10 White Cat Breeds: Info, Pictures, Characteristics & More

While cats can come in a variety of stunning patterns and colors, there’s something undeniably striking about an all-white cat. Pure white cats are rare and typically have light eyes, enhancing their beauty.

Numerous cat breeds come in white, and you can find white cats with long or short hair. Here are 10 cat breeds that have a white variant.

Top 10 White Cat Breeds

1. European Shorthair

The European Shorthair is a common house cat breed and one of the oldest cat breeds in Europe. They’re popular for pet owners due to their affectionate and playful personalities. This breed has a stocky, rounded body with a prominent “tummy pooch” and a sleek coat. European Shorthairs can come in various colors and patterns, including white. They typically have light amber, blue, or green eyes.

2. American Shorthair

The American Shorthair is a domestic pedigree shorthair. These cats are smaller than their European counterparts and adapt well to diverse environments. People who have pets really like American Shorthair cats because they are fun to be around and form strong connections with their owners. Like the European Shorthair, the American Shorthair comes in various colors and patterns, including white.

3. Maine Coon

The Maine Coon is known for its muscular build, considerable size, and long silky coat. Maine Coons are very laid back and affectionate towards their owners and typically get along with children and other pets. Selective breeding created a variety of stunning colors and patterns in Maine Coons, but they do come in all-white varieties.

4. Oriental Shorrthair Cat

The Oriental cat breed is a lively and vocal breed that’s fun for its owners. These cats love attention and are highly affectionate to their owners. They’re known for their “chatter,” which can be endearing but may create issues for apartment dwellers. Orientals have Siamese traits and come in a variety of color combinations, including white, but are known as a “Foreign White” with different breed standards.

5. Persian Cat

The Persian cat is one of the best-known white cats, though they’re available in a range of colors and patterns. These cats are popular for their distinctive looks and gentle, easygoing personalities. Their long, silky coats are part of their appeal, but they require daily brushing to maintain their coats and keep them free from mats.

6. Devon Rex

The Devon Rex is a cartoonish cat with huge eyes and a short, wavy coat. These cats are popular for their active, playful personality and get along well with children and other pets. The cat’s short, wavy coat comes in a range of colors and patterns, including pure white. As an intelligent breed, these cats can be taught tricks, but their mischievous personality can lead to trouble for lax owners.

7. Foreign White Cat

The Siamese cat is a popular breed that’s often featured in television and film. They’re known for their distinctive dark points on their ears, face, legs, and tail, but they do come in pure white. When this occurs, they’re known as “foreign white.” Interestingly, all Siamese kittens are born white and develop their coloration as they age. These cats are friendly and affectionate, often developing strong bonds with family members.

8. Turkish Angora Cat

The Turkish Angora is an older cat breed that originated in Turkey. Commonly seen in white, the Turkish Angora is one of the best-known all-white cat breeds, though they come in a variety of colors and patterns. Pet owners enjoy the energetic and playful personality of the Turkish Angora, but it does require a lot of activity to stay content and can be assertive if it doesn’t get what it wants.

9. Siberian Cat

The Siberian is a strong and stocky cat breed that originated in Russia centuries ago. Due to the inhospitable climate, Siberian cats have dense coats that come in a range of colors, but they’re not as prone to mats and tangles as other thick-coated breeds—they only need a good brushing a few times a week. They do shed considerably, however. These cats are highly active and require a lot of environmental enrichment with cat trees or towers.

10. Turkish Van

The Turkish Van is a predominantly white breed with color on the head and tail, though they do come in full white. These cats are active and like to play, making them a good choice for active households. In winter, their coats are thick and long but thin out during the warmer months. These cats aren’t fond of being held or carried, but they do like affection from their owners.

How Common Are White Cats?

Roughly 5% of the cat population is white, and blue is a common eye color. There’s an established genetic link between the white coat color, blue eyes, and deafness, but it depends on the individual genes of the cat. Even if you get a white cat that’s deaf, they can live a fairly normal life.

White cats are cats without any color or pigmentation, which is different from albinism. The white color comes from the gene for white fur, which dominates all other colors and patterns. Albinos have a lack of pigmentation in the eyes that makes them appear pink or pinkish-blue, compared to the green, blue, or amber eyes of pure white cats.

Conclusion

White cats are incredibly beautiful and stand out among common cat colors and patterns. If you’re looking to get a white cat, plenty of breeds come in white varieties and offer different personality traits to suit your family and lifestyle.

Related Reads:

• 11 Types of Grey and White Cat Breeds (with Pictures)
• Russian White (Russian Black, Russian Tabby): Breed Info, Pictures, Temperament & Traits

Featured Image Credit: Kanashi, Pixabay