Cat Breeds: Your definitive guide to Australian cat breeds

The Abyssinian- Lovingly called Aby, these cats have extraordinary fur, each hair having two or more dark bands. The Aby shades are Ruddy or Tawny that is brown color, Sorrel is copper red which is a popular color, others are blue, beige-fawn and silver which are rare. They have a slim long body with pointed ears and possess great intelligence. Their almond shaped eyes in colors like amber, green, yellow, rimmed in brown or black.

Australian Mist- Popularly called "Spotties"; they have a spotted jacket and come in colors like brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, peach, and gold. They are vigilant, energetic and inquisitive.

Balinese- Very elegant, these have a long plumed tail. They have blue and almond shaped eyes. They like to keep following their owners and are active and talkative.

Birman- Referred as the "Sacred Cat of Burma', it is an unusual breed with a pastel color body, white gloves on its paws, deep sapphire eyes and soft voice. They have a silky coat and thus mates rarely. It carries itself with a lot of poise.

British Shorthair- They are muscular, round headed and have a dense coat, which is why they are resistant to cold. Also they have great stamina. Quite reserved, they get along well with dogs and other cats.

Burmese- They are ideal for an Australian lifestyle. Good companions for children. It is got a satin textured coat, gold eyes, rounded chest and ears and pretty oval feet. They are loyal and love being with people.

Chinchilla- Called as silver Lambkin, they have a silvery looking coat, emerald green or blue green colored eyes. They posses long hair that needs to be groomed daily also they shed some hair all round the year.

Cornish Rex- They have a long narrow head, flare ears and burly body. They are intelligent, playful and mischievous too. They are fond of humans and like to be in their company.

Devon Rex- They have short, wide-cheeked face and a graceful body. They are quite intelligent, extrovert and make loving pets. They do not have a thick coat.

Domestic Shorthair- Also known as 'Moggie', they come in a various shapes, sizes and coat patterns. They are very tough cats with no fuss and are self-assured in nature. They are amongst the popular cats in Australia.

Exotic Shorthair- These cats have sweet facial expressions, big round eyes, tiny ears and flat face. They have a velvet coat that comes in lovely colors and patterns. They have a happy- go-lucky nature and do things in a very composed manner.

Foreign White- They are like solid white Siamese. They are blue-eyed white cats. They can be friendly but at the same time a little tough and demanding too.

Korat- They are considered as good luck cats and are beautiful silver blue in color. It has expressive green eyes. They have a lustrous coat, which lies close to the body. As they do not have an undercoat; it makes them easily susceptible to cold.

Persian- They have a gentle and calm nature however they do not like being teased. They have a wonderful coat that needs to be taken care of. They shed hair all round the year. Available in a variety of colors like chocolate, blue, black, tortoiseshell.

Manx- They are a little different from the ordinary cats with thicker and longer hind legs. They lack a tail. They have a distinct double coat with soft under hair. They are very attractive and faithful too.

Oriental- Considered as a 'livewire' this cat is inquisitive, very active and captures everyone's attention. They hate being left alone. It resembles the Siamese cat and is creative and demanding.

Ragdoll- They are large with broad chests, sweet face, blue large eyes and rounded ears. As their name suggests they like to relax and lay back. They have a soft textured fur and a bushy tail. They need good amount of grooming.

Russian Blue- One of the popular cats with green eyes, long body, double coat, and prominent whisker pads. Their coat is very lustrous and is blue colored. They get along well with humans.

Scottish Fold- This is a very unique breed; it appears to have worn a helmet on its head. It has a round head and tightly folded ears. They have whisker pads and are very sweet by nature. They love company.

Siamese- These cats are long and trim with large eyes. They have different colored coats like cream, lilac, caramel, cinnamon, fawn, and apricot. They are extremely intelligent and take an active part in any activity.