Big, plush, and playful or elegant and mysterious, felines come in many shapes, sizes, and most of all: Personalities! Here’s a guide to the personalities of popular cats today.

Abyssinian Cat Personality

Okay, so I’m not a lap cat! But I am very people oriented and like being around you, checking out what you’re doing. This may be because I’m one of the most intelligent animals ever created! We Abys are also very perceptive about our humans. I’ll probably understand you better than you understand yourself! I’m not only brainy-I’m no slouch in the looks department either. You know those ancient Egyptian paintings and sculptures of cats? That’s me-elegant muscular body, beautiful arched neck, large ears, and almond-shaped eyes. Cleopatra wasn’t the only beauty around those parts, you know!

AMERICAN WIREHAIR Cat Personality

Good old American common sense-yup, one of my outstanding traits. I’m a practical sort of cat, independent and proud-you know, like Davy Crockett. I love the outdoors, but that doesn’t mean I won’t appreciate all the cozy comforts of home. But remember, I’m not always a leatherneck; I like to play a lot too! My coat may look like I’ve had a recent perm-but watch it, bud, that’s a “wiry” look, not a girly one!

CHARTREUX Cat Personality

My gorgeous double coat is so lush and so soft you’ll ache to stroke my back and run your fingers through my blue-gray, silver-tipped fur. When I’m full-grown, I’ll be a big guy (as cats go), but that won’t stop me from climbing around in tall trees and dazzling you with my acrobatic skill. I’ve been known to come when called-but only if I feel like it. After all, I am a cat! Some say our breed was named for a type of Spanish wool, but I think it’s because my great-great-great grandpapa used to hang out with the Carthusian monks in France (and used to dip into the famous Chartreuse liqueur now and again, according to great-great-great grandmama). Anyway, with my panache, there must be some French ancestry!

KORAT Cat Personality

Need a wedding gift for someone? Forget the Crock-pot, buy me! I’m a good luck symbol in Thailand, and it’s tradition there for new brides to receive two Korat kitties as a wedding gift! Maybe that has something to do with our heart-shaped faces, sweet sensitive personalities, and large, expressive eyes-all that romantic stuff. I promise to be devoted to you, but I may occasionally get into trouble because I am inquisitive and curious by nature (though most people find this charming). My glossy, silver-blue fur is short, requiring very little grooming, and I hardly shed at all!

MANX Cat Personality

So I don’t have a tail-neither do people! Besides, I’m famous for my sweet expression and my round face. And I’ve got a beautiful coat and strong hind legs. In fact, there isn’t a cat anywhere that can beat me in a sprinting race! I’m not really fond of climbing, though (probably a tail/balance thing), so the neighborhood birds are pretty safe with me. But rodents better hit the road when I move in ’cause I’m an excellent mouser. (Pretty good fisherman too-did I tell you about that big mackerel that got away?) I’m loyal too. Once I’m a member of your family, I won’t be happy anywhere else.

NEBELUNG Cat 

Nebelung: Kind of like Wagner (a German human who wrote lots of music), I’m really smart, but a little moody and shy. When you adopt me, it may take me a little while to adjust to my new home, but pretty soon I’ll be following you from room to room, or blissfully dozing in your lap as we listen to Tristan und Isolde on the stereo. Like a real blue-blood aristocrat, my silky silver fur is blue tipped, and my gorgeous green eyes will gaze at you with rapture as we enjoy Lieder. Probably a reflection of our almost mythical beauty, our name “nebelung” is from the German for “creature of the mist,” and the first registered Nebelungs were named Siegried and Brunhilde!

NORWEGIAN FOREST Cat Personality: 

You got a rodent problem? I’m the cat for you! If I had ’em all mounted, I’d have a trophy room as big as the Superdome. But hunting isn’t my only talent. I’m an excellent climber, and my thick, water-resistant coat means I’d even be comfortable in Fargo, North Dakota! I’ll need a regular brushing and combing, mostly in the spring, when I’m shedding. But that seems like little effort in exchange for having an impressive, intelligent, and friendly Viking like me in the family!

PIXIE BOB Cat Personality

Legend has it that my great-great-great granddad was a real wild man-a bobcat that was so tough he scared Paul Bunyan! That’s how I got these “don’t mess wid me, I’m da bouncer” looks. So at times, I get mistaken for a real bobcat from a distance, but I’m really a pussy cat-no foolin’! Okay, so my feet are kinda big, and I have a few extra toes-like lots of us “bobs” do-but then, no one can toss around that catnip mouse good as I can!

