13 Smartest Cat Breeds

Key Takeaways

Intelligent cat breeds generally have a high energy level and a mischievous streak due to their inquisitive nature.
Smart cats enjoy challenges, learning tricks, and playing interactive games. They understand household routines and are often more adept at problem-solving.
A cat's intelligence can be likened to that of a human toddler, showcasing abilities such as object permanence, working memory, and recognizing human cues.

Cats are often regarded as very intelligent pets, especially compared to many other animals. The smartest cat breeds are capable of impressive feats. Identifying intelligent cats isn't hardï¿½they're trainable, sociable with other animals, and quick to adapt to new environments.

If you're considering a clever kitty, explore these 13 of the smartest cat breeds.

Tip

Environmental enrichment, such as food puzzles, can help prevent boredom in all cats and is especially beneficial to intelligent cats. Without some kind of outlet to challenge them mentally, smart cats can develop behavioral problems.

The Top 10 Smartest Pets

01 of 13

Abyssinian

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Getty Images/Josef Timar

The Abyssinian is a sleek, athletic, and affectionate cat. Known for their intelligence, they closely follow their family's activities. They delight in heights, often perching above to observe their surroundings.

Of all the cat types, this one learns tricks quickly and will enjoy running a feline agility course. Generally, they're not lap cats but love getting petted or brushed. They also tend to enjoy the company of other animals and adapt well to most living arrangements.

Breed Overview

Height: 8 to 10 inches
Weight: 8 to 12 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Friendly, interactive, animated
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Short hair; ruddy, red, blue, cinnamon, or fawn; solid, ticked
Life Span: 15 years
02 of 13

Balinese

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aleishaknight / Getty Images

The Balinese is one of the smartest cat breeds and is the long-haired version of the Siamese cat breed. They tend to be active cats that love to investigate everything their humans are doing. They're also chatty cats, often vocalizing their opinions.

Keep this kitty active with puzzles or teaser toys and a big cat tree for climbing. This breed can learn to fetch, walk on a leash, and figure out tricks quickly. They're typically affectionate with their families but can get into mischief exploring their home if left unstimulated for too long.

Breed Overview

Height: 6 to 7 inches
Weight: 8 to 12 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Loving, outgoing, intelligent
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Long hair; creamy white body with a variety of possible color points on the face, ears, legs, and tail
Life Span: 12 to 20 years
03 of 13

Bengal

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Seregraff / Getty Images

The Bengal is perhaps best known for their exotic coat that resembles a jaguar or leopard. This breed originated from crossing a domestic cat with an Asian leopard cat. Bengal cats are highly intelligent, athletic, and still a bit wild. They love to run, jump, climb, and play.

They require ample space for exercise (especially vertical space) and mental challenges, such as puzzle games and toys. Their nimble paws are almost as good as hands. Some can turn light switches on and off, pluck out pet fish from aquariums, and pull out small items from drawers.

Breed Overview

Height: 10 to 16 inches
Weight: 8 to 15 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Affectionate, energetic, animated
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Short or long hair; brown tabby, seal sepia tabby, seal mink tabby, seal lynx point, black silver tabby, seal silver sepia tabby, seal silver mink tabby, and seal silver lynx point; spotted or marbled
Life Span: 15 years

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04 of 13

Burmese

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The Spruce / Kristie Lee

The Burmese is an energetic and friendly breed that loves to engage with people. These cats are clever, adaptable, playful, and trainable. Besides doing commands such as sit, roll over, wave, and come, this breed can fetch a small toy or walk on a leash.

With early conditioning, car rides and vet visits will be a breeze. They thrive on socialization and prefer company, including other animals. A companion at home prevents loneliness and the boredom that often leads to mischief.

Breed Overview

Height: 10 to 12 inches
Weight: 8 to 12 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Friendly, affectionate, playful
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Short hair; sable, champagne, platinum, blue, and variations of each
Life Span: 18 years

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05 of 13

Cornish Rex

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wildcat78 / Getty Images

These cats are active and friendly, and some say they're rather dog-like in their play, even into their senior years. Many enjoy games of fetch or performing tricks like playing the piano.

