How to Identify Your Cat's Breed

Various cat registry organizations, such as the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), the International Progressive Cat Breeders' Alliance (IPCBA) and The International Cat Association (TICA), currently recognize more than 72 breeds of cats. Pedigreed cats registered with these organizations must have several generations of documented ancestors that are members of a specific breed in order to be recognized as members of that breed. While a pedigree and breed registration are the surest ways to determine your cat’s breed, there are other means available, although these are less accurate. These other methods include genetic ancestry testing and comparing your cat’s appearance to the standards for various cat breeds.

The surest way to identify your cat as a member of a particular breed is to know the breed of its parents. For owners of purebred cats, this is simple. Cats obtained from reputable breeders have pedigrees and registration papers that certify these cats as members of specific breeds. Cats obtained from breed rescue organizations or directly from past owners might also have such paperwork.

While paperwork is the only way to prove that your cat is a member of a specific breed, it is possible to be sure of your cat’s ancestry even if you do not have papers. If, for example, your neighbor’s two purebred Persians had kittens, you would know the offspring were Persians even if she did not register the kittens. A similar situation would occur if the neighbor had a Maine Coon and a Persian that bred. The kittens would be mixed breeds, and you would know that they were a mixture of Maine Coon and Persian.

The Cat Ancestry test is a new test from the University of California, Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. The test uses a DNA sample that you collect from your cat’s cheeks and gums using a brush provided in the test kit. After you collect the sample, you send it to the lab where your cat’s DNA is compared with a large database of DNA from cats with known geographical origins and breeds.

The least accurate and most common means of identifying a non-pedigreed cat’s breed is by its appearance. Most cat registry agencies and breed associations have the standards for specific cat breeds on their websites. Many owners use this information to try to determine their cats’ breed. By this method, if a cat looks like a Maine Coon, you call it a Maine Coon. It is important, however, to note that your cat's appearance is controlled by a relatively small number of genes, so a cat with a lot of DNA from a certain breed might not resemble that breed, while a cat with relatively little DNA from the breed might look almost like a purebred. It is also important to note that since most cats are randomly bred and not a mix of specific breeds, it is possible for a cat with no immediate ancestors from a certain breed to resemble members of the breed. Although it is enjoyable to speculate on a cat’s ancestry based on its appearance, this is the least accurate means of determining your cat’s true breed.