20 Stunning White Cat Breeds Every Feline Lover Should Discover
Cats come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, including white cat breeds. Pure white cats are fairly rare in the general cat population, as they require a gene that hides every other possible coat color and pattern in a cat’s genetic makeup. Examples include the khao manee, Turkish Angora, and American shorthair.
These cats may have short or long coats and can belong to a single breed or be mixed breeds. They often have light-colored eyes.
If you want to adopt one of these striking felines, here are 20 cat breeds that are known to produce white cats.
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American Shorthair
American shorthairs, the pedigree version of domestic shorthairs, are friendly, easygoing cats that come in dozens of colors and patterns—white cats included. These cats tend to be adaptable to various living situations. They enjoy spending time with their favorite humans, but they’re also good at entertaining themselves with interactive toys.
Breed Overview
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Devon Rex
With big eyes and prominent cheekbones, the Devon rex has a somewhat cartoonish appearance. Their short, wavy coat can come in white, along with a variety of other colors. These cats tend to be active and playful. Their friendly nature often makes them a good fit for families with children and other pets.
Breed Overview
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European Shorthair
The European shorthair is one of the most common and oldest cat breeds in Europe. Besides white, the breed features a range of coat colors and patterns and typically has amber, blue, or green eyes. These cats are generally affectionate, playful, and intelligent, and they do well in various environments.
Breed Overview
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Maine Coon
Known for a thick, long coat, the Maine coon comes in many color and pattern combinations, including solids, tabbies, and tortoiseshells. Traditionally, Maine coons are brown tabbies. These cats tend to be friendly and laid-back. Most find it easy to get along with everyone, including children, strangers, and other pets.
Breed Overview
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Oriental Shorthair
The slender, athletic Oriental can come in many different colors, including white. These cats are typically quite lively, chatty, and personable, and they love attention. Some can become so attached to their favorite humans that it can be difficult to adjust to losing a family member.
Breed Overview
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Persian
White has become the coat color most associated with Persians, so they should be on a list of the best white cat breeds. However, they can come in a variety of other colors and patterns, too. Their long, flowing coats are fairly high-maintenance, requiring daily brushing to remove tangles and mats. Persians are generally sweet, easygoing lap cats that prefer quiet and predictable environments.
Breed Overview
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Siamese
Pure white Siamese cats lack the classic darker-colored “points” on the ears, face, legs, and tail. Moreover, all Siamese kittens are born white, developing darker colors as they grow. These cats love their families and prefer to be the center of attention. They’re also quite vocal and will let their humans know when they want something.
Breed Overview
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Siberian
Strong and agile, Siberians possess three layers of dense fur and come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Their thick coat is fairly low-maintenance, requiring brushing a couple of times a week, though they do have periods of heavy shedding. Siberians like adventure, so expect them to climb all over your home as they play and explore.
Breed Overview
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Turkish Angora
The Turkish Angora is another white cat breed, and this is a natural breed that can be traced back several hundred years in Turkey. These cats are commonly pictured as white but can come in black, blue, red, and more colors and patterns. They tend to be energetic and assertive, and they need ample interactive play to keep them happy.
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Turkish Van
Most Turkish vans are primarily white with color on the head and tail, so they’re also one of the top white cat breeds. They are typically active cats that like to jump, run, and play. And they are known for enjoying swimming, thanks to their muscular build and water-repellent coat. Most are not particularly fond of being held, but they do appreciate petting and being near their favorite humans.
Breed Overview
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British Shorthair
Another popular white cat breed that also comes in various other colors and patterns is the British shorthair. This cat is medium to large and has a dense, short coat. They have adorable features like a rounded face and head that give them the appearance of a teddy bear. Plus, they are sweet, calm, and friendly, so they make great family pets.
Breed Overview
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Norwegian Forest Cat
Featuring a beautifully long and dense coat, the Norwegian forest cat comes in a variety of colors and patterns, including white, and can also have white markings. These cats are known for being independent yet affectionate, and they make good family pets but they aren’t lap cats. They’re best for pet parents who don’t mind having to brush their cats often.
Breed Overview
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Cornish Rex
The unique Cornish rex has a distinct curly coat that can come in white. These affectionate cats are interactive and playful. Also, their coat doesn’t shed much, and they are considered hypoallergenic, so they can be a good option for those with allergies. But they can be needy and demand your attention, so if you are too busy, this wouldn’t be the right breed for you.
Breed Overview
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Scottish Fold
Another unique looking white cat breed is the Scottish fold, thanks to their folded ears. Though white is a popular color, this breed can feature various other colors as well. Hailing from Scotland, this breed has a sweet temperament and can get along well with kids and other pets, so they are yet another option when searching for a family pet.
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Khao Manee
The rare khao manee is a pure white cat breed from Thailand that developed naturally hundreds of years ago. These cats have a silky coat, they are outgoing, and they like getting plenty of attention from their humans. Also called the “diamond eye cat,” they also have jewel-like eyes that can be blue, gold, green, or odd (each eye is a different color).
Breed Overview
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Exotic Shorthair
Although they are similar appearance to a Persian, the exotic shorthair has a shorter coat that doesn’t require as much grooming. These cats get along with kids and other pets, and unlike some other breeds, don’t have a high energy level and don’t need a lot of human interaction to be happy. They come in multiple colors and patterns, including white.
Breed Overview
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Russian White
The Russian white is basically a white version of the popular Russian blue. The breed dates back to 1971 when a Siberian was bred with a Russian blue, leading to a cat that had a white coat. These cats are calm and loyal, and they bond strongly with their humans, so they need plenty of attention and interaction daily.
Breed Overview
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Japanese Bobtail
If you are looking for a cat that has a shorter tail, the Japanese bobtail is worth considering. Often resembling the bushy tail of a rabbit, this cat’s tail can also be kinked, bent, or straight. These cats can have long or short hair, and come in various colors and patterns. They’re sociable and playful and make wonderful companions.
Breed Overview
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Ragdoll
The Ragdoll is a large cat with a silky coat that doesn’t shed as much as you would think because there is no undercoat. These cats are born solid white, but as they grow, their coat begins to show colors on the face, ears, legs, and tail—this is known as the colorpoint pattern. It can take two years for the coat’s color to fully develop.
Breed Overview
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Balinese
The Balinese is a vocal cat that will demand your attention, though they are generally quieter than the chatty Siamese. These cats are intelligent, friendly, and playful, and they are related to the Siamese because they are the result of a genetic mutation that gave Siamese cats a longer coat. For this reason, they’re also known as the long-haired Siamese.
