The smallest cat breeds in the world are fascinating adorable cats with incredible stature. There are many benefits of owning these small cats. They can enrich their owners' life with unwavering affection and company.
In addition, it can help you feel less stressed and have better heart health if you have them. Having a cat as a pet may be a very gratifying experience with these small cats as well.
Among about 73 cat breeds existing, these are the world's smallest cat breeds 2024, they are,
- Singapura
- Skookum Cat
- Munchkin
- LaPerm
- Dwelf cat
- Lambkin
- Toybob
- Oriental Longhair
- Cornish Rex
- Siamese
- Turkish Angora
- Devon Rex
- Somali
And two more of these amazing miniature cats, check out their height, weight, and lots more.
Keep reading!
1. Rusty Spotted Cat- The Smallest Cat in the World
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| Image credit: Davidvraju |
Avg. height: 8 inches (Approx. 20 cm)
Avg. length: 13-19 inches (35-48 cm), head and body
length (HB)
Avg. tail length: 5.9-11 inches (15-30 cm)
Avg. weight: 2.2-3.5 lbs (1.0-1.6 kg)
Lifespan: 12 years (in captivity)
It is the smallest wild cat in the world and it is exceptionally amazing because it is smaller than any domesticated cat you may have at home, as in most cases wild cats are expected to be larger. It really looks very similar to domesticated cats only that it is more playful and has predatory instinct, they are fierce hunters.
Due to its size as a mature one look like a kitten and from its weight mentioned above, officially it is the smallest feline in the world. If you will like to see this cat in its natural habitat, then you have to travel to Sri Lanka, India, and Nepal. Even though there are few cats in Nepal compared to the other two countries mentioned.
They can be found on rocky hill slopes, arid scrubland, wooded grassland, wooded grassland, and dry forest. Sadly, the number of rusty-spotted cats is decreasing as there are about 10,000 at the present.
2. Singapura
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| Raw Singapura and Pedigreed Singapura side by side. Image credit: Straits Singapuras |
Avg. height: 6–8 inches (15-20 cm)
Avg. length: 9-12 inches (23-30 cm)
Avg. weight: 1.8-3.6 kg (4-8 lbs)
Lifespan: 11-15 years
With its small size and weight, Singapura is the smallest cat breed in the world in 2024. It is the smallest domesticated cat anyone that who loves small cats can own. It always stays small; they are micro size compares to other domesticated cats.
Even after they have attained maturity at the age of two years, they look like a kitten, it's one of the cats that stays small. They have large ears and saucer-shaped eyes that can be yellow, green, or hazel. They are friendly cats to people and other pets. They are easy to groom and maintain.
They are good for people who are first-time pet owners as they are easy to train. It’s a cat that can be considered by those who are allergic to fur, as it is one of the smallest hypoallergenic cats, its fur does not shed excessively.
They are playful, intelligent, assertive, and always crave the
attention of humans. They are energetic as they like scaling cupboards, leaping
to great heights, and even riding on their owners' shoulders.
3. Skookum Cat
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| Image credit: Omlet.us |
Avg. height: 5 – 6 inches (12.7-15.2cm)
Avg. length: -
Avg. weight: 3 – 7 Ibs (1.36 - 3.18kg)
Lifespan: 10-15 years
It is a sweet little cat with curls around its eyebrows. Some love them because of their curly coats that can be long or short. They are also loved for their size, being among the top 10 smallest cats in the world.
The Skookum cat is commonly called the Shirley Temple of the feline world due to its small height, lovable nature, and curly hair. It was in the 1990s that this new hybrid dwarf cat breed started to emerge in the USA.
It is a cross-breed between LaPerm and Munchkins cats, so it could display any of its parents' breed temperaments. It is a curious intelligent cat that is lively and playful. It gets along well with kids and other pets.
If you like to own this cat, be prepared to buy toys
as it can stimulate them because they love to play with their high energy. Due to
their curly coats, they may appear to be expensive to care for; they are
actually low maintenance breed. You only need to brush its fur with a cat brush two times a week.
