Coat texture & undercoat in Cat Breeds
Compare breeds by coat texture & undercoat. The ordering follows the characteristic itself rather than the alphabet whenever a meaningful order exists.
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| # | Breed | Coat texture & undercoat |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Close lying · no undercoat · firm adult texture The coat lies close to the body without undercoat; in adults it should feel firm rather than overly silky. | |
| 2 | Curly · guard awn down present · light airy · little undercoat Coat: curly; guard awn down present; light airy; little undercoat. | |
| 3 | Curly short or long · plush · moderate undercoat The Lambkin combines a curly Selkirk-derived coat with short or longer length; texture is plush and soft, with a moderate undercoat contributing to the curl. | |
| 4 | Dense · plush · curly guard down awn · coarse guard overall soft Coat: dense; plush; curly guard down awn; coarse guard overall soft. | |
| 5 | Fine · silky · single coat · no downy undercoat Coat: fine; silky; single coat; no downy undercoat. | |
| 6 | Hairless appearance · fine down · chamois skin Coat: hairless appearance; fine down; chamois skin. | |
| 7 | Hairless · peach · down · brush · straight coat variable Coat: hairless; peach; down; brush; straight coat variable. | |
| 8 | Hairless to fine down · minimal undercoat Bambinos are typically hairless or covered in very fine peach-fuzz down; they do not have a normal insulating undercoat. | |
| 9 | Hairless to fine down · minimal undercoat Dwelfs are essentially hairless or covered by fine down, so a conventional insulating undercoat is absent or minimal. | |
| 10 | Hairless to fine down · minimal undercoat The Ukrainian Levkoy is hairless or covered with fine down; it lacks a conventional insulating undercoat and may show wrinkled exposed skin. | |
| 11 | Long · dense · rich · plush Coat: long; dense; rich; plush. | |
| 12 | Long flowing · dense undercoat Coat: long flowing; dense undercoat. | |
| 13 | Long · silky flowing · moderate undercoat The German Longhair has a flowing, silky long coat with moderate undercoat: full enough for weather protection without the extremely cottony density of a Persian. | |
| 14 | Long soft silky · single coat · no undercoat Coat: long soft silky; single coat; no undercoat. | |
| 15 | Long · very dense · heavy undercoat · fine guard hairs The Persian has a very dense long double coat with abundant undercoat and fine longer hairs, producing the full stand-away texture that drives its intensive grooming needs. | |
| 16 | Medium long · dense · silky · silver tipped Coat: medium long; dense; silky; silver tipped. | |
| 17 | Medium long · silky plush · double coat Coat: medium long; silky plush; double coat. | |
| 18 | Medium semilong · silky plush · some undercoat · minimal woolly undercoat Coat: medium semilong; silky plush; some undercoat; minimal woolly undercoat. | |
| 19 | Medium short · woolly · hard water repellent topcoat · soft dense undercoat Coat: medium short; woolly; hard water repellent topcoat; soft dense undercoat. | |
| 20 | Medium · silky fine smoke or dense resilient silver bronze Coat: medium; silky fine smoke or dense resilient silver bronze. | |
| 21 | Medium to medium long · soft dense silky Coat: medium to medium long; soft dense silky. | |
| 22 | Plush dense · undercoat · short or long Coat: plush dense; undercoat; short or long. | |
| 23 | Rexed satin short or long · soft wavy · moderate undercoat The Tennessee Rex combines a soft wavy/rexed texture with a distinctive satin sheen; both short and long coats occur, with moderate undercoat beneath the curls. | |
| 24 | Rubber bald · flocked · velour · brush · dominant hair loss Coat: rubber bald; flocked; velour; brush; dominant hair loss. | |
| 25 | Semi long · fine silky · light undercoat The Tiffanie coat is fine, silky and semi-long with a comparatively light undercoat, so it tends to flow rather than stand away from the body. | |
| 26 | Semi long · fine silky · minimal undercoat The Oriental Longhair has a fine, silky semi-long coat with little woolly undercoat, producing a close, flowing appearance and plumed tail. | |
| 27 | Semi long · silky · cashmere like · light undercoat The Turkish Vankedisi has a silky, cashmere-like semi-long coat with relatively little woolly undercoat, becoming fuller in winter. | |
| 28 | Semi long · silky · light undercoat The York Chocolate was characterized by a silky semi-long coat with a relatively light undercoat, fuller at the ruff, britches and plumed tail. | |
| 29 | Semi long · silky · little or no undercoat The semi-long coat is soft and silky with little or no downy undercoat. | |
| 30 | Semi long triple coat · dense undercoat · water resistant guard hairs The Neva Masquerade shares the Siberian’s semi-long triple coat, with dense seasonal undercoat and water-resistant guard hairs. | |
| 31 | Semilong · fine silky · thin or no undercoat Coat: semilong; fine silky; thin or no undercoat. | |
| 32 | Semilong · heavy water resistant · two layered · variable silky to cottony Coat: semilong; heavy water resistant; two layered; variable silky to cottony. | |
| 33 | Semilong ragdoll group Coat: semilong ragdoll group. | |
