With up to 71 recognized breeds of cats, there is quite a bit to consider when you want a new feline friend to join your family.
The different breeds of cats all have their own unique looks and traits. One such trait that a few breeds share is a tall, lithe body with long legs. This is actually a body type that is quite sought after, as these cats have a uniquely graceful, powerful, and majestic look about them.
It may even be an important enough trait that it helps you find out which is the perfect breed for you.
So, which cat breeds have very long legs? There are a handful of cat breeds that have very long legs, mostly purebred cats. Some of these include the Oriental Shorthair, Savannah, Abyssinian, and Chausie. Mixes of these breeds are also likely to have longer legs and lithe bodies.
Each breed has their own traits and behavior patterns, so if you’re considering adopting a cat with long legs, you’ll have to base your decision on more than looks.
Understanding more about the breed will help you find the cat that suits your family best. Keep reading to find out more about specific cat breeds with very long legs, their temperament, and how they stack up as pets.
Long-Legged Cats
As humans began to keep cats as pets, they began breeding them for specific purposes, giving each breed specific traits and qualities. Some cat breeds are still very close to their ancestral breeds from centuries ago, while others have gone through quite some change.
In particular, long-legged cats came about by breeding domestic cats with wild cats, who generally have longer legs. Many breeds of long-legged cats have some wild cat still visible, such as the Savannah cat or Bengal.
Long-legged cats are usually quite active and love to move around. Their longer legs mean that they can run up to 20% faster than cats who do not have longer legs. However, as they are active, long-legged cats are prone to sprains and fractures.
Other than trying to keep your long-legged cat monitored so they do not harm themselves, there is no special care required. You just need to keep them up to date with vet visits, give them a healthy diet, lots of play room, and a whole lot of love!
1. Oriental Shorthair
The Oriental Shorthair is a very distinctive-looking cat. They have a long body, long neck, long tail, long face, and very long legs. This gives them a very elegant and almost intimidating look.
Their intense and unique look makes them both highly sought after and highly expensive. Oriental cats can have a variety of different colored eyes. Their coat is short and glossy, accentuating their sleek appearance.
Oriental Shorthairs can be traced back to Siamese cats, and are often mistaken for the same breed as the modern Siamese, which has a wedge-shaped head and long body with Siamese color points.
Personality
Oriental cats are highly intelligent, and can even be trained to walk on a lead. They are also very strong-willed and like to do things their own way.
They are affectionate and love to feel connected to their owner. They need a parent who is just as affectionate as they are.
Being related to the Siamese, they tend to be very vocal. Orientals also love to be playful and spend a lot of time being active.
Care
Special care needs to be taken with an Oriental cat’s diet, as their long and slim legs are not built to support a heavy body.
Other than this, they are playful and adventurous. They need perches and cat trees to jump and explore, and the opportunity to get up high (this cat tree, in particular, is a great choice for these kinds of cats).
While intelligent and independent, they also love sitting and napping on their owner’s lap, and they do thrive off of love and attention.
Lifespan
Oriental Shorthairs have a lifespan of 15 years.
2. Abyssinian
Abyssinian cats are medium-sized cats, but for their size, they have considerably long, slender legs. They have strong, lithe bodies, with round, wedge-shaped heads and large eyes.
The fur of Abyssinian cats can be almost solid red with a gradient from dark to light or have bands of different colors, especially around the tail.
Their breed started with people noticing how their coat reminded them of the coat of a wild rabbit.
Abyssinians have a short coat that does not shed often, making them an easy breed to keep at home. Their long legs give them some extra length and make them look considerably bigger than their actual size.
Personality
Abyssinians are active cats but are easy to care for. They love being around people and other animals, and also enjoy time spent playing with toys.
As loving and affectionate cats, they will often make a soft, quiet noise when talking, and thrive on spending time with the people around them. They are a great family cat as they are both playful and loving, and are still able to entertain themselves.
Care
Abyssinian cats are fairly low-maintenance. Being active, they keep their weight under control with their exercise patterns, and they do not shed much. You need to ensure your cat has high perches and areas to jump and climb.
