4 Gorgeous Exotic Looking Cat Breeds

There are some very beautiful cats on the planet and over the last few decades more breeders have crossed certain ones to produce exotic and wild looking domestic felines. These new arrivals on the cat scene have become more and more popular even though some of them are still quite rare and therefore extremely expensive pussy cats.

The Toyger Cat

As feline companions go, they don't get much wilder and exotic looking than the beautifully marked Toyger Cat with their striking stripes and elegant bodies. They look remarkably like diminutive tigers all thanks to their parentage. The breed is among the newest to appear on the scene and are a result of careful and selective breeding of short-haired tabby cats that all boast mackerel-patterned coats.

These pussy cats are extremely rare and therefore expensive due to the fact there are only thirty odd breeders the world over. Personality-wise, the Toyger is a very active and inquisitive character, they are bold yet friendly and they simply adore being around people. This naturally means they form very strong bonds with their owners, but they do tend to be a little nervous around people they don't know which is all down to them being shy with strangers.

As pets, they are wonderful and they adore playing interactive games with the bonus being that Toygers are pretty laid back by nature which means they are not as demanding as other breeds may be.

The Dragon Li

Native to China, the Dragon Li cat is exceptionally beautiful and is thought to be a sub-species of the Chinese wild mountain cat. There are extremely rare and therefore very hard to find outside of their native homeland. The breed is also often referred to as the Li Hua Mao.

These gorgeous looking felines have superb coats which are a glorious golden tabby and they have beautiful greenish yellow almond shaped eyes. One very distinctive feature of the Dragon Li is their tipped ears. They are highly intelligent felines and they adore being kept busy although they are nowhere near as demanding as breeds like the Abyssinian or Burmese.

On the downside, Dragon Li cats are not known to be affectionate neither are they terribly vocal. On the upside, although pretty independent by nature, they get on well with other pets and are great around older children. However, they are not the perfect choice for families with very young children.

The other thing to bear in mind is that these gorgeous looking felines would not be very happy if kept as indoor cats, much preferring to be able to explore the great outdoors so they can hone their superb hunting skills. With this said, they do not tolerate the cold due to the fact they don't have undercoats which means they are more sensitive to lower temperatures

The Ocicat

Another gorgeously exotic looking feline, the Ocicat looks like it's wild cousin the Ocelot. Often confused with Bengals because of the similarity in their coats, the Ocicat is however, the two breeds are not in fact related at all. Character-wise, the Ocicat is very much like the Siamese which means they adore being around people and do not do very well if left to their own devices for any length of time.

They are known to be extremely friendly, even around people they do not know and they get on with other animals, including other cats. However, they are pretty active felines known to be more like dogs than other breeds of cats, loving to play chase the ball and other interactive games.

If you are looking to share your home with a very vocal feline companion, the Ocicat would fit the bill perfectly because they really do like the sound of their own voices although not quite as much as a Siamese cat!

The Egyptian Mau

An incredibly rare breed, the Egyptian Mau is truly one of the most beautiful looking felines on the planet. They are also among one of the more ancient breeds with records dating back of them 3000 years or so. Unlike the other breeds mentioned above, the Mau is not a hybrid, but a breed that has developed naturally over time.

These felines are very fast on their feet and have been clocked doing well over 30 miles an hour when they are hunting which is all thanks to their very unique build. Very much like the Siamese, the Mau loves the sound of their own voices and are in fact, even more vocal than many other cats.

Character-wise, these amazing felines have many unique traits which include dancing around when they are happy – this is referred to as the “Mau dance”. They are very active by nature and don't particularly like being cooped up in the house, preferring to be out and about chasing down their prey!

Conclusion

Although very exotic and gorgeous to look at, the four breeds mentioned above are not a brilliant choice for people who are not used to sharing their homes with a feline companion or who spend a lot of time out of the home. Not only this, but they are pretty rare breeds and therefore they tend to be extremely expensive, but with this said owning one of these extraordinary cats has to be a real and very enjoyable privilege!