotted tabbies, tortoiseshell
Height: 9-14 inches
Weight: 5-9 pounds
Turkish Angoras are an endemic breed, which means they developed spontaneously without human influence. Around the 1500s, these cats are said to have come from Turkey.
According to some sources, a genetic mutation in an African wildcat resulted in this elegant, graceful cat with a beautiful glossy coat resting on a solid, long muscular physique. On the other hand, some people think that Angoras evolved their long, silky coats to protect them from the harsh weather conditions of Ankara (previously Angora).
These cats are said to be exceptionally clever, friendly, and skilled swimmers by cat fanciers. The most common color of an angora is white, while other hues are possible.
9. Dragon Li
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Temperament: Clever, independent, vigilant, active, fun, friendly
Color: Golden-brown
Height: 12-14 inches
Weight: 9-12 pounds
Small and well-muscled, the Dragon Li breed has a very wild aspect. One of the earliest cat breeds that also developed organically is supposed to go by the name Li Hua Mao, which translates to “fox flower cat” in Chinese.
The Chinese believe the Dragon Li cat breeds to be their national cat, despite their rarity outside of China. These cats can provide your home with many hours of entertainment. Dragon Li cats, on the other hand, are not cuddlers and will not like lying on your lap.
10. Tonkinese
Lifespan: 10-16 years
Temperament: Playful, affectionate, intelligent, people-oriented, curios
Color: Medium-brown, blue, champagne, platinum
Height: 12-15 inches
Weight: 6-12 pounds
Tonkinese cats are a relatively recent breed, having been created in 1960 when a breeder combined a Siamese cat with a Burmese cat to produce a cat with the greatest qualities of both breeds. In contrast to the Siamese’s long body and harsh voice, this cat has a moderate body type and a less penetrating voice.
These cats possess the same qualities as the Siamese and Burmese: they are amiable, affectionate, and intellectual. These cat breeds, sometimes referred to as “The Tonk,” are demanding of their owners’ time and love and won’t stop until you pay attention to them.
11. Thai
Lifespan: 12-16 years
Temperament: Curious, intelligent, companionable, determined, mischievous, talkative
Color: Pale off-white body, seal, lilac, chocolate, red, flame, lynx points
Height: 21-23 inches
Weight: 8-15 pounds
The naturally occurring breed of Thai cat is renowned for being cheerful, sociable, and kind. These felines originated in Thailand, where they were also referred to as “Wichienmaat,” which translates to “moon diamond.”
These affectionate, short-haired cats have distinctive blue eyes, off-white body coats, and black limbs (dark-brown hair on the face, ears, paws, and tail.) They have friendly, canine-like attitudes, which attract cat lovers.
12. Raas
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Temperament: Stubborn, energetic, playful, aggressive, aloof, clean, independent
Color: Cinnamon, blue, black, lilac, chocolate, brown
Length: 2 ft
Weight: 15 pounds
A secluded island in Indonesia named Raas, which runs 250 km east of Java, is home to a unique species of cats known as Raas cats. These cats are seldom seen outside of Raas island.
Because of their exquisite appearance, resemblance to a jungle cat or a leopard, greater size, and shared qualities with the Raas cat breed, the Siamese and Burmese are easily distinguished from other cat breeds.
Their faces have a somewhat square appearance, with slightly widened dark-green, oval-shaped eyes, virtually tapering chins, and bent tails. The Raas cat is active, obstinate, lively, and unadaptable with attitudes that make them difficult to please. It often comes in gray or mink.
13. Singapura
Lifespan: 11-15 years
Temperament: Lively, self-assured, affectionate, energetic, reserved, friendly, playful
Color: sepia-toned, chocolate, brown, sable, beige, cream
Height: 6-8 inches
Weight: 4-8 pounds
The Singapura cat breeds, pronounced “sing-uh-poor-uh,” are little cats that have a lot of personality. These entertaining and somewhat uncommon cats have a complicated and contentious past.
At first, Tommy and Hal Meadow, two cat lovers, recommended they import three Singapura cats from Singapore. Singapore learned several years later that the couple had really imported the three cats to Singapore from the United States.
However, DNA research suggests that the Singapura is a hybrid of a Burmese and an Abyssinian cat, and that the Meadows initially bred them in America before bringing them back to Singapore.
The Singapura cat breed, the tiniest domestic cat with huge eyes, ears, and a lovely coat, is unrelated to the common street cats in Singapore.
Conclusion
Given that Asia is the most populated and biggest continent, it is not unexpected that so many of the cat breeds that have long been cherished on the continent are now common household names in America and other parts of the globe.
Questions & Answers:
What are some well-known Asian cat breeds?
Prominent Asian cat breeds include the Siamese, Burmese, Japanese Bobtail, Bengal, and the Persian, which has ancestral connections to the Middle East and Asia.
What is the origin of the Siamese cat, and what makes it unique?
Siamese cats originate from Thailand (formerly Siam) and are known for their striking blue almond-shaped eyes, short coat, and vocal, affectionate nature.
What is the temperament of Burmese cats?
Burmese cats are renowned for their social, playful, and affectionate disposition. They enjoy interaction with their human companions.
Are Asian cat breeds known for any specific health concerns?
While each breed may have its unique health considerations, some Asian cat breeds, such as the Persian, can be prone to respiratory and dental issues due to their distinct facial structure.
Do Asian cat breeds have grooming requirements?
Grooming needs vary among Asian cat breeds. Long-haired breeds like the Persian require regular brushing, while short-haired breeds like the Siamese need minimal grooming. Understanding the specific breed’s grooming needs is essential for their care.