4. Munchkin
Avg. height: 5-7 inches (12.7-17.8cm)
Avg. length: 11-14 inches (28-35.6cm)
Avg. weight: 6-9 Ibs (2.7-4.0kg)
Lifespan: 12-15 years
They are sociable, fun-loving, affectionate, and energetic cats. It is undeniably one of the smallest cat breeds in the world in 2024 as well as one of the cutest cats too. Due to its distinctive appearance, some cat lovers adore it while some despise the cat.
Some referred to Munchkin as the Dachshund of the cat world. While some see it as the "sausage cat," a title that also belongs to the adore "wiener dog." It is a new breed that just gets legitimized in recent years by The International Cat Association.
They are rare cats that come about by genetic mutation. They like to explore the environment around them, and with their small size, they will jump and run.
Provided there is
room to play and run around, the cat is suitable for the majority of indoor
living situations. You can occasionally bathe them and brush their fur at least
weekly but for long hair cats, their fur should be brushed more often.
5. LaPerm
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| Image credit: Bebopscrx |
Avg. height: 6-10 inches (15-25 cm)
Avg. length: 12-16 inches (30-41 cm)
Avg. weight: 6-10 lb (2.7-4.5 kg)
Lifespan: 10–15 years
It got its name from its curly furs that is springy curls and soft waves that look like the human perm hairstyle. This beautiful unique fur which can be long or short is a product of genetic mutation.
This breed does not relate to Cornish rex or Devon rex. The majority of LaPerms have loose waves on the rest of their bodies and tight ringlets of fur close to their stomach, neck, and ears.
They are cats that can be owned by people with allergies since they do not shed much. They love human attention so they look for every opportunity to be with their owners. They are gentle affectionate lap cats that are inquisitive.
They are slow to attain maturity; it takes about 2
or 3 years for females while some cat breed only takes about 12 months. Similar
to other cats, they too require regular grooming of their claws, cleaning of
their ears, and upkeep of their litter box.
See also:
6. Dwelf cat
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| Image credit: Thediscerningcat.com |
Avg. height: 6-7 inches (15.2-17.8cm)
Avg. length: -
Avg. weight: 4-9 lbs (1.8-4.0kg)
Lifespan: 12-15 years
It is a new small-size hairless cat breed. Apparently, the word "dwarf" and "elf" are combined to form its name. It is a breed from 3 breeds crossed together, the Sphynx, the American Curl, and the Munchkin.
Since it is developed from multiple breeds, this breed is referred to as a designer cat breed. Some people considered them as having dog-like personalities as they are interactive and highly social. They really love to be around people, and for this, they should not be left alone for long; they should be included in family activities.
Since they are hairless, you will notice they
have wrinkles on their shoulders and legs. They have large round ears that are curved toward each other. Additionally, the Dwelf also has an extended body and little
legs like other dwarf cat breeds.
7. Lambkin
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| Image credit: Localkittensforsale.com |
Avg. height: 7–8 inches (17.7-20.3 cm)
Avg. length: -
Avg. weight: 5–9 Ibs (2.3-4 kg)
Lifespan: 12–15 years
It is one of the top 10 smallest cat breeds in the world in 2024 also referred to as Nanus Rex. The breed is produced by a female American breeder in 1987 or 1991. It is an easy-going gentle breed. They make great family pets as they are sweet with warm personalities.
You can buy toys for them and you can as well always find time to interact with them as they are sociable. It has remarkable fur as well as an intrigued tail. And if you watch this cat very well, you will realize that the tail is really long, curled, and fluffy, as well as tapers to a curvy tip.
When newly born, their coat
is usually curly, then it will straighten up and curl back again at the time
they are around 10 months. Although its
fur looks like a wool coat, it is actually soft, even so, it is
important to brush their fur daily.