They will thrive with interactive toys, daily playtime with you, and other sources of entertainment such as window watching or another cat to interact with.
They do enjoy company, and this could be you spending time with them, or by having another cat or pet for them to socialize with.
Lifespan
Abyssinian cats have a lifespan of up to 15 years.
3. Savannah Cat
Savannah cats are a very special breed. They are oftentimes considered to have an almost dog-like personality, but these cats are driven still by their natural instincts that come from being bred with wild cats.
Savannah cats have very long legs, which is a direct trait inherited from their wild ancestors. Their large wide ears are ae also reminiscent of this. While Savannah cats have a similar body weight to other cats, they do seem larger due to their long legs and long slender necks.
Their exotic look makes them a favorite for many, as they closely resemble their ancestors, with black or dark brown spots along their body, and their slender, tall builds.
Personality
Savannah cats are driven by their hunting instincts, and this can be seen in their behavior. However, their temperament is fairly mild, and they make great companions for cats, dogs, and even kids. They are playful and active and love good playtime.
As A Pet
As they still have some of their wilder instincts, it is not a good idea to have a Savannah cat at home if you have other pets such as hamsters, birds, or fish, as there is a chance they would stalk and hunt them.
Other than that, they love companionship and fit into most families beautifully. They are a healthy breed and do not require much special care at all. As a short-hair breed, they do not require much grooming, but being playful, they do tend to get messy often.
Lifespan
A Savannah cat has a lifespan of up to 15 years.
4. Chausie
Chausie cats are fairly rare and are not easy to come by. They are a medium to large breed cat, with a long body and long and nimble legs. Their long legs make them suited to climbing and hunting.
They come in a few different colors, including grizzled tabby, black with ticked tabby patterning, red like the Abyssinian, or plain black.
Due to their size and origins as the descendants of Abyssinians and wild cats, they are also known as the jungle cat.
Their long legs, long body, and greater size do put them up there as one of the larger breeds, but they are not as big as a Maine Coon.
Personality
Chausie cats are highly affectionate and are inquisitive by nature. Still, with some wild instincts, they need stimulation to feel free and fulfilled. Their long legs suit their athletic lifestyle. You’lll often see them spending their time running, hunting, and leaping.
Care
Chausie cats do make good pets, and they are suited to both indoor and outdoor living, though the birds in your neighborhood won’t last very long if you allow your cat free range.
They get along well with children and other pets, as long as they have the chance to be active. It is important to provide them with toys and scratching posts.
Lifespan
Chausie cats have a lifespan of up to 15 years.
5. Serengeti
Serengeti cats are very attractive, and are a medium-sized cat with exceptionally long legs!
Taking some inspiration from their wild traits, they are highly skilled hunters and enjoy the freedom to roam outside.
If that dove that always coos by your window at the crack of dawn is annoying you, don’t worry; you won’t have to deal with it long if you let your Savannah cat outside.
In fact, in some places, it’s illegal to have an outdoor cat in general, let alone a descendant of a wild cat, as it is disruptive to the ecosystem.
They are a fairly new breed but are quite popular due to their beautiful coats and adventurous personalities.
Personality
Serengeti cats love routine and don’t like when this is disrupted. However, they are confident and friendly and form strong bonds with their owners and family.
With a love of heights, Serengeti cats are adventurous, agile and energetic, and are also known to be quite talkative.
Care
Serengeti cats form very strong bonds with their owners, and because of this, they are better suited to a household where there is one person who is home most of the time.
They are loyal, affectionate, and love to be involved in the family structure. They can be quite demanding, although friendly, so are perfect for a family who has lots of time, love, and affection to give.
Lifespan
The lifespan of a Serengeti cat is 15 years.
6. Egyptian Mau
Egyptian Mau cats are very strong and very active. They have a muscular build, and long legs. While being muscular, their profile is gentle and they do not have any other extreme features.
Their markings are beautiful, with spots on their body and tabby striping on their face. They are beautiful, bigger in size, and have signature longer legs at the back.
