20 Stunning White Cat Breeds Every Feline Lover Should Discover Explore rare and beautiful white cats, from Persians to Turkish Angoras. 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 06/07/25 Credit: @SmitBruins/Twenty20 Key Takeaways White cat breeds are rare due to the genetic requirements for a pure white coat.Some white cat breeds are known for their specific personality traits, ranging from playful and sociable to calm and easygoing.There is a notable relationship between white cats with blue eyes and genetic deafness, though not all such cats will be affected. Cats come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, including white cat breeds. Pure white cats are fairly rare in the general cat population, as they require a gene that hides every other possible coat color and pattern in a cat's genetic makeup. Examples include the khao manee, Turkish Angora, and American shorthair. These cats can have short or long coats and be a single breed or a mix. They also tend to have light-colored eyes. If you want to adopt one of these striking felines, here are 20 cat breeds that are known to produce white cats. Tip There is a relationship between white cats with blue eyes and genetic deafness, though not all cats with this combination will be affected. You can help a deaf cat lead a happy, full life by keeping them protected indoors and learning to use visual signals and vibrations to communicate. 11 Surprising Facts About White Cats You Need to Know Credit: The Spruce / Emilie Dunphy 01 of 20 American Shorthair Credit: Mary Swift / Getty Images American shorthairs, the pedigree version of domestic shorthairs, are friendly, easygoing cats that come in dozens of colors and patterns—white cats included. These cats tend to be adaptable to various living situations. They enjoy spending time with their favorite humans, but they're also good at entertaining themselves with interactive toys. Breed Overview Height: 8 to 10 inchesWeight: 10 to 15 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Gentle, affectionate, playfulEnergy Level: MediumCoat and Color: Short hair; various colors and patternsLife Span: 15 to 20 years 02 of 20 Devon Rex Credit: Troydays / Getty Images With big eyes and prominent cheekbones, the Devon rex has a somewhat cartoonish appearance. Their short, wavy coat can come in white, along with a variety of other colors. These cats tend to be active and playful. Their friendly nature often makes them a good fit for families with children and other pets. Breed Overview Height: 10 to 12 inchesWeight: 8 to 10 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Active, playful, socialEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Short hair; various colors and patternsLife Span: 9 to 15 years 03 of 20 European Shorthair Credit: Christian Heinrich The European shorthair is one of the most common and oldest cat breeds in Europe. Besides white, the breed features a range of coat colors and patterns and typically has amber, blue, or green eyes. These cats are generally affectionate, playful, and intelligent, and they do well in various environments. Breed Overview Height: 12 to 14 inchesWeight: 8 to 15 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Playful, intelligent, affectionateEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Short hair; Various colors and patternsLife Span: 15 to 20 years 04 of 20 Maine Coon Credit: polar_coons/Instagram Known for a thick, long coat, the Maine coon comes in many color and pattern combinations, including solids, tabbies, and tortoiseshells. Traditionally, Maine coons are brown tabbies. These cats tend to be friendly and laid-back. Most find it easy to get along with everyone, including children, strangers, and other pets. Breed Overview Height: 10 to 16 inches Weight: 10 to 25 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Amiable, gentle, dog-likeEnergy Level: MediumCoat and Color: Long hair; heavy and shaggy; various colors and patternsLife Span: 12 to 15 years 10 Cute Maine Coon Cats and Kittens Continue to 5 of 20 below 05 of 20 Oriental Shorthair Credit: VittoriaChe / Getty Images The slender, athletic Oriental can come in many different colors, including white. These cats are typically quite lively, chatty, and personable, and they love attention. Some can become so attached to their favorite humans that it can be difficult to adjust to losing a family member. Breed Overview Height: 8 to 10 inchesWeight: 6 to 12 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Affectionate, playful, sociableEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Short hair; 300 color variations; solid, shaded, smoke, tabbyLife Span: 15 years 06 of 20 Persian Credit: Selcuk1/iStock/Getty Images White has become the coat color most associated with Persians, so they should be on a list of the best white cat breeds. However, they can come in a variety of other colors and