This kitty's long toes enable them to open doors and cabinets with ease, which means child safety locks might be an option to consider. This spry creature also has the uncanny ability to vault to the highest point in the room. But the most unique physical feature of the Cornish rex is their wavy coat.

Breed Overview

Height: 12 to 14 inches
Weight: 6 to 10 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Sociable, interactive, playful
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Short, curly hair; black, blue, lilac, brown, chocolate, red, cream, smoke; bicolor, calico, tabby, spotted, colorpoint
Life Span: 20 years
06 of 13

Havana Brown

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Cavan Images / Getty Images

The Havana brown is a beautiful cat with a silky, chocolate-colored coat. This is a relatively rare cat breed that originated from crossing the Siamese with several other breeds. They're typically intelligent, inquisitive, and chatty cats who love socialization with their families.

They're moderately energetic and prefer interactive toys like teasers and puzzles to challenge them mentally and physically.

Breed Overview

Height: 11 inches
Weight: 8 to 10 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Outgoing, playful, alert
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Short to medium hair; brown
Life Span: 10 to 15 years
07 of 13

Korat

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Jacques Julien / Getty Images

The Korat, named for a province in Thailand, is another rare breed. This cat is considered good luck in their homeland. They're brilliant and attentive to the world around them. Korats are moderately energetic and enjoy interactive games, but they also love their naps. This breed can learn tricks, like playing fetch and walking on a leash.

If you reward this cat with praise or treats, you can easily teach it the household rules. This kitty loves toys but is sometimes too stubborn to share with others. If you have plenty of toys, that should solve the problem. They thrive on attention and are typically affectionate with their families.

Breed Overview

Height: 10 to 12 inches
Weight: 6 to 11 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Intelligent, social, friendly
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Short hair; blue-gray with silver tips
Life Span: 15 to 19 years
08 of 13

Savannah

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ajr_images / Getty Images

The Savannah is a rare and exotic breed with high intelligence. Developed by crossing wild African servals with domestic cats, this large hybrid kept some of their wild side in their appearance and attitude. They need lots of space to run, jump, and play. And they get bored quickly; they require sufficient interaction and environmental stimulation.

This breed will take walks, seek out water to play in, and rummage through nooks, drawers, cabinets, and boxes. They can even turn on the faucet! Make sure you protect fine china and other breakables on shelves since this leaping kitty loves to climb and explore.

Breed Overview

Height: 12 to 14 inches
Weight: 20 to 30 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Affectionate, social, intelligent
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Short to medium hair; tawny, black/brown spotted tabby, black/silver spotted tabby, or black smoke with a solid or tabby pattern
Life Span: 20 years

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09 of 13

Siamese

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Sasha L'Estrange-Bell / Getty Images

One of the world's most popular and recognizable cat breeds, the Siamese is also one of the smartest cat breeds. They’re known for their beautiful coat, curious nature, and chatty tendency. These cats are intelligent, affectionate, and energetic. They love to play and crave attention and company.

Keep this kitty's brain busy with puzzles and teaser toys. If you can, get a big cat tree for climbing; this kitty would appreciate it, as they were born to climb and perch.

Breed Overview

Height: 8 to 10 inches
Weight: 8 to 10 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Sociable, friendly, vocal
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Short hair; seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac colorpoints
Life Span: 12 years

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10 of 13

Singapura

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Viktor / Getty Images

As its name implies, the Singapura breed originated on the streets of Singapore. The breed came to the U.S. during the 1970s and is still considered rare. These small cats are generally playful, outgoing, and curious. And they love to be involved with what their humans are doing.

They're rather active and love to climb, so make sure to provide plenty of vertical space. This mischievous kitty will climb curtains or leap up to your shoulder as you walk by for a ride. They can also chase small balls down the hall and tickle the ivories, too.

