Most Popular Cat Breeds in the UK

When choosing a cat it can help to do a bit of research into what different types of breeds there are. There are generally two categories that a domesticated cat can fall into, a moggy and a pedigree.

What is a Moggy?

A moggy is a cat that does not belong to a specific breed that is recognised by the governing registration bodies.

Their parentage is usually unknown and they can often be crossbreeds, meaning that their parents will both be different breeds; it is also very common for a moggy’s parents to both be moggies themselves.

What is a Pedigree?

A pedigree is a cat that is specifically bred to continue on the line of certain characteristics common for their breed and linage.

The parents of a pedigree will both be of an exact breed/type. A breeder producing pedigree cats must follow the welfare policies, breed types and coat colours outlined by the regulating cat governing body that they are a member of to ensure that they meet the required standards.

This doesn’t mean that all pedigree cats are purebred; there are some ‘permitted outcrosses’ allowed in the mating process. These outcrosses, specified by the regulating body, can be a certain coat colour/pattern or mating with a different type of breed that is not in keeping with the purebred requirements.

What Are the Most Popular Cat Breeds in the UK?

The gene determining short hair is dominant in moggies, meaning that most crossbred cats are shorthaired. However, there is no standard or common appearance for a moggy and they come in a variety of shapes, colour and sizes.

At the time of writing, the British Shorthair domesticated cat (a moggy) makes up 92 per cent of the UK population and is by far the most popular cat kept as a pet.

Amongst the breed specific pedigree cats, the Persian is the most popular, with the Maine Coon and the Siamese proving to be extremely popular as well; other breeds that fall in the top 10 include the Birman, the Ragdoll, the Abyssinian and the Burmese.