Everyone who loves cats knows our friendly household felines are descended from much bigger and ferocious wild cats. However, some breeders have worked to put the "wild" back into domestic felines. They worked to breed domestic cats to look just like smaller versions of their larger cousins. If you ever wanted a house cat that looks like a tiger, cheetah, leopard or other great wild feline, here are 14 breeds for you to fall in love with.
Which Domestic Cats Look Like Wild Cats?
If you're searching for a cat that looks like a certain wild cat, including tigers, bobcats, cheetahs, or panthers, we have you covered. Whether you want a precious panther or a beautiful bobcat lookalike, one of these breeds will probably impress you. Just remember that choosing a cat based on appearance can be fun, but their personality should also mesh well with your own.
- African Serval: Serengeti
- Bobcat: American bobtail, pixiebob
- Cheetah: Cheetoh, Savannah
- Leopard: Egyptian mau
- Lion: Abyssinian, chausie, Somali
- Lynx: Highlander shorthair
- Ocelot: Ocicat
- Panther: Bombay
- Tiger: Bengal, toyger
Abyssinian
If you'd love to have a house cat that looks like a lion, the Abyssinian fits the bill. One of the oldest cat breeds, these beautiful cats are small to medium-sized, weighing around 6 to 10 pounds. Their coat comes in four different colors, although the red and ruddy shades are the most common.
You can also find them in blue and fawn, and all of their coat colors have tabby ticking. Between their unusual coat, their stunning green or gold eyes and their lithe, muscular build, these cats evoke the picture of a lion roaming the savanna, albeit a very tiny one.
American Bobtail
Some cat owners love the look of smaller North American wild cats and enjoy the idea of having a house cat that looks like a bobcat. The American bobtail definitely fits the description. They have the short, bobbed tail, large powerful body and longer hind legs of a wildcat. However, they were actually created from breeding feral cats with naturally occurring bobtail mutations. They do not have any actual bobcats in their line.
This breed can come in just about any color, but it's the tabby versions that truly make them appear to be small household bobcats.
Bengal
A domestic cat that looks like a tiger or an African wild cat, the bengal is a popular hybrid cat that actually has wild cats as part of their breeding program. The bengal was created from breeding Asian leopard cats and domestic breeds such as the Abyssinian, British shorthair, Egyptian mau, Bombay, or ocicat.
Bengals are big cats, weighing from 8 to 15 pounds. These cats act very much like small tigers in your home, and they're not for unmotivated or busy cat owners.
Bengals are highly intelligent, extremely active, and need a lot of interaction and exercise to keep them happy.
Bombay
If a house cat that looks like a panther is more your style, the Bombay is an excellent choice. These sleek midnight black cats were bred to look specifically like small panthers. Despite their wild look, they're actually friendly and loving cats who would rather snuggle on your lap than hunt in the jungles.
The Bombay was developed in the United States by breeding black American shorthair cats to sable Burmese cats. They are medium-sized cats with muscular, sleek bodies and striking gold to copper eyes. Not only is their fur a deep black color, but their nose and paw pads are, as well.
Chausie
Another hybrid breed, the chausie is definitely a domestic cat that looks like a lion, or perhaps a mountain lion or puma. This cat was created from breeding the jungle cat (Felis chaus), which is native to South Asia and the Nile Valley, with some domesticated cat breeds like the Abyssinian and the oriental shorthair thrown in.
These are big cats that can weigh as much as 25 pounds. They have well-muscled bodies, long legs, and an overall "wild" look to them. Chausies also love water, which is a trait they've taken from their wild ancestors. They're known to be loving, playful cats that need a lot of care and attention. Because of this, they are not a good fit for the average cat owner who wants a more low-maintenance feline.
Cheetoh
A cat with a delicious name, the cheetoh is the pet of choice for someone who wants a house cat that looks like a cheetah. The cheetoh was developed by breeding bengals and ocicats and it shares the same look as the Asian leopard cat that is an ancestor of all three breeds.
They are big cats, weighing between 15 and 23 pounds, and have an athletic build like other hybrids. Although they are known to be sweet cats, they require a lot of interaction, exercise and enrichment to be happy, and they can be fiercely intelligent.
