When I told my friend I was writing an article about cat breeds with long legs, he was quite surprised, to say the least. “What do you mean – are there long-legged cats in the world?”
Not sure what he pictured in his mind when I told him the topic of my article. Maybe a feline with extremely human-like long legs? Or something even more extreme? I don’t know. All I know is that his reaction and genuine confusion made me laugh so hard.
This whole thing probably sounds silly to you and is not funny at all. But that’s just one of those “you should have been there” moments.
Anyway, if you’re also as equally confused as my buddy was, or if you’re someone who genuinely wants to know what are the most famous cat breeds with long legs, I suggest you keep on reading.
1. Savannah cat
The first kitty on the list is our well-known and beloved wild-looking beauty, the Savannah. This feline is a cross between a wild African serval and a domestic cat, usually a Siamese. She is a very lean and elegant kitty with a friendly yet fairly independent personality.
She is currently known as the tallest domestic cat, standing at around 20 to 22 inches tall.
In addition to her height, her appearance is complemented by her short and dense coat with mesmerizing cheetah-like spots usually in colors of black, brown, silver, and black smoke. Like any other breed, Savannah also sheds, but not as much as some other, long-haired kitties do.
This breed is also highly energetic, so she has to be trained and played with regularly. Her long legs simply have to be put to use (preferably outdoors).
2. Bengal cat
This large and muscular feline is a fairly new breed that was created by crossing the Asian leopard with a domestic feline, especially the spotted Egyptian Mau.
The Bengal cat is extremely playful and energetic by nature, and loves to view the world around her as a “bottomless pit of things to play with.” She is highly inquisitive and intelligent and loves to interact with both humans and other pets.
This cat is known as one of the largest domestic cat breeds in the world today, averaging around 13 to 16 inches tall, so no wonder she has found her place on our list of the most famous cat breeds with long legs. We simply had to mention her!
3. Abyssinian cat
The next on our list is the Abyssinian cat. For a medium-sized feline, it has particularly long and slender legs and a somewhat strong body. She is very intelligent and curious, and tends to form strong bonds with her human companions.
On average, the Abyssinian measures around 12 to 16 inches tall. Her coat is short, thick, and either dark or light red, depending on each individual kitty.
This breed is very playful and prefers to spend her time outdoors, possibly lounging on some high tree branches. They are also known to be on the talkative side, which means there’s never a dull moment with this adorable kitty.
4. Chausie cat
Created by crossing an Abyssinian with a wild jungle cat, the Chausie is another stunner of a long-legged fluff. She has a fairly long and muscular body and a short coat that usually comes in shades of tan, brown, and black.
Chausies average around 14 to 15 inches tall. They have an outgoing purrsonality, and are known as energetic and playful kitties. Because of their spirited nature, they are suitable for equally active owners who will gladly engage in many fun and interactive plays and exercises together.
Unfortunately, due to her jungle cat heritage, a Chausie might not be suitable for families with children as she may be aggressive toward them. So, if you have kids, and you want to get a feline friend, we suggest you check out other playful kitties suitable for families with children.
5. Oriental Shorthair cat
What a special and unique-looking feline, right? I don’t know about you, but I just love her big Dobby-like ears. She is so silly and adorable!
The Oriental Shorthair has a very slender body with elongated face. She is between 11 and 14 inches in height, and her coat is short and smooth and comes in a wide array of colors – black, blue, brown, lilac, cinnamon, red, cream, and others.
Personality-wise, this furry friend is very smart, playful, affectionate, and active. She loves to talk to her humans and enjoys being talked back to. She also enjoys playing various games like throw and fetch, and she dislikes being left alone.
6. Cornish Rex cat
The Cornish Rex has a fairly small body, but her legs are the main culprit of her height. This feline stands around 8 to 12 inches tall, a worthy contender in our list of cat breeds with long legs.
This cat has a muscular and slender body and feels much heavier than she appears to be. But her most prominent feature is definitely her curly coat, which is incredibly soft to the touch and has a very distinctive smell (that many people describe as “cheesy”!)
On the personality front, Cornish Rex has an extremely playful spirit that’s earned her the title of being “forever young”. She is also super smart, affectionate, and kind, and she loves to play with her owners, especially with kids.
7. Egyptian Mau cat
Another cat breed with long legs is the Egyptian Mau. This breed is known for its “worried” expression, which makes them quite adorable if you ask me.
One interesting thing about Egyptian Maus is that their hind legs are much taller than their front, which is a physical feature that enables them to run fast. Their athletic and elegant body stands 8 to 10 inches tall, and their coat is short with a randomly spotted pattern.
This breed is very gentle, affectionate, and well-tempered, making this kitty the perfect family companion.
They are, however, very sensitive to cold temperatures and prefer warmer climates, and are extremely rare and hard to find. So if you have your heart set on this interesting breed, bear in mind that it could be a challenge to get one for yourself.
8. Serengeti cat
The Serengeti was created by crossing a Bengal cat with an Oriental Shorthair. She was created relatively recently for those who wanted to have a true domestic feline who resembles a wild cat in appearance. This crossing produced a medium-sized cat with fairly long legs.
The Serengeti cat is 8 to 10 inches in height and has a muscular body. They are extremely active – they love to run, jump, and climb things, and have a very curious spirit. That’s why they are not a good option for someone looking for a calm and sleepy kitty that can be easily left alone at home.
Instead, they make a purrfect family pet because they are very affectionate and devoted to their owners.
10. Siamese cat
Many wouldn’t consider this well-known breed to be tall, but their legs would beg to differ. Her entire body is long, flexible, and athletic, but oh-so elegant and graceful. And when it comes to height, they are between 8 and 10 inches tall.
The Siamese cat has a beautiful short-length coat that usually has a pale main body with darker colored points around her face, ears, paws, and tail. Those points also come in various colors, like lilac, blue, seal, chocolate, and others.
This cat is known for her vocal abilities. She is noisy and extroverted by nature, and a true attention seeker! She is also very intelligent and able to learn many tricks but is also no stranger to being a lap kitty.
11. Sphynx cat
And the last feline on our list of cat breeds with long legs is none other than the Sphynx. This beauty has a truly striking appearance that leaves many people speechless. Her hairless and wrinkly body is also muscular, and her legs are long and slender.
An average Sphynx kitty stands approximately 8 to 10 inches tall. Despite being devoid of hair, she can come in many different colors, like white, black, gray, chocolate, red, lavender, and others.
And when it comes to her purrsonality, although she appears tough and evil, this furless friend is highly affectionate, playful, intelligent, and people-oriented, even when it comes to strangers. She is also known to be very talkative, so future owners should brace themselves for many chit-chats.
The Sphynx is a very popular cat breed in the US but is also one of the most expensive felines in the world. What can we say – beauty costs money!