CAT BREEDS

7 Domestic Cats That Look Like Cheetahs and Leopards (With Pictures!)

Are you on the hunt for spotted domestic house cat breeds that look like miniature wild cats? You’re in luck! Check out 7 spotted domestic cats that look like cheetahs and leopards below!

Cats That Look Like Cheetahs

For cats that look like cheetahs with beautiful spotted coats, check out the following breeds.

1. Savannah Cat

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The Savannah Cat is a crossbreed between a domestic cat and an African Serval (#5 below). They live for between 12-20 years and have extremely strong hunting instincts. They’re also larger than the average house cat, weighing in at between 12-25 lbs!

2. Ocicat

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The Ocicat is a medium to large-sized cat breed with a well-spotted coat, similar in appearance to that of an Ocelot. A relatively new breed, the Ocicat came to be as a result of an accidental breeding between a seal point Siamese and a Usual Abyssinian in the 1960s.

3. Egyptian Mau

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According to Purina, the Egyptian Mau is the only natural domesticated breed of spotted cat in the world, with all other spotted breeds being the result of selective breeding. Social, playful, and affectionate, this breed weighs between 8-12 lbs and has an average life expectancy of 9-13 years.

4. Serengeti Cat

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Bred to resemble the gorgeous African Serval wild cat (#5 below), Serengeti Cats were actually originally developed by crossing Oriental Shorthairs with Bengals, which gave them their wild appearance (without the wild tendencies!). With an average life expectancy of 10 years, the Serengeti Cat is a friendly and playful breed weighing in at around 8-15 lbs.

5. African Serval

Photo by ©Farinosa via Canva.com

Hands-down the most Cheetah-esque-looking cat breed on this list, the African Serval is actually a wild cat (not domesticated), even though some people keep them as exotic pets.

Being a wild cat, this breed is MUCH larger than the average house cat, weighing in at between 20-40 lbs. They also come with a very unique set of care requirements and risks. Consequently, there are strict laws governing the ownership of Servals as pets in many prts of the world.

Servals have an average life expectancy of 22 years and are considered to be the best hunters in the cat world. Definitely not a breed for the inexperienced!

Cats That Look Like Leopards

For cats that look like leopards with beautiful rosette leopard-like markings, check out the following breeds.

1. Bengal

Originally christened the ‘Leopardette‘, the Bengal Cat is a hybridization of domestic cats and Asian Leopard Cats. Known for their love of water, Bengals are an active, intelligent, and energetic breed that weighs between 8-15 lbs and live 10-16 years with proper care.

2. Cheetoh

Cheetohs are a cross between Bengals and Ocicats and are still considered to be a relatively new breed. They have an average lifespan of around 16 years, and males can weigh up to 23 lbs. While they may look similar to a wild cat, Cheetohs are actually very gentle, playful, and affectionate, and do well in families with both children and other pets.

For more breed-specific resources, check out our cat breed archives!