- [Narrator] Cats were once thought to be mystical and magical creatures. But if canine companions
are more your cup of tea, you probably think all cats are the same: boring and uninteresting. Well, have you ever seen a moggie that looks like this before? What about this? Didn't think so. Buckle up as we take a look at some of the rarest cats that exist. But how do we know a breed is rare? According to the Cat
Fanciers' Association, the world's largest
registry of pedigreed cats, there are currently 45 recognized
cat breeds in the world. It can be difficult to track the population numbers of specific breeds because that kind of information isn't typically released to the public. But each year, the CFA
releases a ranked list of most popular cat breeds
that categorizes them by number of registrations each year. Simply put, the number of
registrations corresponds directly to the number of cats born that year. That means the lower-ranking
cats have lower birth numbers, making them rare. So, without further ado, let's get this kitty-fest going, shall we? (upbeat music) LaPerm. We've all seen long-haired
cats, short-haired cats, and even hairless cats, but
what about a cat with a perm? The LaPerm breed was named after the popular '80s
hairdo for a reason! You'd be hard-pressed
to find another feline that looks quite like a LaPerm thanks to its extremely curly fur, which can range from
wavy to tight ringlets or long corkscrew curls. Like a few other rare cat breeds, the LaPerm was a result of a
spontaneous genetic mutation in a regular litter of tabby cats. On March 1st, 1982, Linda Koehl, the owner of a farm in Oregon, watched a brown tabby cat named Speedy have a litter of six kittens in a barn. One of the kittens
stood out from the rest: it was long, skinny, and
hairless with wide-spaced ears. At six weeks, it
developed a sparse, curly, short-haired coat with
a classic tabby pattern. She named the cat Curly, and as more curly-coated
cats appeared on the farm, visitors told Linda she
was onto something special. She started a breeding program and established her unique
cats as the LaPerm breed, and the rest is history. They may look scruffy, but their coats are
light and low-shedding, meaning they don't actually
require much maintenance. As of 2018, LaPerms ranked #43 on the
CFA's popular breeds list, making them one of the
world's rarest breeds. Did you know that cats don't
have opposable thumbs like us? Instead, all the toes on a cat's paws are connected to their
feet with hinge joints, meaning they can't perform basic tasks like picking things up. You know what else they can't do? Hit that like and subscribe button. Duh! Why don't you go ahead and do that now? Prove to me you're not just a
stack of cats in a raincoat. Turkish Angora. As the name suggests, the Turkish Angora, which ranked #35 in the CFA's 2018 list, originates from Turkey,
specifically Ankara, formerly known as Angora. They're recognized for their
characteristic silky white coat and considered national treasures
in their Turkish homeland for their beauty and sweet temperament. In the 1900s, a breeding
program was established at the Ankara Zoo in Turkey
to preserve the breed after they were almost bred to extinction. But in 1962, American colonel Walter Grant and his wife were allowed
to take home a pair of Turkish Angoras named
Yildiz and Yildizcek, which kickstarted a new
breeding program in the USA. Although sparkling blue or
amber eyes are the norm, perhaps one of the coolest
things about the Angora is that it's common for them to have charming odd-colored eyes. The condition is known as
heterochromia and has to do with the amount of melanin
pigment in the eyes. Turkish Angoras are extremely agile and can usually be found in
unexpectedly high places, like the top of a door. So you'll have to keep
your eyes open to the sky if you want to own one
of these rare moggies. Chartreux. The stunning and mysterious Chartreux is a breed originating from France which is thought to have ancient origins. References to Chartreux cats can be found in French literature as
early as the 16th century, when they were bred to
be excellent mousers. Research has shown that the Chartreux probably
originated in ancient Persia and came to France with knights
returning from the Crusades. The first Chartreux were
staples in French monasteries, where they became fierce
companions for the Carthusian monks as they protected their
grain stores from rodents. These incredible cats are best known for their pumpkin-colored eyes, desirable blue coat, and
their rounded face shape, which gives the impression
that they're smiling. They are intelligent cats
with lightning-fast reflexes, which explains why they're
so great at catching mice. Nowadays, they do less mouse-chasing and more lounging about, as they are considered attentive and gentle family companions. But they're also incredibly rare, ranking #34 on the CFA's 2018 list, which is highlighted by their cost. In fact, a pedigree
Chartreux could set you back an eye-watering $1,000 to $1,500, so you better break open that piggy bank. Turkish Van. The Turkish Van is not only one of the world's rarest cat breeds. It's also one of the oldest, too. The breed has existed in the
isolated mountainous area of the Eastern Anatolian
region since the Middle Ages. This isolated existence helped
preserve its unique features until it was eventually discovered by the West in the mid-1950s. As you can see, this is
a striking, silky cat with a white body and an
