All of our cats are gorgeous creatures, but the spotted cat is a much rarer sight to behold. Some only come in a spotted pattern, while others have a variety of patterns that also happen to include spots. If you’re curious about which cat breeds tend to be polka-dotted, we’ve compiled a list of nine spotted cats just for you.
The 9 Spotted Cat Breeds Are:
- American Bobtail Image Credit: OrangeGroup, Shutterstock
Lifespan: 11 to 15+ years
Temperament: Affectionate, easygoing, friendly
Colors: Any color or pattern
Size: Medium
The American Bobtail comes in almost all colors and patterns, which does include a spotted tabby pattern. However, these cats are more well known for their tail (or lack thereof). The Bobtail has gotten her name because of her unique shortened tail, which can wag or is held erect to express her many moods. The Bobtail isn’t known for being chatty, but you’ll hear her trilling and chirping in addition to the occasional meowing. They are very intelligent cats and get along well with everyone in the family, including the dog. Bobtails are active on occasion, but they enjoy couch potato moments as well.
- Bengal Image Credit: Irina_kukuts, Pixabay
Lifespan: 12 to 20 years
Temperament: Intelligent, playful, active
Colors: Brown, silver, seal sepia, marble, seal lynx, seal ink, charcoal spotted
Size: Medium to large
Bengals come in a number of colors but are well known for their leopard/jaguar style spotting. Some Bengals also have distinctive marbling. Once upon a time, the crossing of domestic cats with the Asian leopard cat gave us the Bengal we see today. However, today’s domestic Bengal is only bred with other Bengals, with nary a wild cat in sight. Bengals are loyal, inquisitive, and affectionate cats that are family-oriented. They are lap cats but also enjoy a good playing session and really enjoy climbing up to high places. They do best with company, so if you are out a lot, you should ensure your Bengal has a companion in the form of a small dog or another cat.
- California Spangled
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Lifespan: 9 to 16 years
Temperament: Social, affectionate, active
Colors: White, black, brown, charcoal, bronze, red, silver, gold
Size: Medium to large
The California Spangled cat was bred in California in the 1980s with a mix of breeds, including the Manx, Siamese, American Shorthair, Abyssinian, British Shorthair, Angora, and street cats from Egypt and Malaysia. They were specifically bred to look like spotted wild cats as a way to make people think twice before purchasing fur coats made from exotic cats like the leopard. California Spangled cats might resemble miniature wild cats, but they are actually very gentle, affectionate, and devoted pets. They are also very playful and active but would prefer not to be left alone for long periods.
- Egyptian Mau
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A post shared by Olly & Sia Egyptian mau’s (@o_malley_egyptian_mau)
Lifespan: 10 to 15+ years
Temperament: Gentle, active, devoted
Colors: Bronze, smoke, silver
Size: Medium
The Egyptian Mau is an elegant-looking cat that sports a spotted coat that is naturally occurring. Their hind legs are lengthier than their front legs, which gives them a very graceful look. Those hind legs also allow them to leap and run at rapid bursts of speed, faster than most other cats. Regardless of their athletic abilities, they are quite affectionate and gentle cats that tend to be wary of anyone not a part of their family. They get along well with children and other pets but are a little skittish around sudden loud noises and events.
- Ocicat Image Credit: dien, Shutterstock
Lifespan: 15 to 18+ years
Temperament: Active, playful, confident
Colors: Multiple colors
Size: Medium
The Ocicat is a gorgeous spotted cat that comes in colors that range from chocolate to blue. While their spots might make them look exotic, they are actually very sweet and domesticated cats through and through. They are lap cats that are also very athletic and enjoy lots of play and even enjoy a good game of fetch. Ocicats are very intelligent and will demand as much of your attention as they can get. They get along quite well with everyone, even strangers and dogs as well as other cats.
- Oriental Shorthair
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Lifespan: 10+ years
Temperament: Affectionate, intelligent, playful
Colors: Hundreds of colors and patterns
Size: Small to medium
The Oriental Shorthair is a part of the Siamese Breed Group and comes in a multitude of patterns and colors, which includes spots. Their large ears and long necks and bodies give them a graceful and elegant appearance. The Oriental Shorthair is talkative like her Siamese relative and forms a strong bond with her family. They love lots of affection and attention and will enjoy a good snuggle on your lap. But they become rather naughty if left alone for long periods of time.