patterns, too. Their long, flowing coats are fairly high-maintenance, requiring daily brushing to remove tangles and mats. Persians are generally sweet, easygoing lap cats that prefer quiet and predictable environments. Breed Overview Height: 8 to 10 inchesWeight: 7 to 12 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Sweet, gentle, affectionateEnergy Level: LowCoat and Color: Long hair; blue, black, white, red, cream, chocolate, lilac, silver, golden; solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, bicolorLife Span: 15 to 20 years 14 Fascinating Facts About Persian Cats 07 of 20 Siamese Siamese cats have enormous ears. Pure white Siamese cats lack the classic darker-colored “points” on the ears, face, legs, and tail. Moreover, all Siamese kittens are born white, developing darker colors as they grow. These cats love their families and prefer to be the center of attention. They’re also quite vocal and will let their humans know when they want something. Breed Overview Height: 8 to 10 inchesWeight: 8 to 10 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Sociable, friendly, vocalEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Short hair; seal, chocolate, blue, lilac; colorpointLife Span: 12 years Siamese Cats Picture Gallery 08 of 20 Siberian Credit: Vvvita / Getty Images Strong and agile, Siberians possess three layers of dense fur and come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Their thick coat is fairly low-maintenance, requiring brushing a couple of times a week, though they do have periods of heavy shedding. Siberians like adventure, so expect them to climb all over your home as they play and explore. Breed Overview Height: 9 to 11 inchesWeight: 10 to 20 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Friendly, intelligent, affectionateEnergy Level: MediumCoat and Color: Long hair; all colors and patternsLife Span: 10 to 18 years Continue to 9 of 20 below 09 of 20 Turkish Angora Credit: vi-mart / Getty Images The Turkish Angora is another white cat breed, and this is a natural breed that can be traced back several hundred years in Turkey. These cats are commonly pictured as white but can come in black, blue, red, and more colors and patterns. They tend to be energetic and assertive, and they need ample interactive play to keep them happy. 10 of 20 Turkish Van Credit: photostockam / Getty Images Most Turkish vans are primarily white with color on the head and tail, so they’re also one of the top white cat breeds. They are typically active cats that like to jump, run, and play. And they are known for enjoying swimming, thanks to their muscular build and water-repellent coat. Most are not particularly fond of being held, but they do appreciate petting and being near their favorite humans. Breed Overview Height: 9 to 11 inchesWeight: 7 to 20 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Affectionate, adventurous, playfulEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Medium-long hair; white with colored markings on the head and tail (red, black, blue, tabby, tortoiseshell, or any other color other than Himalayan pattern and colors); bicolorLife Span: 17 years The 7 Best Toys for Giving Your Cat a Workout 11 of 20 British Shorthair White British Shorthair. Credit: Tiago Miranda/Getty Images Another popular white cat breed that also comes in various other colors and patterns is the British shorthair. This cat is medium to large and has a dense, short coat. They have adorable features like a rounded face and head that give them the appearance of a teddy bear. Plus, they are sweet, calm, and friendly, so they make great family pets. Breed Overview Height: 12 to 14 inchesWeight: 7 to 17 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Affectionate, easygoing, calmEnergy Level: MediumCoat and Color: Short hair; various colors and patternsLife Span: 12 to 16 years 11 Best British Cat Breeds 12 of 20 Norwegian Forest Cat Healthier Winky-Dink. Credit: © Jeanne Rothwarf Featuring a beautifully long and dense coat, the Norwegian forest cat comes in a variety of colors and patterns, including white, and can also have white markings. These cats are known for being independent yet affectionate, and they make good family pets but they aren’t lap cats. They’re best for pet parents who don’t mind having to brush their cats often. Breed Overview Height: 9 to 12 inchesWeight: Up to 18 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Friendly, interactive, independentEnergy Level: MediumCoat and Color: Long hair; dense undercoat; almost any color or pattern with or without white markingsLife Span: 16 years 8 Cute Pictures of Norwegian Forest Cats Continue to 13 of 20 below 13 of 20 Cornish Rex Credit: Aliven/Getty Images The unique Cornish rex has a distinct curly coat that can come in white. These affectionate cats are interactive and playful. Also, their coat doesn’t shed much, and they are considered