Top Ten Cat Breeds

Updated July 10, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

America's best-loved kitties

The following table lists the top ten cat breeds in the United States according to the Cat Fanciers' Association.

The biggest changes of the past decade have been the decline of the Persian and Siamese cats. These cats, long some of the most popular in the country and in pop culture, have declined sharply. The Persian (and the Maine Coon) seem to have fallen victim to a general shift towards shorter-haired cats, although this doesn't explain the unpopularity of the Siamese. 

Many of the cats that have gained ground are those used in popular internet memes. The Ragdoll cat especially is known for its best representative, Grumpy Cat. 

Rank* 2006 2012 2018
1. Persian Persian Ragdoll
2. Maine Coon Exotic Exotic
3. Exotic Maine Coon British Shorthair
4. Siamese Ragdoll Persian
5. Ragdoll Abyssinian Maine Coon
6. Abyssinian Sphynx American Shorthair
7. Birman American Shorthair Devon Rex
8. American Shorthair British Shorthair Sphynx
9. Oriental Siamese Scottish Fold
10. Sphynx Devon Rex Abyssinian
 
Source: Cat Fanciers' Association www.cfa.org
Miscellaneous
 
Miscellaneous
Sources +