| 34 | Semilong · single no undercoat · cashmere like · water repellent Coat: semilong; single no undercoat; cashmere like; water repellent. | |
| 35 | Semilong · triple coat · thick winter undercoat · water resistant Coat: semilong; triple coat; thick winter undercoat; water resistant. | |
| 36 | Semilong · woolly undercoat · coarse water repellent guard hairs Coat: semilong; woolly undercoat; coarse water repellent guard hairs. | |
| 37 | Short Coat: short. | |
| 38 | Short · close lying · little undercoat · rather coarse The coat is short and close-lying with little undercoat and a relatively coarse texture. | |
| 39 | Short coat with a slight lift, soft dense undercoat and coarser guard hairs. | |
| 40 | Short · dense · coarse · crimped guard awn down Coat: short; dense; coarse; crimped guard awn down. | |
| 41 | Short · dense double · plush · silver tipped Coat: short; dense double; plush; silver tipped. | |
| 42 | Short · dense resilient · moderate undercoat The Dragon Li has a short, dense, resilient natural-cat coat with moderate undercoat rather than a fine, nearly single Oriental coat. | |
| 43 | Short · dense resilient · moderate undercoat The European Shorthair has a functional short coat with resilient guard hairs and a moderate undercoat that becomes more evident seasonally. | |
| 44 | Short · dense resilient · moderate undercoat The Raas natural-island cat is best approximated as having a short, resilient coat with moderate undercoat rather than a specialized fine or rexed texture. | |
| 45 | Short · dense · slightly coarse · moderate undercoat The California Spangled was developed with a short, dense, practical coat, slightly firmer in feel than a silky Oriental coat and with moderate body from the undercoat. | |
| 46 | Short double plush Coat: short double plush. | |
| 47 | Short · extremely dense · plush · crisp Coat: short; extremely dense; plush; crisp. | |
| 48 | Short · fine close · light undercoat The Serrade Petit has a short, fine, close coat with a light undercoat, consistent with its small North African natural-cat type. | |
| 49 | Short · fine close lying · light undercoat The Korn Ja has a short, close, relatively fine coat with little bulky undercoat, consistent with other traditional Thai shorthair types. | |
| 50 | Short · fine close lying · light undercoat The Sam Sawet has a short, close, fine natural Thai coat with a relatively light undercoat, suited to a warm climate. | |
| 51 | Short · fine · close lying · minimal undercoat Like the Siamese, the Colorpoint Shorthair has a short, fine, glossy coat lying close to the body with very little woolly undercoat. | |
| 52 | Short · fine glossy · close lying · minimal undercoat The Mekong Bobtail has a short, fine, glossy coat lying close to the body, with relatively little undercoat in the Southeast Asian shorthair tradition. | |
| 53 | Short · fine glossy · close lying · minimal undercoat The Siamese coat is short, very fine, glossy and close-lying, with little undercoat and almost no plush stand-off from the body. | |
| 54 | Short fine or semi long silky · light undercoat Oriental Bicolors may have the fine, close short coat or the silky semi-long coat of the Oriental family; both carry relatively little dense undercoat. | |
| 55 | Short · fine satin · close lying · light undercoat The Asian has a short, fine, close-lying coat with a satin feel and relatively little bulky undercoat, reflecting its Burmese-family coat type. | |
| 56 | Short · fine satin · close lying · minimal undercoat The Bombay coat is short, fine, satin-smooth and close to the body, with little bulky undercoat; its gloss is an important part of the breed’s appearance. | |
| 57 | Short · fine silky · close lying · minimal undercoat European Burmese have a short, fine, silky coat lying close to the body, with little undercoat and a polished surface feel. | |
| 58 | Short · glitter possible Coat: short; glitter possible. | |
| 59 | Short · glossy · close lying · silky · no undercoat The coat is short, glossy and close-lying, with a silky texture and no undercoat. | |
| 60 | Short · hard glossy · little undercoat The Sokoke has a very short, hard, glossy coat with little undercoat, an adaptation consistent with its warm East African origin. | |
| 61 | Short · hard · lustrous · dense Coat: short; hard; lustrous; dense. | |
| 62 | Short medium plush or semilong silky · longhair no heavy undercoat Coat: short medium plush or semilong silky; longhair no heavy undercoat. | |
| 63 | Short · no heavy undercoat Coat: short; no heavy undercoat. | |
| 64 | Short or long · dense · moderate undercoat Highlanders occur in short and long coats; both are generally dense and substantial, with a moderate undercoat and more obvious furnishings in longhairs. | |
| 65 | Short or long · plush dense · moderate to heavy undercoat Foldex coats may be short or long, but the British/Exotic influence generally produces a plush, dense texture with a moderate to substantial undercoat. | |
| 66 | Short or medium · ordinary domestic texture · moderate undercoat Historical Ojos Azules cats were not defined by a special coat texture; coats were generally short to medium with ordinary domestic-cat guard hair and moderate undercoat. | |
