Ragdoll cat breed: some people believed that aliens have contributed to its development

Sokoke cat breed: the African tabby cat that once lived in trees and hunted only insects

Abyssinian cat breed: the graceful and daring climbing champion who almost never rests

Persian cat breed: the dignified, calm-loving aristocrat

Siamese cat breed: the slender beauty from the East whose fur is determined by temperature

Maine coon cat breed: the big cat whose origin is the subject of many legends

Thai cat breed: the traditional Siamese, which, although long established, has only recently been recognised

German Rex cat breed: the unique rarity living in the shadow of its English relative

Nebelung cat breed: also known as the creature of the mist, long considered a longer-haired version of the Russian blue

6 cat breeds for those who own a dog: a dog can be the ideal companion for the active Tonkinese

Kurilian Bobtail cat breed: for centuries it lived on a remote island waiting to be discovered

LaPerm cat breed: almost completely hairless and balding as a kitten, later growing a curly coat