Avg. height: 7-9 inches (20-25cm)
Avg. length: -
Avg. weight: 3–7 lbs (1.3-3.8 kg)
Lifespan: 15 years
Toybob is a breed of its own, even though it has a bobtail that does not connect it with the American Bobtail or Manx. Elena Krasnichenko discovered this breed in 1983 in Russia. It is certainly one of the smallest cat breeds in the world as it is a Perma-Kitten.
It is like they rarely completely grow out of the kitten stage, thus they maintain their youthful vitality until old age. From its weight mentioned above, a mature grown-up look like a kitten of 3 to 4 month old.
And its miniature size, as they stay tiny does not prone to any health issues. Its fur which can be semi-long or short is easy to groom. Its hair can be brushed once or twice a week. They are extremely playful cats, they are extraordinary climbers and they have agility to spare.
They are cats that have an intense love for their
family and get along well with other pets. Despite their diminutive size, this
cat has a strong sense of duty and will serve as a bodyguard for their beloved
individual.
9. Oriental Longhair
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| Image credit: Tica.org |
Avg. height: 8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
Avg. length: 12-15 inches (30-38 cm)
Avg. weight: 5-10 lbs (2.3-4.5 kg)
Lifespan: 8-12 years
It is also called Mandarin, Javanese, and British angora. It is a cat breed descended from the Siamese. It is distinguished by its extraordinary lengths, which include its tapering tail, lofty ears, long legs, and a long head. Its eyes are almond in shape, and it is small to a medium cat in size.
Its eyes can be blue or green. From this cat's physique, it is elegant and dignified. They are intelligent, curious, and energetic cats. Their coat color can be chocolate, cream, white, silver, bi-colored, and tabby.
They are gentle towards dogs and other cats. Since they are curious and love to explore, they are trainable, and this will make them feel stimulated.
Due to the fact that they do not have a double coat,
intensive grooming is not required. If you will like to own this cat, it is vital
to feed them with a highly nutritive diet. This is because they are susceptible
to periodontal disease.
See also:
10. Cornish Rex
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| Image credit: Tomi Tapio K from Helsinki, Finland |
Avg. height: 8-1 inches (20-30 cm)
Avg. length: 12-17 inches (30-43 cm)
Avg. weight: 5-10 lbs (2.3-4.5 kg)
Lifespan: 14-20 years
It has the unique feature of having large ears, big eyes slender, and a long body. It has a soft curly coat as it lacks an outer coat that is long. If you touch its fur, it feels like velvet. They are extremely curious, playful, and highly energetic.
This cat looks fragile because they are extremely slender. If you bring home its kitten, you need to provide everything needed to make it explore on its own. You can provide it with two cat trees. This cat loves everyone around them; they interact well with children since they are playful.
It goes along well with other cats and dogs. It is a low-maintenance breed because its coat is short, yet it needs occasional brushing. Excess brushing can have negative effects as its hair is delicate. Other ways to keep it healthy include trimming its nails, cleaning its litter box, and brushing its teeth.
Generally, they are healthy breeds as they do not have genetic or hereditary health issues.
For this, they have a longer lifespan, and it is very common for them to live for 20
years.
11. Siamese
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| Image credit: Karin Langner-Bahmann |
Avg. height: 8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
Avg. length: 11.5-14 inches (29-36 cm)
Avg. weight: 8-10 lbs (3.6-4.5 kg)
Lifespan: 11-15 years
Siamese is of two types, the Modern Siamese and the Traditional Siamese. Rounder lines are the main distinctive feature of traditional Siamese while the modern has a leaner longer appearance. All this breed of cat has almond-shaped blue eyes.
They are beautiful cats on the list of the smallest cats. Even though, they are small to medium size cats depending on various factors. They are popular Asian cats that are originally bred from Siam (now known as Thailand) sacred temple cats.
They have a distinct voice compared to other cats, they are highly intelligent and many cat
lovers love them for their inquisitive nature. Being left alone for a very long
time can have a negative effect on them. They do have a deep bond with a single
person that they may choose in the family.
