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American Wirehair -

In 1966, a single kitten in New York was born with a natural genetic mutation that gave him a wiry coat. Thus, the unique American Wirehair was born! While their coats aren't silky smooth, they also don't shed much.

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Bombay -

Bombay cats are sleek, elegant black cats with an affectionate personality. They originated in Kentucky in the '50s, when a breeder wanted to create a cat breed that looked like a black panther.

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Egyptian Mau -

The outgoing Egyptian Mau is one of the few naturally spotted breeds of domesticated cat. Hailing from Egypt, the spots occur only on the tips of the hairs of its coat.

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American Bobtail -

Not only is the American bobtail rare, but they've got quite a unique appearance. Developed in the 1960s, their overall look resembles that of the bobtailed wildcat.

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Havana Brown -

The Havana Brown originated in England in the '50s. A cross between the Siamese cat and domestic black cats, the mix resulted in a chocolate brown coat and sparkling green eyes.

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Burmilla -

Originally bred in the UK, the Burmilla is a smart and curious breed. Their gorgeous coats and green eyes make them stand out.

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Korat -

Hailing from the Korat province in Thailand, this breed has been around for centuries. Exceptionally alert, the Korat is also a good luck cat in their native country.

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Chartreux -

Affectionately referred to as "the smiling blue cat of France," this rare breed was first mentioned in 1558 by Joachim du Bellay in a poem entitled 'French verse on the death of a small cat.' However, they didn't land in the US until the '70s.

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Colorpoint Shorthair -

A hybrid of the Siamese cat and the American Shorthair, this breed is identifiable by their large ears and lean bone structure. They're also a very 'talkative' breed.

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Sokoke -

One of the rarest breeds in the world, the Sokoke originated in the forested Sokoke area of eastern Kenya. It's a friendly and energetic breed.

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Devon Rex -

With its large ears and playful mug, the Devon Rex is also known as the Pixie Cat and Alien Cat. The breed began in the '50s in Devon, England.

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Manx -

An ancient breed, the Manx cat originated on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. Due to a mutation, this breed has a shorter tail.

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Peterbald -

This Russian breed was created in St. Petersburg in 1994 from an experimental cross of a Don Sphynx and an Oriental Shorthair. Peterbalds can have short, fine coats or be hairless.

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European Burmese -

Unlike the Burmese cat, European Burmese cats have slightly slimmer body shapes and a wider variety of colors and patterns. While their ancestors were developed in the US, European Burmese come from the UK.

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Khao Manee -

Considered a good luck cat in their native Thailand, the Khao Manee were first mentioned in a 14th-century Thai cat book of poems, known as the 'Tamra Maew.'

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LaPerm -

These cats are the product of a dominant gene presenting itself in a litter of kittens on an Oregon farm in 1982. A curious thing about them is that they can be born completely bald. After a few months, soft, curly fur will grow in.

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Turkish Angora -

Originating from central Anatolia, modern-day Ankara Province in Turkey, this breed has been documented as early as the 17th century. Their long coats likely evolved to protect them from chilly winters in the mountains of Turkey.

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Lykoi -

Named after the Greek word for "wolf," the Lykoi breed have short fur, but some are even hairless. Despite their Greek name, they hail from Tennessee.

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Singapura -

One of the world's smallest cat breeds, this bred hails from Singapore. Curious and active, they first reached the US in the 1970s.

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Turkish Van -

The Turkish Van is a semi-long-haired breed developed in the UK from a selection of cats obtained from various Turkish cities. Surprisingly, many Turkish Vans embrace water and enjoy swimming!

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Siberian cat -

A Russian breed, its thick coat protects the Siberian cat from the harsh winters of Siberia. In fact, they have three types of fur to protect them.

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Balinese -

Named after the Indonesian island of Bali, this feline actually originated in the US in the 1950s. They're a long-haired breed of Siamese cats with the same fur pattern and blue eyes.

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Kurilian Bobtail -

Originating from the Russian Kuril Islands, the Kurilian Bobtail is a skilled hunter and excellent jumper. Some have very short bobbed tails, while others might be as long as 10 vertebrae.

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Norwegian Forest Cat -

Nearly declared extinct during World War II, the Norwegian Forest Cat sports a thick, waterproof coat that protects it against the freezing Scandinavian winters.

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Tonkinese -

Originating from Thailand, this breed was produced by a crossbreeding between the Siamese and Burmese. Blending these two breeds created a line of cats that are highly engaging and vocal.

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Serengeti -

Developed in California in 1994, with the intention of creating an exotic cat, the Serengeti is a mix of a Bengal with an Oriental Shorthair.

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Selkirk Rex -

Originating in Montana in the 1980s, the Selkirk Rex is one of only four breeds of cat with wavy fur. They come in various colors.

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Munchkin -

Characterized by its very short legs, which are caused by a genetic mutation, the Munchkin was first recognized in the 1940s. They're considered to be the original breed of dwarf cats.

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Cornish Rex -

The Cornish Rex originated in England in the '50s. Among the litter of a British Shorthair was a kitten that looked different because of a natural mutation, thus becoming the first of this breed.

Sources: (Daily Paws) (PureWow)

See also: Seafurrers: The remarkable history of the ship's cat

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