- Pixie Bob
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Lifespan: 13 to 15+ years
Temperament: Laidback, loyal, active
Colors: Brown, tawny, or reddish-brown with spots
Size: Medium to large
The Pixie Bob (or Pixie-bob) is usually brown in color but ranges from a tawny brown to a reddish-brown with spots. They are typically polydactyl (they have 5 toes on their front paws and 4 on their back), and their tails are generally shorter than 2 inches. They can be either shorthair or longhair and have double coats and lynx-tufts on the tips of their ears. Pixie Bobs have been compared to dogs because of how strongly devoted they are to their families, which includes children and other pets. They are active but are also usually laid back and calm in nature and essentially want to spend lots of time with you.
- Savannah Image Credit: Lindasj22, Shutterstock
Lifespan: 12 to 15+ years
Temperament: Outgoing, inquisitive, confident
Colors: A variety of colors
Size: Medium to large
The Savannah comes in the standard colors of silver, brown, black, and black smoke, all with spots, and does resemble her African serval ancestor. They tend to be very elegant with long legs and lean bodies. Be prepared for a ton of energy and activity if you opt for the Savannah, as they can be quite mischievous thanks to their curiosity and intelligence. Savannahs are not lap cats, for as much as they love their families and being close to them, they prefer their own space.
- Serengeti Image Credit: LTim, Shutterstock
Lifespan: 10+ years
Temperament: Playful, social, chatty
Colors: Gold, black, gray, white
Size: Medium to large
The Serengeti cat comes in several colors and can be striped like a tabby, but she is commonly spotted. They are similar to the Savannah in that they were bred to resemble the African serval, but the Savannah and Serval are not related in any way. The Serengeti was actually created by crossing the Bengal with Oriental Shorthairs. These cats are very friendly and get along with just about everyone, including other pets. They also are very energetic, and thanks to the Oriental Shorthair background, they can be quite talkative. The Serengeti will require lots of playtime and exercise and are very devoted to their families.
Conclusion Now you know a little more about these nine gorgeous breeds of spotted cats. It’s interesting to note that many of them have similar traits—devotion to their families, intelligence, high energy, and they all seem to get along very well with other pets. These spotted cats seem like a wonderful ball of mischief, beauty, and affection for the right family.
Featured Image: MDavidova, Shutterstock
All of our cats are gorgeous creatures, but the spotted cat is a much rarer sight to behold. Some only come in a spotted pattern, while others have a variety of patterns that also happen to include spots. If you’re curious about which cat breeds tend to be polka-dotted, we’ve compiled a list of nine spotted cats just for you.
The 9 Spotted Cat Breeds Are:
1. American Bobtail
Lifespan: 11 to 15+ years
Temperament: Affectionate, easygoing, friendly
Colors: Any color or pattern
Size: Medium
The American Bobtail comes in almost all colors and patterns, which does include a spotted tabby pattern. However, these cats are more well known for their tail (or lack thereof). The Bobtail has gotten her name because of her unique shortened tail, which can wag or is held erect to express her many moods.
The Bobtail isn’t known for being chatty, but you’ll hear her trilling and chirping in addition to the occasional meowing. They are very intelligent cats and get along well with everyone in the family, including the dog. Bobtails are active on occasion, but they enjoy couch potato moments as well.
2. Bengal
Lifespan: 12 to 20 years
Temperament: Intelligent, playful, active
Colors: Brown, silver, seal sepia, marble, seal lynx, seal ink, charcoal spotted
Size: Medium to large
Bengals come in a number of colors but are well known for their leopard/jaguar style spotting. Some Bengals also have distinctive marbling. Once upon a time, the crossing of domestic cats with the Asian leopard cat gave us the Bengal we see today. However, today’s domestic Bengal is only bred with other Bengals, with nary a wild cat in sight.
Bengals are loyal, inquisitive, and affectionate cats that are family-oriented. They are lap cats but also enjoy a good playing session and really enjoy climbing up to high places. They do best with company, so if you are out a lot, you should ensure your Bengal has a companion in the form of a small dog or another cat.
3. California Spangled
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A post shared by world.animal.shop (@world.animal.shop)
Lifespan: 9 to 16 years
Temperament: Social, affectionate, active
Colors: White, black, brown, charcoal, bronze, red, silver, gold
Size: Medium to large
The California Spangled cat was bred in California in the 1980s with a mix of breeds, including the Manx, Siamese, American Shorthair, Abyssinian, British Shorthair, Angora, and street cats from Egypt and Malaysia. They were specifically bred to look like spotted wild cats as a way to make people think twice before purchasing fur coats made from exotic cats like the leopard.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by world.animal.shop (@world.animal.shop)
A post shared by world.animal.shop (@world.animal.shop)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
California Spangled cats might resemble miniature wild cats, but they are actually very gentle, affectionate, and devoted pets. They are also very playful and active but would prefer not to be left alone for long periods.