extraordinary bushy tail. True to its name, the Turkish
Van is thought to hail from modern-day Turkey's
eastern Lake Van region. When Laura Lushington and Sonia Halliday were touring Turkey in 1955, they encountered some
long-haired white cats with auburn markings on
their head and bushy tails. The women were given two
kittens who traveled with them, and the pair were
shocked when they stopped near a stream or pond to see the cats paddling around in the water to cool down. Believe it or not, Turkish Vans are sometimes
known as the swimming cat because they have such a unique texture to their cashmere-like coats
that makes them waterproof. The Turkish Van ranked
#44 on the CFA's 2018 list and are even considered
incredibly rare in their homeland, where they're regarded
as a national treasure. About 100 Turkish Vans
are registered each year, and they can all trace their lineage to the original cats bought
back to England in 1955. Are you a cat person? Our feline friends might be intelligent and aloof most of the time, but they can also be pretty entertaining. Let me know your funniest cat
stories in the comments below. The more chaos, the better! I might even get back to the ones that make me laugh the most. Now, where were we? Norwegian Forest Cat. Cats come in all shapes and sizes, but have you ever seen a
beast like this before? This is the Norwegian Forest Cat, and it's not to be messed with. The robust breed developed
over hundreds of years of natural selection in a harsh climate, giving it a thick, waterproof
coat that protects it against the freezing
winters of Scandinavia. This badass feline originated in Norway and traveled with the
Vikings during raids, keeping their Norse longboats
and villages free of vermin. But by the 20th century, the Norwegian forest cat was
already becoming a rarity in its native land and was
at risk of total extinction. In the 1930s, plans were made to ensure
the future of the cat, but they were interrupted by World War II, which pushed the breed
even further to the edge. Finally, in the 1970s, the Norwegians put a
special breeding program in place to protect them, and King Olaf even designated them to be the official cat of Norway. Nowadays, they're a bit less rare, ranking #14 on the CFA's 2018 list. Their large, hardy stature
might make them look imposing, but they're actually a very social and people-oriented breed. Because it's so robust and resourceful, the Norwegian Forest
Cat is the perfect breed for a busy, active family. Who needs a guard dog when
you've got one of these bad boys? Korat. We've all heard about black
cats being bad luck charms, but Korats are quite the opposite. This breed is a symbol of
good fortune in Thailand and were even given as gifts to foreigners as a sign of honor and good faith. The first mention of the
Korat is in the ancient book known as Tamra Maew or The Cat-Book Poems in Bangkok's National Library, which is thought to have been
written in the Ayudhya period of Siamese history between 1350 and 1767. The reason why Korats are so desirable is their stunning shorthair coat color, which is described as silver-tipped blue, as well as their sparkling emerald eyes. In 1959, the first known pair of Korats were imported to the
US by Mrs. Jean Johnson after they were gifted to her husband when he retired from the
foreign office in Thailand. Korats have a vibrant personality and are notorious attention-seekers. They require the companionship
of their families and can become withdrawn
if they are left alone for too long or feel unnoticed. Sounds a lot like my ex! Korats are one of the
world's rarest breeds, ranking #44 on CFA's 2018 list, and extremely hard to come by in the US because breeding limitations
have been placed on them in their homeland of Thailand. Lykoi. Werewolves aren't real, but
werewolf cats certainly are. This is the Lykoi, which roughly translates
to wolf cat in Greek. This is an experimental new cat breed created from a mutation in
domestic short-haired cats over the last 10 years or so. The Lykoi, which rated #33
on the CFA's 2018 list, was officially founded in 2011 after two separate sibling litters of these unusual, partially-hairless cats were presented by Johnny Gobble, Brittney Gobble, and Patti Thomas. The founders did extensive
health evaluations to check that the cats' unusual appearance wasn't caused by sickness or disease and found that the Lykoi had been bred due to a naturally recessive gene. As you can see, the Lykoi has tall, pointed ears and sporadic patches of fur, while other parts of
the body like the eyes, chin, nose, and muzzle
are totally hairless. Despite their unusual appearance, Lykois are very loyal and
tend to bond well with people, making them the ideal choice for families. Am I the only one who thinks they kinda look like grumpy old men? Maine Coon. Maine Coons have one of the
most colorful origin stories you can imagine, because no one really
knows where they came from. As an attempt to explain their large size, patterning, and bushy tails, one of the most popular legends is that the breed is the result of semi-domestic cats
mating with raccoons, which, of course, is
biologically impossible. Another myth is that the Maine
sprang from the six pet cats that Marie Antoinette
sent to Wiscasset, Maine when she was planning
to escape from France during the French Revolution. The most plausible theory is
that they're the descendants of short-haired domestic cats
breeding with long-haired cats which may have been brought to America by the Vikings or European