RAGDOLL Cat Personality

Who needs a floppy doll with silly red hair when you can cuddle me? In fact, one of my favorite things is being held like a baby (ever see a Raggedy Andy doll that can purr?). I’m a real sweetheart who will follow you around, chase my tail, play with you, and even retrieve toys! My fur is very silky and long, but I don’t shed much. I’m a boy, so I could grow up to be as big as 30 pounds (my sisters usually grow to about 15 to 20 pounds). But just ’cause I’m big, don’t expect any Clint Eastwood stuff from me. With my peaceful, easy-going personality, I’m a lover, not a fighter-so make sure you keep me inside!

REX Cat Personality

Hey, wanna play? If you’ve got lots of energy and like to shake things up once in a while, we could be made for each other! I love to cuddle too and can purr with the best of ’em. I’m kind of exotic looking with my pixie face, oval eyes, and curly fur, but don’t let that fool you. I wash my paws one at a time like any regular cat. I’m basically a happy guy and have been known to wag my tail when I’m feelin’ fine. But just because of that and my curly coat, don’t let me catch you comparing me to a poodle or any other dog! I’m definitely a cat!

SCOTTISH FOLD Cat Personality

Some people say that the way my ears fold down makes me look like a teddy bear. Well, that may describe my personality, but I’m a cat for sure! My ancestors were hard workers in the mousing industry that was really big on farms in Scotland. I’ve got a soft voice (to match my sweet disposition), and I’m often asked to speak up. But I much prefer to be discreet. I really just adore people, and I’m at home anywhere (even in rooms full of kids and dogs) as long as I get lots of love!

SIAMESE Cat Personality

Do you recognize elegance when you see it? With my gorgeous color point accents and exquisite sapphire-colored almond-shaped eyes, well-need I say more? I am loving, and I enjoy company, though I have been called “demanding and sometimes jealous.” Such nit-picking hardly seems fair when someone of my breeding obviously has no equals. Some say you don’t know the meaning of whining or nagging until you’ve been around an unhappy Siamese cat. I say we’re good communicators!

SIBERIAN Cat Personality

I’m a passionate Russian who can leap over the kitchen table and land on my feet with the grace of Baryshnikov. And even though my thick coat (three layers of fur!) is gorgeous, you won’t have to fuss very much with grooming. But if you get a hankering to comb or brush me, I’ll roll over with pleasure. I hope you like conversation, ’cause I’m a talker, and I’ll respond to my name too! And please, lots of petting! I just love the human touch!

STRAY Cat Personality

A home, any home! You have no idea what it was like out there-homeless, cold, hungry, and always watching out for cat haters and stray dogs! Here in the shelter, the other cats say we don’t have much time. If some human angel doesn’t adopt us, it’s curtains! Listen, I’m healthy, good-natured, intelligent, and quiet. Hard worker too! Believe me, there won’t be a rodent within miles of your house, once I move in! You’ll never regret it!

TONKINESE Cat Personality

I love parties. Loud music too! You might even call me a party animal! It’s been said that I’m exceptionally bright (aw shucks…) and playful, affectionate-a real extrovert! My good looks go without saying-after all, I’m the result of breeding a Siamese cat with a Burmese. Not only am I kind of exotic looking, I come in colors like brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, brown, even tortoiseshell! It’s almost like going to Baskin Robbins!

TORTOISESHELL PERSIAN Cat Personality

Do you believe “you get what you pay for”? I may be a little more expensive than other Persians, but it’s only because I’m a very rare breed. But once you see how beautiful I look-with my large round eyes and my thick, silky coat with red, cream, and black patches-the higher price will seem a trifle. I’ll snuggle and purr against you when you want to cuddle. Otherwise, I’m very calm and content just to lie there on your love seat and look absolutely smashing.

TURKISH VAN Cat Personality

You think Esther Williams looked sharp in the water, you ought to see me! I’m a gorgeous white color with some dashing auburn accents on my face and tail. I just adore the water (yes, I am a cat), and I’ll take a dip anytime. But did you know I even love frozen water? To me, romping in the snow is as much fun as doing laps. But you might not notice me making snow angels in those drifts ’cause of my thick white fur (except for those splashes of auburn that I mentioned). Oh, now and then, I can be a little temperamental-so what? I am an aristocat!

Did you see your cat on the list? Do you think we described it correctly? Let us know in the comments below!