These 7 Hybrid Cat Breeds Look Like They Belong in the Jungle—But Can Be Great Pets For the right people, these wild-looking felines make great companions. By Adrienne Kruzer Adrienne Kruzer Adrienne Kruzer is a veterinary technician with more than 15 years of experience providing healthcare to domestic and exotic animals. She is trained as a Fear Free Certified Professional to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process Updated on 06/11/25 Reviewed by Bartley Harrison Reviewed by Bartley Harrison Dr. Bartley Harrison is a veterinarian with more than 15 years of professional veterinary experience treating dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, birds, and small mammals, with a specific focus on Emergency Medicine. Dr. Harrison is part of The Spruce Pets’ veterinary review board. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Veterinary Review Board Credit: The Spruce / Sarah Crowley If you want a unique-looking feline that has wild stripes and spots, large eyes, and other distinguishing features, check out hybrid cat breeds, which are created when a domestic cat is bred with an undomesticated or wild cat breed. This may be done in an attempt to get more wild patterns, colors, and other physical features, or to combine favorite personality traits and other attributes of domestic and wild cats. Here are seven hybrid cat breeds that have grown in popularity over the years. Tip While hybrid cats often look like domestic cats, many early generations can have very wild personality traits that may make them more of a challenge to care for when compared to domestic house cats. Breed Characteristics Some hybrid cat breeds are more mischievous and active than others, but they all can have very wild instincts. First, second, and sometimes even third generations of hybrid cats will have more of these wild traits than later generations. More mental and physical enrichment will be required for cats from earlier generations. Pet parents who are interested in getting a hybrid cat should be aware of this. 01 of 07 Bengal Cat Credit: itsabreeze photography / Getty Images Bengal cats, not to be confused with Bengal tigers, are a hybrid cat breed that has combined the Asian leopard cat with various domestic cats, especially the Egyptian mau. These cats are known for their wild-looking spots and marbling, but they also often like water and have very dog-like personalities. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, progressive retinal atrophy, and pyruvate kinase deficiency are three diseases that Bengal cats may be predisposed to developing. Breed Overview Height: 13 to 16 inchesWeight: 8 to 15 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Affectionate, energetic, animatedEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Short hair; wide variety of colors with spots, rosettes, or marblingLife Span: 9 to 15 years 02 of 07 Savannah Cat Credit: Volchanskiy / Getty Images Taller than the Bengal cat, Savannah cats are also spotted hybrid cats that are popular for their exotic markings. They are a cross between a serval and a domestic cat and are the largest type of recognized and registered pet cat breed. Some states and cities have laws against owning Savannah cats, especially earlier generations of them, but most recognize them as domesticated pets. Breed Overview Height: 14 to 17 inchesWeight: 7.5 to 24 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Social, intelligent, affectionateEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Short hair; brown, silver, or black with spotsLife Span: 12 to 20 years 03 of 07 Chausie Chausie cats are medium to large hybrid cats. Credit: Getty Images/tania_wild The Chausie is another beautiful hybrid cat breed. These cats are a cross between jungle cats and domestic cats. Chausies are built for running and jumping and also often resemble Abyssinian cats. They are playful and enjoy the company of other cats. They can also get along with dogs, and are very social with people as well. Breed Overview Height: 14 to 18 inchesWeight: 8 to 16 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Intelligent, active, socialEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Short hair; solid black, black grizzled tabby, and black/brown ticked tabbyLife Span: 12 to 14 years 04 of 07 Serengeti Credit: KrissiLundgren / Getty Images Unlike other hybrid cat breeds, the Serengeti is a cross between two domesticated cat breeds: the Bengal cat and the Oriental shorthair. They have slimmer features than their Bengal cousins but maintain the exotic, spotted coat. The ultimate goal of this breed is to look like a serval without using wild cats to breed. They are very active and agile and maintain the vocal attributes of their Oriental shorthair ancestors. Breed Overview Height: 10 to 16 inchesWeight: 8 to 15 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Vocal, social, intelligentEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Short hair; variety of colors with spotsLife Span: 8 to 12 years Continue to 5 of 7 below 05 of 07 Cheetoh Credit: Chris Rue / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 If you like spots, then you will love cheetoh cats. This newer hybrid cat breed was developed by crossing the Bengal cat with an ocicat in an attempt to create a gentle but wild-looking breed. This hybrid cat is large-bodied but is said to get along well with other pets as well as people. The cheetoh is not as common as the Bengal or Savannah but is growing in popularity due to its striking markings. Breed Overview Height: 12 to 18 inchesWeight: 12 to 25 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Friendly, affectionate, vocalEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Short hair, multiple colors with spots.Life Span: 10 to 15 years 06 of 07 Toyger Credit: Erich Schmidt / Getty Images If you're after stripes without having a pet tiger, then a toyger may be what you're looking for. Developed by crossing a Bengal cat with a domestic tabby cat, this breed is friendly and highly trainable. Like many other purebred cats, toygers can be prone to developing heart disease, but are very playful and make great house cats even though they are not as common as Bengals. Breed Overview Height: 9 to 13 inchesWeight: 7 to 15 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Friendly, playful, trainableEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Short hair; brown to orange with black stripesLife Span: 10 to 15 years 07 of 07 Pixiebob Pixie-bob cats have some bobcat features like tufted or tipped ears and a shorter, bobbed tail. Credit: Getty Images/Nynke van Holten Bred to look like a cross between a bobcat and a domestic cat, pixiebobs are highly social and active cats. Like bobcats, pixiebobs have a bobbed or shorter tail and ear tufts. Their body is muscular and their coat is woolly. Pixiebobs make chirping noises and usually have polydactyl toes—this means they have extra toes than normal. They also tend to love water, and are described as having a dog-like personality. Breed Overview Height: 9 to 13 inchesWeight: 8 to 17 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Easygoing, affectionate, activeEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Short or long hair; brown, red, or rust with spottingLife Span: 13 to 15 years Breeds to Avoid Many hybrid cat breeds are recognized as domesticated cats, but like other purebred cats, each breed is known for its own unique features. Researching any breed before committing to caring for it is important for any cat parent, regardless of whether or not you are considering a hybrid. If you are not interested in a hybrid cat breed, perhaps because you are concerned about their temperament, stick with domesticated cat breeds that have been around for a very long time and have established qualities, such as those that date back hundreds or even thousands of years. Examples include: Siamese Norwegian Forest Cat Persian Abyssinian Egyptian Mau The 4 Best Cat DNA Tests, Tested With Real Cats FAQ Do hybrid cats make good pets? Hybrid cats are often more challenging to care for than domestic cats because they are crossed with wild cats. This increases the chance that they will be more difficult than a domestic cat. Why are hybrid cats banned? Hybrid cats are banned in some areas because they might be more dangerous than domestic cats and might harm humans, especially children and the elderly. What is the biggest hybrid cat? The regal Savannah cat is the largest hybrid house cat; its average weight is 15 to 20 pounds. Explore more: Cats Cat Breeds