1. One of the oldest and most popular longhair cats. The quietest and least active of the cats breeds? Himalayan Maine Coon Somali Persian

2. Possibly the first deliberate hybridization of two breeds, it is a cross between a Persian and a Siamese. It's temperament is calm and friendly? American Curl Persian Himalayan La Perm

3. A well-built cat with highlighted paws and large, blue eyes. Its silkey hair is not a thick as a Persian's and is less prone to matting. It is believed that they are descended from the temple cats of Burma? Ragdoll Himalayan Birman Selkirk Rex

4. A big and surprisingly heavy cat, they are born white and slowly develop color and patterns over two years. They are a genial and relaxed breed? Maine Coon Turkish Angora Norwegian Forest Cat Ragdoll

5. Many of these large cats strongly resemble raccoons. They look their best in winter when their heavy, glossy coat is at its most luxurious? La Perm Birman Japanese Bobtail Maine Coon

6. A large size and long hind legs give this 'natural cat' a commanding presence. It is a superb climber and hunter and owners who live near streams often say that this breed will fish? Birman Norwegian Forest Cat Maine Coon Siberian

7. Originally bred in a cold climate, every aspect of this breed is adapted for survival in tough conditions. The build is large and its fur is strong and its undercoat is dense enough to keep out piercing winds? Norwegian Forest Cat Siberian Himalayan Nebelung

8. One of the most controversial cat breeds, this dwarf cat has short legs, but a very flexible spine? La Perm Munchkin American Curl Cymric

9. This beautiful, mainly white breed is the only domesticated cat who enjoys getting wet? Oriental Longair Turkish Angora Maine Coon Turkish Van

10. One of the few longhaired rexed breeds, having curly fur and whiskers. They are very active and inquisitive and being of farm-cat ancestry are also excellent hunters? Balinese Somali La Perm Japanese Bobtail

11. This breed has a bushy tail, arched back, and appears to walk on its tiptoes. A descendent of the shorthaired Abyssinian, it is also a very active breed, living up to its slightly wild looks. Siberian Somali Birman Ragdoll

12. This breed with a bunny-hop gait matches the original shorthaired Manx in all except coat, which is semilong and double. It produces 'stumpies' and 'longies' with some degree of tail, as well as the tailless 'rumpies'? Nebelung Cymric Selkirk Rex La Perm

13. The name of this new breed is German for 'mist-creature'. The silver-tipped blue hair gives them a luminous bearty. It is based upon a 'lost' longhaired strain of the Russian Blue? Cymric Munchkin Balinese Nebelung

14. Slender, fine-boned and regal in appearance, this social breed is happiest when it is underfoot or at the center of activity and is a suberb escape artist. Its ancestry is the Longhaired Siamese? Somali Siberian Oriental Longhair Balinese

15. This breed is graceful and athletic, with fine bones and a silky coat. Its single coat shimmers when it moves. Often confused with another cat with a similar name? Turkish Angora Norwegian Forest Cat Turkish Van Persian