sailors during the 1700s. Their muscular build and luxurious coat make them look like feline royalty. The breed was pretty popular
during the 19th century, but at the beginning of the 20th century, they started getting rarer and rarer. Their decline in popularity was so severe that the breed risked
extinction in the late 1950s until a club was created to
breathe new life into the breed. Nowadays, Maine Coons have not left the top five most popular
breeds on the CFA's list. Valkyrie the Maine Coon. Can you imagine what cats would
look like if they resembled these hilarious paintings of
felines from medieval art? If one of these terrifying kitties were to step off the page, it'd probably look a lot like this. Believe it or not, someone hasn't just Photoshopped
a human face onto a cat. This is actually a baby
Maine Coon named Valkyrie who is owned by Maine Coon
breeder Tatiana Rastorgueva. It's not clear what
makes her look so human. Perhaps it's her bone structure, round cheek, or old man beard. But the Internet has totally
fallen in love with her, so I just had to shout
her out in this video. Peterbald. The Peterbald is one of
the strangest-looking cats on this list. The first thing you'll notice is that they're totally
hairless with enormous ears that look like they could hear
a pin drop from miles away. But don't be fooled: Peterbalds are often born
with a light peach-fuzz coat which can change or be lost during the first two years of their life, so their apparent baldness isn't always a get-out-of-jail-free card for cat lovers doomed by allergies. They're a highly intelligent
and athletic breed that are often sought
after for their loyalty and general fun-loving nature. But the small number of Peterbald breeders also makes this cat one of
the rarest in the world. They're a relatively new breed and were only discovered in 1988 in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, where they were originally
known as the Don Sphynx. After being imported to Europe and bred with an Oriental Shorthair, the new breed was
recognized as the Peterbald. Because they lack fur, Peterbalds require a little more attention in the grooming department and should be bathed every other week. Hairless cats also have
a higher metabolism, meaning they consume more food than their furry counterparts. So you'd better stock the cupboard if you see yourself as a Peterbald owner. Burmilla. The Burmilla, which ranks
#39 on the CFA's 2018 list, is a medium-sized cat with
a muscular, yet elegant body that is best recognized for its
sparkling silky silver coat. Their overall look is a
little like a Burmese, but with a slightly sweeter,
more open expression. The breed first emerged when British baroness
Miranda von Kirchberg purchased a male Chinchilla
Persian named Jemari Sanquist as a pet for her husband in 1891. Before having the cat
neutered, he happened to bump into a precocious little
lilac Burmese female named Bambino Lilac Faberg. When a cleaner left
Bambino's door open one day, she was able to escape into Jemari's room, and, well, you can guess
what happened next. The result was a litter of
four shorthair female kittens that were so beautiful
that the baroness decided to embark on a special breeding program. The demanding and mischievous
nature of the Burmese mixed with the easygoing
and laid-back personality of the Chinchilla Persian gives the Burmilla an
irresistible, unique temperament. Nowadays, the breed is
still incredibly rare in the United States with very
few breeders in the country. The Burmilla is an incredibly loving breed and displays many kitten-like
qualities well into adulthood. Havana Brown. If you're a chocolate lover,
this is the cat for you. In fact, chocolate delights is the phrase often used by the Havana Brown enthusiasts to describe their luxurious, silky-smooth, milk-chocolate-covered coat, which showcases their
brilliant green eyes. The breed was purposely
created in the 1950s breeding chocolate point
and seal point Siamese cats with a dash of Russian Blue. They were first recognized
as an official breed by the Governing Council
of the Cat Fancy in 1958 and were originally known as
the Chestnut Foreign Shorthair before becoming the Havana Brown in 1970. Havanas are a curious,
people-oriented breed that always want to be center of attention and will be the first to
investigate a knock on the door or a crash in the kitchen. In 1998 through 1999, Havana Brown breeders in
North America were permitted to start breeding with other cats, like black or blue domestic shorthairs or chocolate or seal point Siamese to try and increase the limited gene pool. But the breed is still incredibly rare, ranking #42 on the CFA's 2018 list. Who knew chocolate cats
were so hard to come by? Tonkinese. There's no doubt about it: the Tonkinese is one of
the most beautiful cats you will ever lay your eyes on. Wrapped in a silky-smooth mink coat with sparkling aquamarine eyes, anyone is sure to fall in
love with this stunning breed. And as far as the Tonkinese is concerned, your whole purpose in
life is to adore them! These preened pussies love nothing more than to curl up in your lap
and bask in your affection. The modern Tonkinese was
actually first developed by crossbreeding the Siamese and Burmese. The very first recorded
Tonkinese was known as Wong Mau, who was bought to the U.S. in 1930. But there are mentions of the
breed in Far Eastern poetry as far back as the 14th century. American breeder Jane Barletta
