Norwegian Forest

These gorgeous fluffballs love to cuddle with you, maybe as a way of apologizing for their long hair, which you might find all over the house. These big cats, called skogkatt in Norway, love to run, jump and climb. If you like kittens, the Norwegian Forest may be right for you, as cats of this breed can take five years to completely mature.

Egyptian Mau

These fast and athletic cats can be shy around strangers, but are affectionate with family. Their distinctive spotted coat is beautiful, and Egyptian Mau cats typically have sparkling green eyes. They are small- to medium-sized, and unlike many cats, they actually like to get wet!

Siamese

This breed is known not only for its piercing blue eyes and sleek, distinctively colored coat, but it’s also famous for its chattiness–they’re happy to talk all day long. They’re intelligent, friendly and playful, and they can be trained to walk on a leash and even play fetch!

Domestic shorthair

Walk into any shelter and you’ll likely see lots of cats labeled as “domestic shorthair.” These varied sweeties are the “mutts” of the cat world. They’re a hodgepodge of intermixed breeds, some of which are lovey-dovey and others of which are a bit more standoffish. They can be any color and size.

American shorthair

American shorthair, on the other hand, is indeed a specific breed of cat. These cats have compact and muscular bodies with rounded heads and prominent cheeks. They’re friendly cats that are always happy to get a chin scratch.

Photography: Pinterest/blog.mystart.com

Sphynx

Perfect for folks who don’t like to vacuum every day or who have allergies, Sphynx are hairless cats that are friendly and full of personality. They tend to squawk a lot, and they don’t like to be left alone, so this might be a good breed for someone who works from home.

Chartreux

Aficionados of rare breeds are attracted to Chartreux’s dense blue-gray coat and lovely gold eyes. This quiet cat is good for families, but tends to bond with just one family member and remain very loyal to that person. Chartreux cats are excellent hunters and were historically kept by farmers to control rat populations.