Egyptian Mau
The Egyptian mau is a truly stunning cat to behold. They also are one of the oldest cat breeds and are thought to be descended from the African wild cat native to Egypt. They are the only natural domesticated breed that is spotted, which gives them the look of a wildcat like a cheetah or leopard.
They are small to medium cats, weighing between 7 and 11 pounds. Maus have an elegant, lithe, and athletic body, and their back legs are longer than their front legs.
Their coat comes in either silver, bronze, or smoke with the spotted pattern.
Highlander
The highlander cat is also known as the highlander shorthair or highland lynx. It was developed in the 2000s using the Desert Lynx and other domestic cats. These are large cats that look very much like their lynx forebears, especially with their curled and tufted ears, bobbed tail, and tabby coloring and patterns. They actually come in most colors and patterns, as well.
The highlander is known for having a silly personality. They're quite smart and active, so they'd do best with an owner who wants to spend time training them to do fun things and keep them active and engaged.
Ocicat
If you prefer a house cat that looks like an ocelot or other small jungle cat, the ocicat is worth a look. Known for their beautiful spotted coat, they definitely evoke the look of a small wild jungle cat lounging in your house. They actually were created by breeding Abyssinians, American shorthairs, and Siamese cats.
They are large cats with a muscular body built for athleticism, and they do best with owners who have the time and energy for their personalities.They have been described as being dog-like and they absolutely adore their people.
Pixiebob
Another domesticated cat that looks like a bobcat, the pixiebob is a friendly and sweet cat that has a dog-like personality. Although it is rumored to have actual coastal red bobcat in its ancestry, the pixiebob actually has no wild cats in its line. The pixiebob was bred from tabbies with a naturally occurring bobbed tail.
They are big, weighing from 14 to 18 pounds, and are stocky, thick cats that have a similar body and head shape to a bobcat. Their coat can be short or long and comes in either spotted, rosette, classic, or mackerel tabby patterns on a brown base that runs from tawny brown to a reddish-brown shade.
Savannah
The savannah is a house cat that looks like a cheetah, although it was actually developed from the wild African serval. These are big cats that hold the Guinness Record for tallest domestic cat. They weigh about 12 to 25 pounds and have long, slender and well-muscled bodies, very much approximating the look of a small size cheetah.
Their coat has a spotted pattern mixed with stripes and comes in black, brown, silver, and smoke. Like other hybrids, they are described as being dog-like, highly intelligent, and very active. The savannah does best in a home with someone who wants to put a lot of time and energy into training and playing with their cat.
Serengeti
Another domestic cat that looks like a wild cat is the Serengeti. This breed was developed by breeding oriental shorthair and bengal cats to create a cat that looks similar to the African serval.
They are medium-to-large sized cats weighing around 8 to 15 pounds. The Serengeti has the typical athletic, "wild" build of similar hybrid cats. They are amazing athletes that will jump on anything they can in your home. Cat trees, shelves, and perches will be a "must" with this breed. Their coat comes in either a golden brown, silver spotted, or striped tabby pattern. They also can come in solid black or black smoke.
Somali
If you love the look and personality of the Abyssinian but prefer a long-haired cat, the Somali is an excellent choice. This breed was created as the long-hair alternative to the short-haired Abyssinian. Both breeds share the same personality traits, high intelligence, energy and drive. Due to their longer fur, the Somali sometimes looks like a shaggier lion or, at a certain angle, a fluffy fox because of their bushy tail.
Toyger
Like the name suggests, a toyger is a house cat that looks just like a tiger. They are a medium-sized breed, and are affectionate and social with people. The breed was developed from striped shorthair domestic tabby cats with Bengals to deliberately produce a cat with the stripes and rosette markings found on the body and head of a tiger.
Their base color is an orange-brown shade that changes to a whitish-brown color on the cat's belly. The toyger's body is muscular, with powerful hind legs, large paws, and a long, supple body. They weigh around 7 to 15 pounds. Although they're very intelligent, they also are known for being a more easy-going cat and don't have extreme exercise needs.
You'll Fall in Love With the Wild Look
Bringing a wild-looking cat into your home may take some patience. Many of these breeds are relatively new and harder to find, and you should research them carefully before getting one. Especially for the breeds that have actual wild cats in their heritage, be prepared for a cat companion that has a lot of smarts, energy, and a mischievous streak. With a little extra love, however, these cats can make great pets.