decided to create a cat that was in between
the Siamese and Burmese and set about recreating the Tonkinese from an earlier period. She worked with Margaret Conroy, another breeder from Canada, and the pair bred Siamese and Burmese to create fascinating litters of kittens with tan coats and aqua eyes. Although the breed is well sought after, it's still pretty rare, ranking
#21 on the CFA's 2018 list. I don't know about you guys, but I'd feel inferior
having one of these beauties in the house while I
lounge around in my PJs. American Wirehair. The American Wirehair is a unique breed that began as a random mutation in a litter of six
domestic shorthair kittens born on Council Rock
Farm in Verona, New York. The first American Wirehair
kitten was a red-and-white male with a sparse, wiry coat. To his owner's surprise, every hair, including his whiskers,
looked crimped and springy. Local cat breeder Joan
O'Shea saw the kitten and was able to convince the
farm owner to let her buy him. O'Shea bred the unique cat with one of her neighbors' female cats and was thrilled to discover that the kittens were
all born with wiry hair, showing that it was a dominant gene. Besides looking like it has stood a little too close to an open flame, the American Wirehair has
no exaggerated features and is a well-balanced,
medium-sized housecat. They're known for being pretty easygoing and are happy to lounge around, unless they're chasing insects with their natural hunting instincts. The breed was recognized for registration with the CFA in 1967 and has appeared at the
very bottom of their list ever since, taking the #45 spot in 2018 and making it the rarest
breed in the world. Khao Manee. With one vibrant blue
eye and another ranging from copper to bright yellow and green, as well as a heart-shaped face, high cheekbones, and
shimmering white coat, the Khao Manee is a shoo-in
for any feline beauty contest. The name Khao Manee means white gem, and the breed is thought
to have been a favorite in the royal palaces
of its native homeland of ancient Thailand. Like the Korat, there are references to the Khao Manee in the ancient Cat-Book Poems. For a while, the breed was a
well-kept secret in Thailand, where they were given as gifts of good luck and good fortune. But interest in seeing these striking cats has grown in the West, and in 1999, Colleen Freymouth imported
the first Khao Manee from Thailand to the US and bred the first
litter in North America. Today, the breed is still
considered extremely rare, ranking #38 on the CFA's 2018
most popular breeds list. They may look regal, but Khao Manees are actually
very naughty in nature and will cause mischief
at any given opportunity. Something about judging a book
by its cover springs to mind. Bengal. On first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking the Bengal is a tiny wildcat with its leopard-like
spots and regal prowess. In fact, this relatively new
breed was created in 1963 by crossing a domestic cat
with an Asian leopard cat, also known as Felis bengalensis, from which the Bengal derives its name. The goal in developing the domestic Bengal was to preserve a strong
physical resemblance to its beautiful wild ancestor. At the same time, the Bengal would have the loving
nature of a fireside tabby, which would make it a pleasant and trustworthy family companion. Just look at how adorable
this Bengal kitten is! The breed was officially
recognized in 1986 and has grown in popularity ever since, ranking #5 on the CFA's most
popular cat breeds in 2018. Thanks to their jungle cat relatives, Bengals are a very active breed and are constantly on the move, climbing to high places and investigating their surroundings. Bengals can also be trained
to perform many simple tricks and will happily go out
for walks on a leash or play fetch with their owners. Although they're excellent companions, you should probably know that
Bengals are also very vocal. (cat wails) So you might want to
invest in some earplugs. Caracal. Aren't these the most
adorably unusual kittens you've ever seen? Those ice-blue eyes and pointed
ears are simply to die for! But if you'd love to cuddle up with one of these caramel-colored kittens, you should probably
know that it'll grow up to look like this. That's because the caracal
is actually a wildcat which is native to Africa,
Central Asia, and India. Although they're not officially classed as big cats as adults, they're certainly medium-sized and grow much larger than a housecat at 29 to 31 inches in length. They can also clock in on the scales at anywhere between 18 to 42 pounds, so these are certainly no lap cats! Although they're technically
wildcats, several years ago, the breed moved from the category
of strictly wild predators to be considered exotic pets that can now be purchased with a license. But owning a caracal isn't a decision that should be made lightly, because they have
completely different demands than regular domesticated cats. First and foremost,
they need way more food. In fact, caracals like to eat two to three pounds of meat a day. They're also pretty boisterous and have been known to be destructive, so you can kiss goodbye to your new couch. These rare cats are
probably best appreciated in their natural habitats. Which of these cats would
you most like to own? If you love hearing about rare animals, why not check this video out next? It's about some of the rare animals you'll want to save that are dying out, so you'd better hurry! Thanks for watching, guys. (cheerful music)
