The 10 rarest and most expensive cat breeds (10 photos)

Some of them are hybrid breeds, while others have come down to us from time immemorial. These rare breeds are carefully protected because they are quite vulnerable and may disappear altogether. We invite you to get acquainted with curly, hairless and tailless cats.

1. American Wirehair Cat




The birthplace of this cat is New York City, where it underwent a series of mutations, resulting in an unusual curly coat. This is a very rare breed of cat that is practically not found outside the States. Today, only 22 such cats are officially registered in America.

2. Burmilla



The kitten, born in 1981 from crossing two other breeds - Burmese and Chinchilla - became known as Burmilla. This is how a new breed of extremely social cats, native to the UK, was born. They have beautiful silky fur, which can be several colors: bluish, black, chocolate brown or lilac.

3. California Spangled



This breed of cat (English California Spangled) is not only one of the rarest in the world, but also one of the newest. It was bred in the 1980s with the aim of achieving a leopard color. However, this cat does not have a single leopard gene. This breed was bred by repeated crossing of several other breeds. Today, the California Spangled is struggling to survive, as the breed has gone out of fashion and has been overshadowed by the Bengal cat.

4. Elf



One of the rarest breeds of cats is undoubtedly the Elf cat, although official cat organizations are not yet willing to recognize it as a separate breed. Elves appeared thanks to crossing Sphinxes with American Curls. Not only are elves as hairless as sphinxes, they also have unique twisted ears.

5. Turkish Van



One of the oldest breeds of cats in the world, the Turkish Van or Turkish Van cat, is in danger of extinction even in its homeland - Turkey. They have mostly white fur with red spots on the head and ears and a red tail. These cats are known for their passion for water. Unlike many other breeds of cats, Turkish Vans love baths. Sometimes there are representatives of this breed with one amber and the other blue eye.

6. Khao Manee (Diamond Eye)



Another breed of cats that can boast of its ancient roots, Khao Manee was originally bred in Thailand. In their homeland, these cats are valued at their weight in gold, as they were bred several hundred years ago for royalty. Breeders around the world are making attempts to preserve this breed, as it would be a shame if a cat with such a long history disappeared.

7. Singapura



There is much controversy about the origin of the Singapura cat breed, because the first breeder gave incorrect information regarding its roots. This cat has an unusual appearance: it has green eyes, a short light brown coat color, a darker shade on the head and back. The number of representatives of this breed is very small, but, perhaps, their gentle nature will help the cats increase their numbers.

8. Snowshoe



Another very beautiful breed of cats, but, unfortunately, one of the rarest. Snowshoe is a hybrid of Siamese origin. The breed appeared in the 1960s, but due to the fact that its popularity constantly changed, the number of Snowshoe cats periodically fell or increased over the past 50 years. Today, attempts are being made to preserve the breed, and it seems that there is already a positive result, because Snowshoe is already known all over the world

9. Manx



The birthplace of Manx cats or Manx cat is the Isle of Man, hence the name. This breed is known for its lack of tail, although some representatives still have a short tail. This characteristic feature is a natural feature of the Manx, which appeared several centuries ago. The cat has been known in its homeland since the 18th century.

10. LaPerm



LaPerm appeared in the 1980s, when the first curly kitten, Curly, was born on a farm in Oregon. She became a favorite of the whole farm for many years and passed on her gene to her offspring. The breed was soon recognized in the USA and Great Britain. Today you can find both long-haired and short-haired LaPermsSource: