I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of cats with unusually large noses in various places on the internet and across social media. These cats seem to have had an upswing in popularity lately, because of their unusual facial features. Perhaps you like the look of them, and want to adopt one for yourself, or maybe you just want to learn more about their origins? Are you one of the seemingly large group of people, who don’t believe big-nosed cats exist at all? In this article, I will explore the subject as thoroughly as I can, taking a look at the big-nosed breeds, their history, and potential problems these cats might experience.
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6 Breeds With Big Noses
How many cat breeds are there? The answer varies depending on who you ask. While Encyclopedia Britannica only lists 15 breeds, The International Cat Association recognizes 73 individual breeds. What’s not up for debate is the fact that cats can be organized into breeds, with shared features, temperaments, and characteristics. This is a result of thousands of years of evolution and breeding. For example, some breeds will have bigger noses than others. Below is a list of the specific breeds known for their big noses. Whether you are looking to adopt one of these cat breeds, or if you just want to learn more, this list should come in handy!
Balinese
The Balinese breed is a mutation of the well-known and loved Siamese. They originate from the 40s and 50s, when Siamese breeders noticed some cats had medium and long hair. These kittens stood out in comparison to the otherwise short-haired Siamese, and the breeders eventually decided to develop these into a separate line.
The Balinese breed is elegant, with their long legs and tails, big ears, and of course, big noses. Big noses are most common among the modern variations of the breed, while cats of the older, traditional, type of Balinese often have broader, more round heads.
Similar to their Siamese ancestors, this breed is social, loving, and playful. They are very attentive to their surroundings and are known to be more vocal than other cat breeds. Thankfully for some owners, they are not very loud, though.
Many owners claim that Balinese cats are hypoallergic. Simply put, hypoallergic means that cats of this breed produce fewer, or less severe, allergic reactions. While evidence for this is mostly anecdotal, ongoing studies are being done to further explore the subject.
If you want to adopt a Balinese cat, you’ll mostly find the modern type, as the traditional line of the breed is not very common nowadays.
Oriental Shorthair
The oriental shorthair is another cat breed with big noses. The breed is closely related to the Siamese, which can be seen in the similarities in appearance the breeds share. The males weigh between 3 and 5 kilograms (or ~7 to 11 lbs), which is pretty average in toms across all breeds. The females are on the smaller side, averaging less than 3kg (~7lbs).
The Oriental Shorthairs are known for their many lovable and well-appreciated traits. For example, they are intelligent and attentive, making them easy to train. They are one of the breeds that can relatively easily be trained to walk on a leash. We’ve actually got a full list of these cat breeds here, if you would like to read more.
The fact that you can train them, does not mean that they’ll respond to your every wish, however. As with all cat breeds, they will mostly do what they themselves want, and cat owners know that their wishes are not always the same as their cats’.
Oriental Shorthairs are devoted cats, and they require equally devoted owners. If you adopt one, remember that this breed will demand attention and love. There are many less demanding cat breeds, which may be a better option for those with limited time.
If you do decide to adopt an Oriental Shorthair, make sure to keep an eye on its weight. The small, slender legs are not meant to carry too much weight.
Oriental Longhair
The long-haired oriental is closely related to the shorthair variant. In fact, they are so closely related that some breeder organizations even consider them divisions of the same breed. The name gives us a hint at the biggest difference between the two – the length of hair, obviously!
One of the many similarities between the two breeds is their big noses. Many people find them attractive for this exact reason. Their faces are sort of triangular, with a large muzzle. The oriental longhair is rare, partly because the gene responsible for the long hair is recessive. This means that it will not be passed down to offspring if a Longhair breeds with a Shorthair or Siamese.
Just like the Shorthair, this breed is active and playful. They like to play with their owners and will play on their own if it receives too little attention. Longhairs are agile, and specialists at jumping. The long, slender body helps with this.
The Oriental Longhair is a very loyal breed. Often, they become extremely attached to their owners, following their every step around the home.
Got other cats at home already? This usually isn’t a problem for the Longhair. They are known to get along very well with other cats, rarely fighting and causing problems. As someone who has owned multiple cats through the years, I know this is something I’d appreciate.
Bengal Cat
What happens when you breed an Asian Leopard cat with a domestic breed? You get a Bengal! These playful cats have one of the most beautiful coat patterns of any breed out there. Who wouldn’t want a cat with the looks of a miniature Leopard? They are very unique when it comes to looks.
The first Bengal cat came to life in the 1960s. A woman called Jean Mill developed the breed, after realizing that Leopard Cats did not make good pets. When her leopard cat mated with Jean’s domestic cat, she quickly understood that this new breed was much more suitable for domestic life. With Bengal’s wild roots, there must be at least 4 generations between a Bengal and its wild ancestors for it to be considered domestic.
So who is the ideal Bengal Cat parent? Ideally, a person who plans on adopting a Bengal should be prepared to spend a lot of time with their feline. Bengals are demanding, with their high energy levels, need for attention, and desire to play. Some even say they are dog-like, referring to their loyalty, love for their family, and desire to stay active!