Breed Overview

Height: 7 to 8 inches
Weight: 5 to 8 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Energetic, intelligent, social
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Short hair; sepia agouti; tabby
Life Span: 11 to 15 years

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11 of 13

Scottish Fold

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Nico De Pasquale Photography / Getty Images

The Scottish fold is a unique breed from Scotland that has adorable ears that fold forward rather than stand straight up like other cats. These easygoing kitties are sociable and make great family pets. They enjoy the company of people, other pets, and children who know how to handle them gently.

As one of the smartest cat breeds, you can give your Scottish fold a variety of toys to stay occupied and mentally stimulated. Provide interactive toys and enrich their environment with perches and cat trees that they can use for climbing and observing their surroundings.

Breed Overview

Height: 8 to 10 inches
Weight: Up to 11 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Affectionate, sociable, playful
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Short hair; less common long hair variant; brown, gray, black, red, cream, white; tabby, tortoiseshell, calico
Life Span: 14 years
12 of 13

Persian

Persian Cat in Garden. Credit: © Getty / Andrea Kamal

Although there are myths that the Persian is not one of the smartest cat breeds, they are actually intelligent in their own unique ways. For example, they have high social intelligence that allows them to pick up on their humans’ emotions. This breed has a long history dating back to at least the 1500s, so they’ve been around people for a very long time.

Persian cats are sweet, calm, and gentle, and should be handled gently. They can do well in homes with children who know how to interact with them respectfully, and they can get along with docile dogs and other cats. Though they’re known for being laid-back, they’ll certainly enjoy playing with various toys.

Breed Overview

Height: 10 to 15 inches
Weight: 7 to 12 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Sweet, gentle, affectionate
Energy Level: Low
Coat and Color: Long hair; blue, black, white, red, cream, chocolate, lilac, silver, golden; solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, bicolor
Life Span: 15 to 20 years

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13 of 13

Turkish Angora

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Anna Volgina/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

The Turkish Angora is one of those cats that can exhibit their intelligence by being a little mischievous. Don’t be surprised if this cat turns on your faucets, opens your cabinets, and knocks things off shelves and tables. They have a high amount of energy to burn, so enrich their environment with toys and perches, and spend a lot of time interacting with them to keep them happy.

They become bored easily, so they need a lot of attention from you, and they will enjoy the company of other pets. They can also be demanding and needy and they don’t like being alone.

Breed Overview

Height: 9 to 14 inches
Weight: Up to 9 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Playful, social, intelligent
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Long hair; white with lavender, chocolate; tabby, solid, bicolor, Himalayan, calico, tortoiseshell, and colorpoint
Life Span: 15 years

Breed Characteristics

Commonalities among intelligent cats are that they usually have a lot of energy and a mischievous streak. That naughtiness is more about how inquisitive they are.

Most brainy kitties enjoy challenges, learning tricks, and playing interactive games. These felines also understand household routines, like when you usually get home, mealtimes, and when to expect certain activities.

The smartest cat breeds are also more likely to do things like open doors, and might even figure out ways to get to their food and treats even when you do your best to hide them. They can probably understand what you mean when you say certain words, and may pick up on how you feel.

What Is the Average IQ of a Cat?

A cat’s IQ has been compared to that of a human toddler. Studies have found that cats have various smarts, such as object permanence, working memory, sensitivity to human cues, and more. In addition, cats can recognize different people’s voices, and can tell the difference between various quantities and short and long periods of time.

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Key Takeaways

Tip

Abyssinian

Breed Overview

Balinese

Breed Overview

Bengal

Breed Overview

Burmese

Breed Overview

Cornish Rex

Breed Overview

Havana Brown

Breed Overview

Korat

Breed Overview

Savannah

Breed Overview

Siamese

Breed Overview

Singapura

Breed Overview

Scottish Fold

Breed Overview

Persian

Breed Overview

Turkish Angora

Breed Overview

Breed Characteristics

What Is the Average IQ of a Cat?

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