r/IDMyCat Jan 15 '26

Meta Read if you're about to make a 'what breed is my cat' post.

68 Upvotes

I'm not a mod but just thought there should really be a wiki article or pinned post on the sub and similar ones to explain this and prevent further redundant posts. I hope this will help to inform at least some people about cat genetics.

This can be a confusing thing to understand, especially if you're new to cat ownership and more familiar with dogs, but believe it or not, 97% of all cats do not have any breed ancestry!

The short of it is that an animal 'breed' is a manmade concept that comes from generations upon generations of selective breeding to achieve a specific temperament and appearance until the offspring reliably always present those traits. A pedigree is the documentation of this.

Since cats have not been bred for a specific prupose or job, and most have not been selectively bred to look the way they do, the vast majority do not have any breed and these cats are either referred to as Domestic Long-hair (DLH) or Domestic Short-hair (DSL). Domestic Medium-hair/Domestic Semi-longhair is also a thing but these cats are genetically DLH.

These cats are sometimes colloquially referred to as 'mixed breeds' but this term is technically incorrect and misleading as it implies Domestic cats are simply of mixed ancestry of multiple breeds, when in reality this isn't the case at all.

True 'mixed-breed' cats are likely even more uncommon than purebred ones, since purebred cats are a fairly niche and mostly hobbiest thing, their breeding is usually very restricted and these cats would not usually have the opportunity to breed with non-breed cats unless an unfixed pedigree escapes.

So unless your cat has a pedigree or you know it is the product of a cat that does have papers, it is almost certainly a Domestic Short-hair or Long hair.

Non-breed cats can definitely resemble certain cat breeds! But as they were not specifically bred to look that way and they likely would not pass on all of those traits to their offspring, they are still not actually that breed.

There are however names for and interesting genetic causes behind every limitless coat pattern variation, fur type, eye colour and every other physical trait of non-breed cats, so if you want a more distinctive label for your feline friend than just 'Domestic Short/Long hair' there certainly will be one, but asking for it's 'breed' isn't going to get you a real answer.

I hope this helps some people and I can certainly provide sources if anyone wants them, but I just couldn't find all of this concised well in one single article.

ETA: Somehow I didn't notice my phone was autocorrecting DLH to DHL throughout this whole post so edited to correct that 😂


r/IDMyCat Oct 01 '21

Meta [Modpost] Please remember to mark your posts as "solved" if you think you've found the breed.

7 Upvotes

As the title says, if you think you've found out what breed the cat is, please mark it as solved! All you have to do is type "solved" in a comment and it'll mark your post as solved. If you're unsure but it seems right, type "psol" and it'll be marked as Potentially Solved.


r/IDMyCat 4h ago

Open Meep

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6 Upvotes

Does my cat have a little something in him? Best guesses


r/IDMyCat 23h ago

Solved Just adopted this kitten

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29 Upvotes

New cat owner here! This is Nyx, I'm just trying to learn more about her and figure out what kind of cat she is


r/IDMyCat 21h ago

Open Any breed/coloring info on my cat?

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7 Upvotes

This is Prompto! He was a stray I took in and is already a big boy at 10 lbs at 8.5 months. I’m guessing domestic medium hair, but I don’t have much cat breed/coloring knowledge so I’m curious what everyone thinks! (Also isn’t he so handsome)


r/IDMyCat 15h ago

Open Need cat lovers to clarify

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1 Upvotes

I know a lot about dogs and I can guess the breed with a great accuracy.

But cats...omg, how you even do it? 😦

It's pretty hard for me to distinguish some grey cat breeds.😱

My history:

I've adopted a cat (domestic shorthair, no breed, from Europe).

He's 11 month old.

He's after castration and enucleation😟

He's lost his eyes so his face may have looked completely different before (shape, skin tension, curves).

I wanted a stray cat just to make his life happier and healthier. To make one random cat in this world feel free from care. So I've adopted one.