Got other cats? Perhaps you should think twice about getting a Bengal. They are known to be dominant and have strong territorial instincts, which might lead to fighting. If your current cat is territorial and hostile towards other cats, it would for sure clash with a Bengal. Dogs, on the other hand, should not be a problem. Bengals are known to get along with dogs, so this should not be a problem.
A Bengal owner might need a little reorganization at home. You’ll want to cat-proof any shelves, tables, and other furniture that a Bengal might want to play with. Because of their high energy levels, they might wreak havoc in your home if left unstimulated for too long. Also, I strongly suggest getting a sturdy scratching post. Your Bengal will probably scratch on your furniture too, but a scratching post will minimize damaged doorposts, sofas, and tables.
Chausie Cat
Did the previous 4 breeds not meet your standards of cuteness? Perhaps the Chausie is for you then. Similar to the Abyssinian, but a lot larger, the Chausie is one of the largest cats. Just like the Bengal, this breed has wild roots. It is the result of breeding wild Jungle cats with domestic Abyssinians, and you can definitely tell that it has wild ancestors.
Chausies are one of the most active breeds out there, with bodies built for running, jumping, and hunting prey. Their bodies and legs are long and slender, perfect for speed and agility. As kittens, they are often described as “busy”, since always up to something. When they get older, they do become calmer, but they are active and playful their whole lives.
Their cheekbones are long and angular, leading to the large nose, or “muzzle”. While not all Chausies have big noses, there are certainly many that do. The ears are wide and tall and sit high on the head. Their eyes are beautiful, shaped like half-ovals. flat on the top.
Obesity is a concern for most breeds, and owners need to make sure to feed their cats the right amount and type of food. With Chausies, however, this is rarely a problem. The breed is active enough to keep in shape naturally. One thing to keep in mind though is that most Chausies need a gluten-free, meat-only diet. This is quite rare for cats, and Chausie owners often need to cook meat for their cats at home, as suitable store-bought alternatives are hard to find.
Turkish Van
The Turkish Van originates from central and southwest Asia, and is rare even in its place of origin. It first left its home region for England in 1955, and became known in Europe as the “Turkish Cat”. Later, this name was changed to avoid mixups with the Turkish Angora. In 1982, the breed came to the United States.
The Turkish Van is a large cat, and owners need to pay attention to the diet, to make sure the Van stays lean. Their bodies are muscular and long, with short necks. Turkish Vans are athletic and strong and can easily fend off attacks from cats and other animals. While it is one of the largest cat breeds, it may take 3-5 years for their bodies to fully develop.
Turkish Van kittens are born with pale-blue eyes, which change color when they grow older. They either turn amber, or dark blue as they age and occasionally their eyes have two different colors. The Turkish van is active, and generally friendly towards other cats and dogs. If you plan on adopting a cat of this breed and already have a dog at home, it is advisable to let them meet each other before you adopt the cat. This way, you can tell if they seem to get along, before committing to housing them both.
Famous Big nosed cats
Perhaps you’ve seen this beautiful guy? His name is Ralph, and he’s an Oriental Shorthair who’s built a massive following across social channels. Ralph currently sits on a sweet 89,000 Instagram followers, and it’s not without merit. The shorthair has certainly gotten busy, with over 1,000 posts at the time of writing.
Ralph seems to love the camera, and his followers certainly love him. Apart from his own social channels, he’s also become the subject of countless memes. Needless to say, Ralph has gotten famous, and might well be the most famous big-nosed cat in the world. Big props to Ralph!
Another well-known cat with a larger-than-average nose is Rita Ora’s cat, Bruno. He’s often seen on Rita’s Instagram account, posing and just living his best life in general. From the looks of it, he’s got a pretty interesting life. It seems that being the companion of a world-famous singer has its benefits.
While he doesn’t have his own Instagram account, he has certainly had a few moments of fame on his mom’s account. Across the multiple appearances on there, he’s racked up millions of likes, and Rita’s fans seem to love him.
Do Big Nosed Cats have trouble breathing?
No, quite the opposite. Cats with big snouts have large, open airways, which makes it much easier for them to breathe through their nose. Short-nosed cats on the other hand, often have problems breathing through their nose, which may cause a myriad of problems.
Nose problems are common in cats and must be an absolute pain to live with. Our beloved pets can’t tell us when they are ill, so cat parents need to keep an eye out for signs that our cats are suffering. A runny or stuffy nose is a sign that something might be wrong with your cat’s nose, and you should seek veterinary advice if your cat has persistent problems with this.
Some final words
Cats with big noses can be absolutely beautiful, with aesthetically pleasing faces. If you are looking to adopt one of these cats, I really hope that this article helped you find a breed that you liked the look of, and that would fit your lifestyle. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below, so we can keep the discussion going.
Hey, I’m Peter. During the last 25 years, I have owned and raised over 20 pet animals. On this blog, I do my best to share my learnings during this time, to hopefully help others.