Small cat breeds – a list of the smallest cats in the world!

All cats are cute, but small cats are especially adorable. Let’s talk about small cat breeds that stay like kittens forever!

“Good things come in small packages,” this expression is certainly true in the case of small cat breeds. Cats come in different sizes, ranging from large tiger-like cats to the small cats that are only slightly bigger than a large mouse. Smaller cats are high in demand due to their adorable looks, great personalities, and loveable behavior. Many people love kittens, and they want their cats to stay tiny throughout their lives.

Are you a fan of small, kitten-size cats? Do you want your cat to stay small even when it is fully grown? If yes, then you are in the right place. Let’s discuss some of the smallest cat breeds that stay small forever.

List of the Smal Cat Breeds

1. The Singapura

Smallest of them all is the Singapura, or the Drain Cat, that ranges from only four to eight pounds. Along with its small size, the Singapura has a muscular body and a silky short hair coat. It has big ears and eyes with a blunt tail. The 32nd most popular cat by the CFA, the Singapura is commonly found in a brown ticking pattern. It is very curious, interactive, intelligent, loyal and affectionate. It is also very friendly to children and fellow pets. In short, it is the perfect family cat.

2. The Munchkin

The Munchkin is an all-in-one cat: it is small, it is cute, and it is hypoallergenic. This breed from the United States ranges from five to nine pounds. It has a silky hair coat that comes in both shorthair and longhair varieties. The Munchkin cats are very easy going, intelligent and energetic. They love playing and running with their cute tiny legs. These cats come in a wide variety of colors with different patterns. They don’t have many health problems. They are also good with children and fellow pets.

3. The Cornish Rex

The Cornish Rex is another small cat breed that is also hypoallergenic. This 13th most popular cat breed on the CFA’s list ranges from five to nine pounds. The shorthair coat of the Cornish Rex is extremely soft and silky. These cats are usually healthy and have minimum grooming requirements due to their Rex hair coat. They come in a wide variety of colors. They are excellent indoor pets as they are very active, playful, intelligent, affectionate, and good with everyone.

Smallest Cat Breeds: Singapura, Munchkin and The Cornish Rex

4. The Devon Rex

The Devon Rex is very popular among cat lovers due to its Rex haircoat, unique looks, hypoallergenic nature, and excellent pet qualities. It has a characteristic “Elfin look” due to which it is also known as the Pixie cat, the Alien cat or the Poodle cat. This breed originates from the United States and ranges from five to ten pounds in weight. This curly-shorthaired breed has the 11th place on the popularity list of the CFA. These cats make strong bonds with their owners.

5. The Minskin

Developed by a cross between the Munchkin and the Sphynx, the Minskin is yet another small cat breed from the United States. Registered by TICA, this breed has excellent pet qualities. Cats of this breed look very cute with their short legs, similar to the Munchkin. The Minskin has fur only on points or extremities, making it almost hairless. For the development of the Minskin, The Devon Rex and the Burmese has also been used. It is a great family cat with minimum or no shedding.

6. The American Curl

With its beautiful backward-curling ears as a distinctive feature, the American Curl is another small breed from the USA that weighs from five to ten pounds. Cats of this breed are extremely active and affectionate. They have well-proportioned bodies with soft and silky short hair or semi-longhair coats. 33rd on the popularity list of the CFA, the American Curl comes in a variety of colors. It is very adaptable, curious and intelligent as well as child-friendly and pet-friendly. Also, it is low maintenance and less noisy.

Small Cat Breeds: Devon Rex, Minskin and The American Curl

7. The Siamese

The Siamese, also known as the Siam or the Thai Cat, originates from Thailand and weighs between 8-15 pounds. It is one of the oldest cat breeds and also one of the most affectionate and human-friendly ones. Its distinctive feature is its deep, expressive, blue-colored, almond-shaped eyes, making it look intelligent, innocent and cute. It is the 12th on the popularity list of the CFA. Its soft and silky short hair coat comes in different colors and usually in the point pattern.

8. The Japanese Bobtail

The 22nd most popular cat by the CFA, The Japanese Bobtail or the Japanese Truncated Cat has an unusual ‘bobbed’ tail that looks more like a rabbit’s tail. This cat is highly affectionate, playful, and full of energy. Originating from Japan, this cat is found all over the world now, and it weighs between 5-10 pounds. The Japanese Bobtail is very interactive with its owners and fellow pets. It is available in both shorthair and longhair varieties and almost every color.

9. The Napoleon

Also known as the Minuet Cat, the Napoleon is a relatively recent addition in the cat world. It is a domestic hybrid cat, developed by crossing the Munchkin either with the Persian or with the Exotic Shorthair. This breed is short-legged with a face similar to the doll-faced Persian, a combination that makes it look very cute and adorable. It comes in both shorthair and longhair varieties. Despite their short legs, cats of this breed love jumping and running.

10. The Oriental

Closely related to the Siamese Cat, the Oriental weighs between 5-10 pounds. Also known as the Oriental Shorthair, it has a beautiful and glossy short hair coat. Cat lovers sometimes call it the color remake of the original black-and-white Siamese as it resembles the Siamese in its head and body type as well as in its personality, but it is available in a wider range of coat colors and patterns. Cats of this breed from the United States have colorful personalities, and they make strong bonds with their owners.

Small Cats: Siamese, Japanese Bobtail, Nepolean and The Oriental Shorthair

More Cats in this list…

We’ve just discussed some of the tiniest cat breeds. There are many other famous and well-known cats that come under the category of small cats like the Burmese, the Bambino, the Dwelf, the LaPerm, the Lambkin, the Abyssinian, and the Javanese to name a few. Want even more? Check out other small or/and small-medium cats including the Kinkalow, the Skookum, the Turkish Angora, the Peterbald, the Bombay, the Colorpoint Shorthair, the Balinese, the Russian Blue, Russian Toy Bobtail and others.