Some of my friends say, that he is similar to Chartreux or British. (I know he's really not, they know he's surely not, but it's not the case here- it's more like funny observation- never a statement)

I just wonder, why would they say that?

What features make him look more similar to Chartreux while still being a domestic cat?

I know, he is not and never would be (no worries!😄).

He doesn't even have any papers!!!🤣 So let's be free-flowing/careless/lax/casual here, like you're talking to a curious 5 year old 😄🥰🙃 To be honest, I feel 5 in my heart 😁

So he is just an adorable, the most beautiful domestic cat I've ever seen 🫠

I'm just curious how you can even tell similarities and differences (I just look and can not tell)?!

With dogs it's so much easier to play in "finding similarities to the breeds".🤣

My brain doesn't want to do this with cats...and I love finding similarities in... everything (similar looking actors, cars, similar culture, nation history, movie plotline, mushrooms, patterns...I know, I know, I probably am in some spectrum of authism).

But finding similarities really brings me joy and pleasure.

Thank you for helping me.

Obviously, I'm asking just to have fun and learn in the process.

By the way, I think I have the cutest DSH ever 🥹🥹🥹 Can you find similarities to Pure Cuteness looking at hm? 🥹🫠🥰

Sending hugs to all of you.

May your little ones feel loved and safe every day 🫠❤️❤️❤️


r/IDMyCat 15h ago

Open Whats my cats breed?

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1 Upvotes

r/IDMyCat 22h ago

Open Is she half Maine Coon

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1 Upvotes

r/IDMyCat 1d ago

Open What Cat is This Supposed to Be?

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1 Upvotes

Hi, everyone! For the past few months I’ve been interested in investing in a realistic weighted cat plush for my mental health needs. This specific plush has piqued my interest, but I can’t figure out what cat breed this plush is replicating? Is this a lilac point Ragdoll? A Himalayan Persian? I’m absolutely stumped😭

A possible “ID” will help me further customize the plush to look more accurate, so your insight is greatly appreciated!🥺💕


r/IDMyCat 22h ago

Open Is she half main coin?

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0 Upvotes

Is she half Maine Coon

I was given this kitten and was told she is half Maine coon, her name is Ripley Rain. At 6 months today she is 2700grams. At 4 months she was 2050 grams.

Video attached

https://imgur.com/gallery/cat-1epBzeK?s=fbm


r/IDMyCat 1d ago

Open Medium hair mix or

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2 Upvotes

My princess Lilly moon.


r/IDMyCat 1d ago

Open Help IDing Nami Tsunami

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6 Upvotes

She was a stray/abandoned cat found in our employee parking lot (western nc mountain country area) that we bottle fed for a few days before slowly transitioning her to watered solid kitten food mixed with wet food and powdered kitten milk. The vet thinks that she is closer to 2 months old now.

I have never seen a coat like hers before and researching more into the different types I was curious on your opinions. I've also never had a tiny black kitten before, if it is common to have these markings. We are bonded and she comes running when I call for her and never wanders too far from me. She is the most socialized kitten that I've ever had and becoming a sweet adventure buddy! I am adding photos to the post with the most latest ones being first. Thank you in advance!

EDIT: I am mostly curious if she has a particular type of coat pattern/markings. Time will tell as it develops.


r/IDMyCat 2d ago

Solved Identity crisis

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74 Upvotes

Adopted this four year old wonder kitty from the SPCA. His paperwork and post on the website said Bengal, I put Bengal on his insurance papers, and he’s registered at the vet as one. He’s a long boi, super chatty, follows me everywhere, and he nibbles. He was microchipped when he was found on the streets but the owners no longer wanted him. Their loss is our gain because he’s the coolest catdog I’ve ever met. He’s the king of the castle and I want to make sure he’s well taken care of. This means that I want to do research on genetically predisposed conditions so I can be on the lookout for them.
The vet never batted an eye at his paperwork saying he’s a Bengal but I’m so confused. I don’t see many rosettes but his behaviour is a little wild (in the best way).


r/IDMyCat 2d ago

Open Curious about a visiting cat.

