18 chic as can be gray cat breeds

Monochrome moggies are some of the most popular amongst cat lovers, and as feline fans ourselves, we can see why. Their metallic hues ranging from silver to slate make up some of the most iconic apparel for cats of the domestic world. So whether you’re house sitting a gray cutie soon or you’d simply like to ogle at those smushable plush coats and that cloud-like appearance, let’s explore 18 irresistible gray cat breeds…

18 gray cat breeds

• Russian Blue
• Chartreux
• Korat
• Nebelung
• Norwegian Forest cat
• American Shorthair
• Domestic Shorthair
• British Shorthair
• Oriental Shorthair
• Turkish Angora
• Scottish Fold 
• Blue Persian
• Maine Coon
• Tonkinese
• Ragdoll
• Persian
• Egyptian Mau
• Ragamuffin

Russian Blue

Russian Blue cats - called blue but in fact a rich, deep gray, they’ll steal your heart with their affection and wit. Known as calm felines, Russian Blues are one of the few gray cat breeds with green eyes, at least, some of the time.

Chartreux

Originating in France, the Chartreux is covered in a dense double coat that’s a solid blue-gray. And their gray fur is as soft to touch as it is on the eye - these round-featured felines are chubby-faced and complete with a set of piercing orange eyes. And one last thing - their coat is waterproof (yes, waterproof).

Korat

The Korat (or should we say bringers of good luck?) is a gray cat breed originating in Thailand, where they were mentioned in ancient texts featuring poems on various cat breeds. Most likely due to the hot climates they evolved in, Korats only have a single fur coat, rocking a warm gray shade with yellow-green eyes.

Nebelung

The Nebelung is one seriously magical kitty - partly because their name translates to ‘creature of the mist’ from German, partly because their shimmering coat is silver-tipped. Yup, these cuties look as though they’ve been dipped into a lake of molten precious metal, which is why they’re one of the most popular long-haired gray cat breeds.

Norwegian Forest cat

There’s something almost regal about Norwegian Forest cats - maybe it’s the puffed-out chest or their notoriously thick double coat that’s fit for the harsh winters of northern Europe. Either way, this gray cat breed is pretty cool in our books. Why? Well their history goes all the way back to Norse mythology, where they were known as the favorites of Freyja, a Norse goddess. Some versions of the myths even have two Norwegian Forest cats pulling Freyja’s chariot!

American Shorthair

Maybe one of the most common breeds of gray cats, American Shorthair cats are well known for their tabby coats. Like other gray and white cat breeds, American Shorthairs are also found in quite a few other shades. Aside from their iconic outerwear, American Shorthairs are (at least historically) known for their top notch rodent catching skills. In fact, it’s the reason they were welcomed aboard ships (like The Mayflower) traveling from Europe to the United States.

Domestic Shorthair

A well-known gray striped cat breed, otherwise known as the gray tabby cat or gray tiger cat, these cuties in fact have a pretty large gene pool. Why? Well they’re mainly the result of natural breeding (rather than heaps of human intervention), which means they’re found in all sorts of colors and have evolved brains sharp as a pin.

Oriental Shorthair 

Oriental Shorthairs are the most angular-looking breeds of gray cats in our Shorthair range. Their sharp, striking features and long limbs make them one of most popular breeds around. Plus, those legs were made for jumping - Oriental Shorthairs are seriously athletic and aren’t shy of a fence multiple times their height.

British Shorthair

The last of our short-lived Shorthair marathon is the British Shorthair - maybe one of the most iconic gray cat breeds out there. The gray shorthair cat is a stocky, plump kitty with recognizable yellow eyes and a well-developed muzzle.

Turkish Angora

Like many other cat breeds, Turkish Angoras are found in all kinds of colors and patterns. Of the gray shades, they’re found in blue, silver, gray and white, tabby, and blue with cream. Another popular domestic cat, the Turkish Angora is topped with an endearing heart-shaped face and tall, fluffy ears.

Scottish Fold

As the story goes, Scottish Folds all hail from just one kitten who was born with folded ears, amongst a litter without the mutation. She was then bred with other cats to develop more folded-eared cuties, producing a well-loved breed amongst feline fans. Probably one of the most unique gray cat breeds, Scottish folds can be found with tabby markings and a whole variety of adorable colors.

Blue Persian

With their unmistakable pinched faces, Blue Persians are covered in an iconic, fluffy coat, which is called blue (but really we all know it’s gray). And it may seem harsh to call these cuties lazy, but they do sleep rather a lot longer than other cat breeds, so we’ll let you make your mind up on that.

Maine Coon

Known as the gentle giants of the feline world, Maine Coons are one of the largest domestic cats around. Playful and affectionate, Maine Coons might be one of the most human-friendly breeds of gray cats, and are referred to by some as the ‘dogs of the cat world’. Like other long-haired gray cat breeds, Maine Coons were built for water - their waterproof fur and snowshoe-like paws are there to prove it.

Tonkinese

A gray cat with blue eyes is striking, to say the least. Thanks to their Siamese and Burmese parents, Tonkinese cats are one of the longest living felines, and are complete with a face subtly darker in shade than the rest of their soft coat of fur.

Ragdoll

Another kitty with an above-average lifespan, Ragdolls can be found in the form of adorable white cats with gray faces. And trust us when we say that the fur of a Ragdoll feels like a cloud looks (and to be honest, these cuties do slightly resemble a walking, purring cloud at times).

Persian

Along with their blue counterparts, other Persian cats can be found with equally smushed faces and attractive white and gray coats. In fact, according to the Cat Fanciers’ Association, Persian cats are split into seven divisions based on their coat colors and patterns.

Egyptian Mau

The only gray cat breed we’ll chat about here with a naturally spotty coat, the Egyptian Mau has an almost wild appearance, resembling the undomesticated felines we all know and love. A gray and white cat breed, the Egyptian Mau is mainly found in cool tones of silver, bronze, smoke, black, caramel, and blue.

Ragamuffin

When we said Ragdolls looked like strokable clouds, we hadn’t yet introduced you to the Raggamuffin… This gray fluffy cat is born white, later growing into their stripes (shall we say) and gentle, docile nature. Fun fact? Some Ragamuffins are born with a condition called heterochromia, which means they’ve got two different colored eyes.

What about red-coated kitties?

From copper to marmalade, color is nothing short of eclectic when it comes to orange cat breeds. If you fancy learning about felines sometimes born with fiery red fur, check out our blog on all things orange cat breeds.