4. Egyptian Mau
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Olly & Sia Egyptian mau’s (@o_malley_egyptian_mau)
Lifespan: 10 to 15+ years
Temperament: Gentle, active, devoted
Colors: Bronze, smoke, silver
Size: Medium
The Egyptian Mau is an elegant-looking cat that sports a spotted coat that is naturally occurring. Their hind legs are lengthier than their front legs, which gives them a very graceful look. Those hind legs also allow them to leap and run at rapid bursts of speed, faster than most other cats.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Olly & Sia Egyptian mau’s (@o_malley_egyptian_mau)
A post shared by Olly & Sia Egyptian mau’s (@o_malley_egyptian_mau)
Regardless of their athletic abilities, they are quite affectionate and gentle cats that tend to be wary of anyone not a part of their family. They get along well with children and other pets but are a little skittish around sudden loud noises and events.
5. Ocicat
Lifespan: 15 to 18+ years
Temperament: Active, playful, confident
Colors: Multiple colors
Size: Medium
The Ocicat is a gorgeous spotted cat that comes in colors that range from chocolate to blue. While their spots might make them look exotic, they are actually very sweet and domesticated cats through and through.
They are lap cats that are also very athletic and enjoy lots of play and even enjoy a good game of fetch. Ocicats are very intelligent and will demand as much of your attention as they can get. They get along quite well with everyone, even strangers and dogs as well as other cats.
6. Oriental Shorthair
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ориентальные котята (@faetoncattery)
Lifespan: 10+ years
Temperament: Affectionate, intelligent, playful
Colors: Hundreds of colors and patterns
Size: Small to medium
The Oriental Shorthair is a part of the Siamese Breed Group and comes in a multitude of patterns and colors, which includes spots. Their large ears and long necks and bodies give them a graceful and elegant appearance.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ориентальные котята (@faetoncattery)
A post shared by Ориентальные котята (@faetoncattery)
The Oriental Shorthair is talkative like her Siamese relative and forms a strong bond with her family. They love lots of affection and attention and will enjoy a good snuggle on your lap. But they become rather naughty if left alone for long periods of time.
7. Pixie Bob
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by КОШКИ/ ПИКСИБОБ/ ДОМАШНЯЯ РЫСЬ (@_pb.cat)
Lifespan: 13 to 15+ years
Temperament: Laidback, loyal, active
Colors: Brown, tawny, or reddish-brown with spots
Size: Medium to large
The Pixie Bob (or Pixie-bob) is usually brown in color but ranges from a tawny brown to a reddish-brown with spots. They are typically polydactyl (they have 5 toes on their front paws and 4 on their back), and their tails are generally shorter than 2 inches. They can be either shorthair or longhair and have double coats and lynx-tufts on the tips of their ears.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by КОШКИ/ ПИКСИБОБ/ ДОМАШНЯЯ РЫСЬ (@_pb.cat)
A post shared by КОШКИ/ ПИКСИБОБ/ ДОМАШНЯЯ РЫСЬ (@_pb.cat)
Pixie Bobs have been compared to dogs because of how strongly devoted they are to their families, which includes children and other pets. They are active but are also usually laid back and calm in nature and essentially want to spend lots of time with you.
8. Savannah
Lifespan: 12 to 15+ years
Temperament: Outgoing, inquisitive, confident
Colors: A variety of colors
Size: Medium to large
The Savannah comes in the standard colors of silver, brown, black, and black smoke, all with spots, and does resemble her African serval ancestor. They tend to be very elegant with long legs and lean bodies.
Be prepared for a ton of energy and activity if you opt for the Savannah, as they can be quite mischievous thanks to their curiosity and intelligence. Savannahs are not lap cats, for as much as they love their families and being close to them, they prefer their own space.
9. Serengeti
Lifespan: 10+ years
Temperament: Playful, social, chatty
Colors: Gold, black, gray, white
Size: Medium to large
The Serengeti cat comes in several colors and can be striped like a tabby, but she is commonly spotted. They are similar to the Savannah in that they were bred to resemble the African serval, but the Savannah and Serval are not related in any way. The Serengeti was actually created by crossing the Bengal with Oriental Shorthairs.
These cats are very friendly and get along with just about everyone, including other pets. They also are very energetic, and thanks to the Oriental Shorthair background, they can be quite talkative. The Serengeti will require lots of playtime and exercise and are very devoted to their families.
Conclusion
Now you know a little more about these nine gorgeous breeds of spotted cats. It’s interesting to note that many of them have similar traits—devotion to their families, intelligence, high energy, and they all seem to get along very well with other pets. These spotted cats seem like a wonderful ball of mischief, beauty, and affection for the right family.
Featured Image: MDavidova, Shutterstock