| 67 | Short or semi long · dense weather resistant undercoat Aphrodite Giants may be short- or semi-longhaired; both types are relatively dense and weather-resistant, with the longer coat developing a more substantial undercoat and furnishings. | |
| 68 | Short or semi long · soft · moderate undercoat Kinkalows can be short or semi-longhaired, generally with a soft coat and moderate undercoat; longer individuals show more tail and body furnishings. | |
| 69 | Short or semi long · soft · moderate undercoat Toybobs occur with short or semi-long coats; texture is generally soft with moderate undercoat, and longhairs develop a fuller ruff and tail furnishings. | |
| 70 | Short or semilong · fine silky Coat: short or semilong; fine silky. | |
| 71 | Short plush dense or semilong Coat: short plush dense or semilong. | |
| 72 | Short plush or long soft · dense undercoat Scottish Folds may be shorthaired with a dense plush coat or longhaired with fuller soft furnishings; both commonly carry a substantial undercoat. | |
| 73 | Short plush or medium long Coat: short plush or medium long. | |
| 74 | Short rexed · soft wavy · reduced guard hairs The German Rex has a short, soft, wavy coat in which the undercoat dominates and guard hairs are reduced, creating a plush rexed feel. | |
| 75 | Short rexed · soft wavy · reduced guard hairs The extinct Oregon Rex was characterized by a short, soft, wavy rexed coat with altered guard-hair structure rather than an ordinary straight double coat. | |
| 76 | Short · shining Coat: short; shining. | |
| 77 | Short · silky · single coat · close lying Coat: short; silky; single coat; close lying. | |
| 78 | Short · single coat · close lying Coat: short; single coat; close lying. | |
| 79 | Short · single layer · no undercoat · smooth Coat: short; single layer; no undercoat; smooth. | |
| 80 | Short · smooth · silky · glossy Coat: short; smooth; silky; glossy. | |
| 81 | Short · soft pelt like · optional glitter Coat: short; soft pelt like; optional glitter. | |
| 82 | Short · soft resilient · agouti ticked Coat: short; soft resilient; agouti ticked. | |
| 83 | Short · thick · dense · plush Coat: short; thick; dense; plush. | |
| 84 | Short · thick · sleek soft Coat: short; thick; sleek soft. | |
| 85 | Short · ticked Coat: short; ticked. | |
| 86 | Short · tight · silky Coat: short; tight; silky. | |
| 87 | Short · tight · ticked spotted Coat: short; tight; ticked spotted. | |
| 88 | Short to medium · dense seasonal undercoat The Korean Bobtail natural type has a practical short-to-medium coat with a seasonally denser undercoat suited to a temperate climate. | |
| 89 | Short to medium · soft resilient · moderate undercoat The Ringtail coat is generally soft but resilient, short to medium in length, with enough undercoat to give body without becoming woolly. | |
| 90 | Short to semi long · dense seasonal undercoat Cyprus cats occur in short and semi-long coats; the natural-island type commonly develops a denser seasonal undercoat in cooler weather. | |
| 91 | Short to semi long · moderate undercoat · weather resistant The Aegean has a resilient short-to-semi-long coat with a moderate seasonal undercoat, suited to an outdoor Mediterranean island climate. | |
| 92 | Short · wavy · velvety soft Coat: short; wavy; velvety soft. | |
| 93 | Silky flat lying · little undercoat · short or long Coat: silky flat lying; little undercoat; short or long. | |
| 94 | Single · short to medium · glossy · fine · close lying The coat is single, short to medium in length, glossy and fine, lying close to the body. | |
| 95 | Single · smooth The Suffolk has a smooth single coat. | |
| 96 | Soft fine · semi long · agouti ticked Coat: soft fine; semi long; agouti ticked. | |
| 97 | Soft silky · short or semilong · generally nonmatting Coat: soft silky; short or semilong; generally nonmatting. | |
| 98 | Soft silky · very little undercoat · short or long Coat: soft silky; very little undercoat; short or long. | |
| 99 | Sparse fine coat · fur points · minimal undercoat Minskins carry sparse, fine body hair with denser fur points on the face, ears, legs and tail; a normal insulating undercoat is minimal. | |
| 100 | Sparse roan · reduced undercoat · hair follicle cycling The Lykoi has a sparse roan coat with reduced undercoat and characteristic bare areas; follicles cycle hair unusually, so coat density can change markedly over time. | |
| 101 | Thick double woolly · short or long Coat: thick double woolly; short or long. | |
| 102 | Very short · fine · lustrous · close lying · no undercoat · silky The coat is very short and fine, intensely lustrous, close-lying and without undercoat, with a silky feel. | |
| 103 | Very short · flat · soft silky Coat: very short; flat; soft silky. | |
| 104 | Very short · glossy · close lying Coat: very short; glossy; close lying. | |
| 105 | Very short · marcel waves · no guard hairs · soft silky Coat: very short; marcel waves; no guard hairs; soft silky. | |
| 106 | Very short · no undercoat Coat: very short; no undercoat. |
Breed comparisons describe tendencies, not guarantees about an individual cat. Approximate entries are kept separate from the canonical research record and can be refined as better evidence arrives.
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