Cats are amazing animals. There are so many different breeds of cats in the world. Some of them are wild while others are domesticated. In this article, we’re going to talk about some of the most exotic cats that you can find today. These are really expensive cat breeds. However, owning them as pets can be extremely rewarding. The only thing that you have to be careful about is that they need extreme maintenance.
14 Exotic Cats
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best exotic cats in the world today.
1. Ocelot
Ocelots are small wild cats found in South America. The beautiful markings on their body make them appealing and exotic. They have attractive eyes that can hold your attention and make you want to take them home. Having said that, these animals are very rare to be found as pets.
| Scientific name | Leopardus pardalis |
| Natural habitat | South and Central America. |
| Size | 22–39 inches in length
Males can weigh between 15–34 pounds Females can weigh between 15–25 pounds |
| Diet | Mostly small mammals, birds, fish, insects, and reptiles |
| Lifespan | Up to 20 years in captivity |
2. Fishing Cat
Found mostly in South and Southeast Asia, the Fishing Cat is an exotic pet that is rare in the pet trade. They love to be in the water and hunt for fish. They are considered an endangered species. Hence, there is very little information about this cat breed. They are traded in the pet trade industries in different countries through various illegal means.
| Scientific name | Prionailurus viverrinus |
| Natural habitat | South and Southeast Asia |
| Size | 22–31 inches in length
Weighs between 11–35 pounds |
| Diet | Fish |
| Lifespan | Up to 10 years in captivity |
3. Jungle Cat
Jungle Cat is the largest among all Felis species. They are fragile and if you intend to keep them as pets, you have to ensure that they get enough space for privacy. The population of this species is gradually declining year after year, probably because of their absence from the wild and presence in the pet trade business.
| Scientific name | Felis chaus |
| Natural habitat | The Middle East, South, and Southeast Asia, and southern China |
| Size | 14 inches at the shoulder
23–30 inches in length Weighs up to 35 pounds |
| Diet | Small mammals |
| Lifespan | 15–20 years in captivity |
4. Servals
Servals are fun-loving animals that can be wonderful pets at home. Originating from Africa, this exotic animal has now become one of the most popular pets in the United States. It very much resembles a cheetah with regard to its looks. In fact, there have been cases where people have reported seeing a cheetah in their neighborhood on seeing a Serval.
| Scientific name | Leptailurus serval |
| Natural habitat | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Size | 21–24 inches at the shoulder
26–29 inches in length Weighs between 20–40 pounds |
| Diet | Rodents |
| Lifespan | 20 years in captivity |
5. Bobcat
Bobcats are native to North America. The best thing about this animal is that it has a strong bonding with humans. When you have this animal as a pet, you have to ensure that you train them well. They are muscular enough to attack humans (even though they haven’t yet) and therefore you have to be careful when they are around children.
| Scientific name | Lynx rufus |
| Natural habitat | North America |
| Size | 12–24 inches at the shoulder 18–49 inches at length Average male weighs around 21 pounds and the average female weigharound 15 pounds |
| Diet | Both small and large prey including rodents and sheeps |
| Lifespan | 7 – 10 years |
6. Oriental
Oriental is an athletic cat that comes from crossing Siamese with other cat breeds such as the American and British Shorthairs, Abyssinians, Russian Blues and other domestic cats. It is one of the most exotic cats in the pet market today. You can find these cats in many varieties of colors and patterns.
| Scientific name | Felis catus |
| Natural habitat | United States |
| Size | Overall height of 9 inches to 11 inches
11.0 inches to 14 inches body length Average weight between 9 to 14 pounds |
| Diet | Commercial foods |
| Lifespan | 10 – 15 years |
7. Sphynx
This is a hairless cat created through selective breeding. It looks weird and yet visually captivating. There are many who want to pay a good price to keep this cat as a pet.
| Scientific name | Felis catus |
| Natural habitat | The United States, European nations |
| Size | Overall height of 8 inches to 10 inches
13 inches to 15 inches body length Average weight between 10 to 12 pounds |
| Diet | Commercial foods |
| Lifespan | 10 – 15 years |
8. Bengal
Bengal cats are the result of breeding between Asian leopard cats and domesticated cats. They are one of the most beautiful cat breeds in the world. They have leopard-like spots on their body that make them look unique and fascinating.