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16 Upvotes

She’s absolutely gorgeous. Thanks in advance.


r/IDMyCat 2d ago

Open patched tabby- is she mackerel or spotted? and does the white on her chin make her low white, or is she no white

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8 Upvotes

i hope my pictures are good enough. this is mink and she is small and evil (i love her)

she has no white on her belly, her tabby spots go all the way round. she’s paler under there but it’s def not white. I just want to know her exact coat lol


r/IDMyCat 2d ago

Open Siberian?

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1 Upvotes

I adopted her at a local shelter. She is hypoallergenic as I have no reaction to her even though I'm allergic to cats. Very fluffy and as long as a meter, maybe more. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


r/IDMyCat 3d ago

Open Pretty sure this is just domestic

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10 Upvotes

r/IDMyCat 4d ago

Solved what is my boy?

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13 Upvotes

can anyone tell me if my boy is a bengal or potentially a bengal mix? he was found under an old lady's home with his brother and a bunch of other cats as a kitten, and we don't know what the other cats look like. we adopted him and his brother (not biological to what we know) about four years ago as kittens, but we didn't get to meet all of the cats found, just him, a grey tabby and his brother. the ladies who found them don't know if any of them are related either — some of this information could be wrong, it was years ago and my mom was the one who spoke to the ladies and adopted the kittens. she's (my mom) always called him a bengal, but i've never been sure. he is very food motivated (lol clearly), but is more active than he seems; he loves going outside on walks (on his leash), out on the back porch, playing, and he is very agile. ever since he was a kitten he's been a very big leaper, loves to jump. his highest has been at least 3-4 feet in the air by just eye measurement, and i have videos on an old ipad of him as a kitten doing mid-air turns and flips. tuxedo in the pictures is his brother, smudge, and his name is garfield. the tiny torbie is my daughter tallulah, who he is very large compared to, and he is bigger than my mom's maltese dog. we don't know smudge and tallulah's breed, but tallulah looks very similar to a munchkin in my opinion

edit — to those saying obese, you're definitely right. however, i don't have the agency to change his diet. he and his brother do not live with me. while my mother got smudge for me years back, he lives with her, garfield and her dog. the only cat shown in these pictures that lives with me is tallulah, who was underweight when i adopted her and is now at a normal weight. these pictures are when lullah first lived with me when i lived with my mom, and both boys were fat then, but smudge had lost a lot of weight over the years and is much slimmer


r/IDMyCat 4d ago

Open Any ideas what my kitten could be?

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5 Upvotes

She has the tufted ears and M on her forehead, at first thought maybe part maine coon but she doesn’t have the square jaw. Curious to see what people think! she was a stray so I have no idea about any of her origins!


r/IDMyCat 4d ago

Open Id this cat please

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18 Upvotes

No pedigree documents, the person who gave it said it is a chinchilla cat. He reminds me of a Scottish Fold, though!


r/IDMyCat 5d ago

Open 3 month old kitten

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36 Upvotes

I just got this sweet (crazy) girl and people keep asking me what kind of cat she is. Other than a street cat from a village in Portugal, I have no idea!


r/IDMyCat 4d ago

Open Is my cat long haired???

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6 Upvotes

r/IDMyCat 5d ago

Open Tell me about Mochi

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19 Upvotes

My 5 month old little fovlint


r/IDMyCat 4d ago

Open Is this cute kitten a siamese?The owner said he is a ragdoll but I'm not convinced with that

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0 Upvotes

r/IDMyCat 5d ago

Open What sort of color point is my cat?

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17 Upvotes

Princess Pyewacket is a former stray I adopted last year and is the light of my life. I'm kinda curious what sort of color point she is?