12. Turkish Angora
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| Image credit: Ankarakediler |
Avg. height: 8-10inches (20-25 cm)
Avg. length: 14-16 inches (36-41 cm)
Avg. weight: 5-10 lbs (2.3-4.5 kg)
Lifespan: 12-18 years
The Angora is a naturally occurring breed that was not created by humans and has at least a 1500-year history in Turkey. Angoras can be any color or pattern, like calico, or tabby, despite the common misconception that they are white cats with green or blue eyes.
They are one of the smallest fluffy cat breeds as well as one of the cutest cats. It’s obvious why this breed is revered as a national treasure in its native country.
This cat is frequently
compared to a ballerina because of its plumed tail, long silky coat, fine-boned
elegance, and wedge-shaped head. If you will like to own these cats, always keep
them safe from roads, illnesses spread by other kitties, and animal assaults.
See also:
13. Devon Rex
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| This is a 10-year-old Devon Rex male that likes to play with shopping bags, which is one of his favourite hobbies. Image credit: Sara Flavin |
Avg. height: 10-12 inches (25-30 cm)
Avg. length: 15-18 inches (38-46 cm)
Avg. weight: 6-9 lbs (2.7-4.1 kg)
Lifespan: 9-15 years
It is not a popular breed and is a little bit expensive. These interesting cats enjoy playing, climbing, and acting funny. They are perfect for active owners who have a significant amount of energy and time to devote to them.
You should not think and expect these incredibly sociable cats to be timid and quiet pets because they really like people and enjoy making new friends. Their hair is fine and wavy, and they have adorable curls.
Their coats are particularly short on their abdomen, chest, paws, neck, ears, and around their head. They are in different colors, white, lilac, cinnamon, chocolate, blue, and black.
The Cornish rex looks similar to this breed, they both have a curly coat, only that the Cornish rex has a slender face and long coat. They are outgoing, friendly, and intelligent cats of the breed. They are sociable, they love to be around people, they interact well with kids and they get along with other pets as well.
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14. Somali
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| Image credit: AbuDun91919 |
Avg. height: 8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
Avg. length: 11-14 inches (28-36 cm).
Avg. weight: 9-12 lbs (4.1-5.4 kg)
Lifespan: 12-15 years
It is a great breed as a family pet. They are identified with their bold facial markings, big pointed ears, and large almond eyes. It is one of the cats that stays small and it is fluffy.
They are energetic, gregarious, intelligent, and sociable cats. They are cats that have personalities very close to dogs. Some are highly intelligent that they learn tricks easily and love to perform.
They like to accompany their owners all the time. It is a playful cat that like bonding with humans and other pets. If you own this cat, be assured that there are no dull moments with them. Their fur colors include blue, fawn, ruddy, and red.
This cat looks very similar to the Abyssinian cat. Because of its appearance, having a bushy tail, some referred to it as the fox cat. Exercise is important to them, it is a way of making them happy.
15. Abyssinian
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| Image credit: Karin Langner-Bahmann |
Avg. height: 8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
Avg. length: 12-16 inches (30-41 cm)
Avg. weight: 8-12 lbs (3.6-5.4 kg)
Lifespan: 9-13 years
They are extremely intelligent and incredibly curious cats. Their eyes are almond-shaped that are of shades of green or gold. It has broad ears and a wedge-shaped, yet rounded head.
They will always be eager to explore the nook and crevice of where they are. Due to their tendency to catch anything their eyes see, they are also referred to as "Aby-grabbys". Since it is energetic, it is a cat that enjoys jumping and climbing.
For this, owners are advised to have a selection of toys on hand to keep them amused, including brain-testing puzzle toys. Its coat color includes fawn, blue, red, and brown. Its fur needs to be groomed every week and during the shedding season, they need to be bathed.
What are your thoughts about the world’s smallest cats 2024? Let us hear from you in the comments section below (Post a comment) and please share this article. You can as well follow us on our social media handles or you can subscribe to our mailing list. Thanks for reading!
The first five are actually small cute cats.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are right. They are miniature cats
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