If your wish is to be able to play with a tiny cat, forget about the Maine Coon, the largest domestic feline. Most other cat breeds grow older and get bigger as well. That means that there is only one solution—find a cat breed that will stay small its entire life. Here is a list of the top 7 small cat breeds.
These cats stay small!
These cat breeds remain small even as adults. With that being said, they do not stay the same size as they were when they were kittens.
Singapura
As its name suggests, this cat most likely originated in Singapore. However, it was bred in the United States. It is the tourism mascot of Singapore. Out of all the cats on this list, the Singapura is the winner when it comes to its small size. They do not weigh more than 2.7 kg ( ≈ 6 lbs) and generally do exceed 25 cm ( ≈ 9.8 in).
The Singapura is a particularly curious cat that loves to climb on anything and everything. In addition, these cats are super intelligent and calm! With that being said, this breed is also very active and playful. While these cats are great hunters, they are apartment cats.
When it comes to their looks, they have a round head and almond-shaped eyes bordered with black.
Korat
This small cat originated in Thailand. It is typicaly 25 cm and only weighs a few pounds. In Thailand, it is considered a lucky charm. Its calmness is so relaxing. As they are super calm cats, they do not like noise. For this reason, they would not appreaciate living in a large family with children. When it comes to their color, it is gray like the Chartreux and the Russian Blue. They are also muscular cats! But it isn’t just for looks, these cats are small fighting cats. In addition, this cat breed does not shed, meaning that grooming it is relatively easy. It is important to note that this cat is predisposed to respiratory illnesses.
The Korat can learn tricks. They are very loyal to their owners and can play for hours. They do, however, need a little peace and quiet from time to time. Korats makes excellent apartment cats.
Skookum
This North American cat is the result of a cross between a Laperm with curly hair and a Munchkin, which is a cat that is known for its very small size. This crossing was successful and has resulted in one of the smallest cat breeds. It is still a relatively new breed, controversial and observed. However, it is very easy to live with. Its “curly” hair and tiny size is so adorable. They are only about 15 to 16 cm. With that being said, it is important to brush them regularly in order to avoid knots. They love it! You also need to be available for them as much as possible and let children play nicely with him. The Skookum is an affectionate companion and ideal if you like to play.
Munchkin
The Munchkin is a very small cat. Its maximum size is 23 cm and it usually weighs around 2 to 4 kg ( ≈ 4.4 to 8.8 lbs) . The Munckin is a great hunter and loves to play. It really enjoys the company of humans, dogs, and other cats. It is a modern breed from the 80’s, created in the United States from domestic cats naturally born with short legs. However, the origin of its very short legs is a genetic mutation, which can lead to long term health problems. Be sure to ask about the health history of this cat if you are considering this type of breed.
This cat breed is discreet, able to stay alone during the day and welcome you when you come back home with lots of meows. Like all cats, they like to eat, so it is necessary to make sure that they exercise enough.
Cornish Rex
With curly whiskers just like their coat, Cornish Rexes are by far one of the friendliest and smallest cat breeds! Its atypical physical characteristics make it irresistible. It is also relatively easy to groom these cats because of their short hair. These cats are playful and cuddly, making them the ideal companion for children. Moreover, this cat does not like to be alone. They use their meows to attract their owner’s attention. It is said that this cat uses its front paws as little hands, grabbing its owner’s hands to bring them to it and kiss them. Isn’t that adorable?
Devon Rex
The Devon Rex is a British kitty! It is the biggest of the “small” cats, weighing around 2 to 4 kg (≈ 4.4 to 8.8 lbs) and measuring around 30 cm (≈ 11.8 in). This breed has a conical face with high cheekbones, curly hair, a pointed muzzle, and large oval eyes. Its physical appearance is actually quite unique! It exists in several colors: white, red, black and white, tortoiseshell, white and more.
The Devon Rex will demand a lot of your attention and always wants to be petted. You can teach this cat to do tricks like a dog because it is very intelligent.
Balinese
Descendant of the Siamese, originating from the United States, the Balinese is the perfect cuddly companion. Endowed with physical particularities such as a sort of mask on its face, semi-long hair, a long tail, and small size. It is simply magnificent. In addition, it is a talkative cat. It communicates a lot to claim attention and needs a lot of caresses. Like many cats, they are very sensitive to human emotions and will adapt their behavior according to your mood.
These cats still look like kittens when they are adults!
All of these cat breeds will hardly change physically as they become adults. In fact, when they reach adulthood, their body will still resemble that of a kitten. Depending on the breed, a normal-sized cat typically weighs around 3 to 10 kg (≈ 6.6 to 22 lbs).
All of the small cat breeds listed in this article are officially recognized by cat federations and organizations around the world. However, many of the crosses are subject to rather dubious experiments. It’s important to keep in mind that the Munchkin cat’s mutations can be detrimental to its health and well-being.
Other small cat breeds
There are a few other small breeds that could also be part of this list. For example, the Exotic Shorthair, which is more stocky than small, is the fruit of an attempt to improve the American Shorthair. The Donskoy is also a small cat that is extremely rare cat in parts of the world such as France, where there are only about 20 of them. It is a hairless cat like the Sphynx. Lastly, we have the American Curl, which is a little bigger than the small cat breeds listed in this article. This cat breed only grows up to about 5 kg (≈ 11 lbs) and has curled ears.
These cat breeds are closely followed by the cat federations and associations. For some breeds, some crosses are absolutely forbidden.
Price
When choosing one of these 7 small cat breeds to adopt, it’s important to take into account their weight and size, their grooming, their personality, their physical appearance, their genetic characteristics, and their price. While these cat breeds are pets, some of these cat breeds are show cats as well. For example, some of these cat breeds cat only be bought from dedicated pet stores or breeders. Less expensive cats typically cost around 500 and 1,000 euros/dollars. When it comes to show cats, they can cost several thousands of euros/dollars.
While these small cat breeds differ in a few ways, they are all beautiful little fur balls who will appreciate being taken care of and will show your their affection in return.