| Scientific name | Felis catus × Prionailurus bengalensis |
| Natural habitat/Country of origin | United States |
| Size | Overall height of 8 inches to 10 inches
14 inches to 18 inches body length Average weight around 15 pounds |
| Diet | Commercial foods |
| Lifespan | 12 – 16 years |
9. Abyssinian
Abyssinian cats or Abys can be wonderful pets. They are short-haired and look charming. They are easygoing animals and they like to spend their time around humans. They are watchful and like to analyze everything around them. They are social and loyal cats.
| Scientific name | Felis catus |
| Natural habitat/Country of origin | Ethiopia (earlier known as Abyssinia) |
| Size | Overall height of 8 inches to 10 inches
12 inches to 16 inches body length Average weight between 8 to 12 pounds |
| Diet | Commercial foods |
| Lifespan | 9 – 13 years |
10. Asian Leopard Cat
Asain Leopard cats are more adaptable to live in the wild. They are nocturnal creatures and they try to keep away from humans. Apart from their looks that resemble a leopard, they don’t have any traits that make them suitable for keeping as pets.
| Scientific name | Prionailurus bengalensis |
| Natural habitat/Country of origin | South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia |
| Size | Same size as a domestic cat |
| Diet | Small prey like rodents |
| Lifespan | Up to 13 years in captivity |
11. Savannah
Savannah cat a.k.a Ashera cat is a crossbreed between a domestic cat and a Serval. It is one of the most beautiful spotted cats you can find today. It has the grandeur of a wild cat and the liveliness of a domestic cat.
| Scientific name | Felis catus × Leptailurus serval |
| Natural habitat/Country of origin | United States |
| Size | Overall height of 16 inches
16 to 18 inches body length Average weight between 10 to 13 pounds for female and 14 to 20 pounds for male |
| Diet | Raw chicken and commercial foods |
| Lifespan | 12 to 20 years |
12. Geoffroy’s Cat
Geoffroy’s cat is native to South America. You can find them mostly in the southern and central regions of the continent. It is a very small cat species and it is rarely found in the pet trade market.
| Scientific name | Leopardus geoffroyi |
| Natural habitat/Country of origin | Southern and central South America |
| Size | Same size as a domestic cat |
| Diet | Birds, fish, reptiles, rodents, etc |
| Lifespan | 14 years |
13. Canadian Lynx
This is a thick-furred animal that lives in the northern parts of North America. They have excellent climbing skills and they like to show it off all the time. They are easygoing and friendly.
| Scientific name | Lynx canadensis |
| Natural habitat/Country of origin | Canada and the northern US |
| Size | Overall height of 19 inches to 20 inches
31 inches to 39 inches body length Average weight between 11 to 40 pounds |
| Diet | Snowshoes hares. |
| Lifespan | 14 years |
14. Caracal Cat
Caracal Cats are also known as the desert lynx. They are exotic pets but you can’t expect them to be friendly all the time. Although they possess the domestic cat attitude, they are quite fussy at times.
| Scientific name | Caracal caracal |
| Natural habitat/Country of origin | Africa, India, the Middle East, Central Asia |
| Size | Overall height of 16 inches to 21 inches
29 inches to 31 inches body length Average weight between 26 to 40 pounds in males, 19 to 29 pounds in females |
| Diet | Birds, rodents, small mammals, antelopes |
| Lifespan | 16 years |
Those were some of the most exotic cats you can find today. Some of these animals are found all over the world while others are rarely found in the pet trade. However, knowing about them helps in figuring out which kind of cats are suitable for you.
Conclusion: Exotic Cats
There is a lot more information about cats on this blog. Whether it is about the best cat breeds in India or the most interesting German cat breeds, there is so much you can learn about the feline world through this blog. If this is your first time visiting this blog, make sure to bookmark this site so that you come back to read all the other articles here.
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