5 Remarkable Cat Breeds from Asia & Africa

Asia and Africa are the two largest continents in the world and they are home to a wide variety of countries. These countries have given us some of the most unique cat breeds. While we’ve covered cats coming from Thailand, here we’re going to take a look at cat breeds from Africa and the rest of Asia.

#1 – Dragon Li

The Dragon Li, or Li Hua Mau, is a naturally occurring domestic cat native to China. It is thought to be a descendant of the wild Chinese Mountain Cat. Because of this, the breed has an exotic look and is a golden brown with tabby stripes. A breed standard wasn’t pursued by cat fanciers until 2003. They are an active and intelligent cat growing in popularity.

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#2 – Persian

The Persian is one of the most popular cat breeds and it originated in Persia, which is modern-day Iran. The Persian’s ancestors have been documented as far back as the 1600s. There are two subtypes, the Traditional Persian and the Peke-faced Persian. The Peke-faced Persian is the flattened faced cat that is popular today.

#3 – Japanese Bobtail

The Japanese Bobtail is, as its name suggests, a bobtailed cat originating in Japan. These cats are naturally occurring and their ancestors originate as far back as the 1600s, being documented in Japanese folklore. The traditional bobtailed cat often seen in Japanese establishments is a Japanese Bobtail called “maneki neko,” or “beckoning cat,” and is thought to be a symbol of good luck and fortune.

#4 – Turkish Angora

The Turkish Angora is a naturally occurring longhaired cat from Turkey and is thought to be the ancestor for all modern-day longhaired and white-colored cats. The breed was first documented in the 1600s and today remains a playful and intelligent family companion.

#5 – Sokoke

The Sokoke, also called the Khadzonzo, is a naturally occurring domestic cat from Kenya. Because of their wild heritage, they are very exotic looking cats that were only brought to popularity by western visitors to Africa. A breed standard was established by cat fanciers in the 1990s and the cats are still relatively rare today.