hypoallergenic, so they can be a good option for those with allergies. But they can be needy and demand your attention, so if you are too busy, this wouldn’t be the right breed for you. Breed Overview Height: 8 to 12 inchesWeight: Up to 10 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Sociable, interactive, playfulEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Curly short hair; various colors and patternsLife Span: 20 years 14 of 20 Scottish Fold Credit: Serg Semin 500px / Getty Images Another unique looking white cat breed is the Scottish fold, thanks to their folded ears. Though white is a popular color, this breed can feature various other colors as well. Hailing from Scotland, this breed has a sweet temperament and can get along well with kids and other pets, so they are yet another option when searching for a family pet. 15 of 20 Khao Manee Credit: gopfaster / Getty Images The rare khao manee is a pure white cat breed from Thailand that developed naturally hundreds of years ago. These cats have a silky coat, they are outgoing, and they like getting plenty of attention from their humans. Also called the “diamond eye cat,” they also have jewel-like eyes that can be blue, gold, green, or odd (each eye is a different color). Breed Overview Height: 10 to 12 inchesWeight: Up to 10 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Playful, curious, friendlyEnergy Level: MediumCoat and Color: Short hair; whiteLife Span: 12 years 16 of 20 Exotic Shorthair Credit: ArnonPT / Getty Images Although they are similar appearance to a Persian, the exotic shorthair has a shorter coat that doesn’t require as much grooming. These cats get along with kids and other pets, and unlike some other breeds, don’t have a high energy level and don’t need a lot of human interaction to be happy. They come in multiple colors and patterns, including white. Breed Overview Height: 10 to 12 inchesWeight: Up to 15 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Affectionate, loyal, easygoingEnergy Level: LowCoat and Color: Short hair; black, white, golden, silver, smoke, bicolor, Himalayan; solid, pointed, tabby, tortoiseshellLife Span: 15 years Continue to 17 of 20 below 17 of 20 Russian White The Russian white is basically a white version of the popular Russian blue. The breed dates back to 1971 when a Siberian was bred with a Russian blue, leading to a cat that had a white coat. These cats are calm and loyal, and they bond strongly with their humans, so they need plenty of attention and interaction daily. Breed Overview Height: 10 inchesWeight: 7 to 15 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Loyal, calm, affectionateEnergy Level: MediumCoat and Color: Short hair; whiteLife Span: 15 to 20 years 10 Enchanting Russian Cat Breeds to Discover 18 of 20 Japanese Bobtail Credit: bestânsgrutte/WikimediaCommons If you are looking for a cat that has a shorter tail, the Japanese bobtail is worth considering. Often resembling the bushy tail of a rabbit, this cat’s tail can also be kinked, bent, or straight. These cats can have long or short hair, and come in various colors and patterns. They’re sociable and playful and make wonderful companions. Breed Overview Height: 8 to 9 inchesWeight: Up to 10 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Affectionate, friendly, sociableEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Short or long hair; white, black, chocolate, cream, red, lilac, blue; solid, bicolor, tricolor, tabbyLife Span: 18 years 10 Fascinating Bobtail Cat Breeds You Need to Know 19 of 20 Ragdoll Credit: rachel devine / Getty Images The Ragdoll is a large cat with a silky coat that doesn’t shed as much as you would think because there is no undercoat. These cats are born solid white, but as they grow, their coat begins to show colors on the face, ears, legs, and tail—this is known as the colorpoint pattern. It can take two years for the coat’s color to fully develop. Breed Overview Height: 9 to 11 inchesWeight: Up to 20 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Friendly, easygoing, cuddlyEnergy Level: Low to MediumCoat and Color: Long hair; chocolate, red, seal, blue, lilac, cream; colorpoint, bicolor, mitted, vanLife Span: 17 years 20 of 20 Balinese Credit: slowmotiongli / Getty Images The Balinese is a vocal cat that will demand your attention, though they are generally quieter than the chatty Siamese. These cats are intelligent, friendly, and playful, and they are related to the Siamese because they are the result of a genetic mutation that gave Siamese cats a longer coat. For this reason, they’re also known as the long-haired Siamese. Breed Overview Height: 8 to 11 inchesWeight: 6 to 11 poundsPersonality/Temperament: Loving, outgoing, intelligentEnergy Level: HighCoat and Color: Long hair; creamy white body with various color pointsLife Span: 12 to 20 years Is Your Cat a Pure Breed? Explore more: Cats Cat Breeds