Thye are generally light grey to grey-ish brown, with prominently dark spots and stripes.
Personality
Egyptian Mau cats are strong and active, and love to be in control of their surroundings. However, they are very well-tempered and can be very affectionate. With a love for feeling in control, Egyptian Mau cats love to sit up high and survey their surroundings.
Care
You need to ensure that you offer an Egyptian Mau enough space to climb and jump, as they love being up high and will otherwise create a perch on the top of your bookshelf or cupboard.
They are easy to care for and love regular playtime. Their short coat is also easy to maintain, but they do love a good brush through!
Lifespan
The lifespan of an Egyptian Mau is 15 years.
7. Bengal
Bengals are a very popular breed, loved for their wild-cat, exotic appearance. Their size, long legs, and muscular build are truly beautiful.
Their larger size helps to balance out their long legs slightly but still makes for a striking appearance.
These gorgeous cats won’t be mistaken for common tabbies with their deep reddish-brown coat dappled with leopard-like spots and stripes.
Personality
While Bengals are thought of as wild cats who have been domesticated, they are very loving and affectionate. They form close bonds with the people around them and stay loyal to their families.
They love to be active and to jump and play, and this speaks to their curious nature, always being alert and aware of the environment around them.
Care
Bengal cats are very active and athletic. They need a good amount of space to run and exercise, or they will feel unfulfilled.
As a pet, they are loving and sweet and fit into a family well, as long as they are kept stimulated and given the freedom to play! They are easy to groom and love being brushed and cleaned.
Lifespan
The lifespan of a Bengal cat is between 12 to 16 years.
8. Arabian Mau
Arabian Maus are one of the few breeds that have come into existence without the need for human intervention and are a natural breed.
They are medium-sized cats with long legs and large ears. They come in many different colors, the most common being red/orange and white, black, and tabby.
As a natural breed, they are not too fussy when it comes to their diet, and they have a keen appetite when left to roam outdoors. They still maintain some of their hunting instincts, and their long legs help to run and pounce around when hunting.
Personality
The Arabian Mau is great with children and other animals, as long as they are introduced to them gradually. They will happily spend time both indoors and out, but their long legs make them good jumpers, and you’ll likely find them in your neighbor’s yard from time to time.
They are an independent cat who loves their own time, but will now and then seek affection from their owners and their family.
As A Pet
Arabian Maus self-groom often and are capable of maintaining their coat on their own. They do not shed too much, which makes them great to keep indoors.
Independent and adventurous, they are still suited to a household with children and other pets and quickly become a part of the family.
Lifespan
The lifespan of an Arabian Mau is up to 20 years.
9. Turkish Angora
Turksih Angoras are medium-sized cats with long, slender bodies, fine boning, and long legs which helps give them a very tall appearance.
Their hind legs are taller than the front legs, which gives them an elegant shape. With a medium-long coat, they are quite a beautiful breed.
The most highly sought-after color is a pure solid white, which gives them a strikingly beautiful look, but they can also be solid black, among other colors.
Personality
Turkish Angora cats love to play and explore and are happiest when they have some toys to play with at home.
These cats are loyal and affectionate to their owners and those who are in their household. However, they are sensitive to changes in their environments, and this could have an effect on their nature.
Care
Turkish Angora cats love to run around and play and should be encouraged to be active, because if they put on too much weight, it could put a strain on their fine bones. They need a good selection of toys and perches around the house to keep entertained.
Having a long coat, they do need to be brushed daily, but as they do not have an undercoat, it is easy enough to care for with no knots or tangles.
Lifespan
The lifespan of a Turkish Angora is 12 to 18 years.
Related Questions
How Do I Tell What Breed My Cat Is?
The best way to determine what breed your cat is would be to have a DNA test done. This will give you their genetic makeup and an accurate answer as to the breed or the breeds that they are.
What Is The Most Common Breed Of Cat?
The most common breed of cat is the domestic shorthair cat. They make up nearly 95% of the cats kept as pets in the USA.
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