Beautiful Big Eyed Cat Breeds
Some cat breeds have over-sized eyes, which make them mesmerizing to look at, as well as being super-cute. Huge eyes can also make your cat a real head-turner, and so large eyed cat breeds are amongst the most desirable.
We set our sights on 15 of the most endearing big eyed cat breeds to discover just what makes them so special, compared to other cat breeds.
Why do Cats Have Big Eyes?
The felines in our guide are renowned for the large size of their peepers, but most domestic cats have big eyes. For cats, large eyes are all part of their evolutionary development and play a key role in their ability to hunt and survive.
As part of the popularity of selectively breeding cats, some domestic breeds have gone one step further and have super-sized eyes compared to other cats and which can seem disproportionate to the rest of their face.
From a health point of view, there is generally no increased tendency of eye conditions if your cat is a larger-eyed breed, However, some, such as the Persian and Burmese can be more prone to cataracts, although these can also affect many older aged cats too.
More rarely, large eyed cats be born with eyes of different colors, e.g., one blue and one green. This is called heterochromia and is nothing to worry about.
However, if your kit has one eye that gradually changes color over time, or he develops pupils of two different sizes, these can be red flags for eye problems, and you should get your pet seen by the vet asap.
Top Cat Breeds with Big Eyes
The following beautiful feline breeds have some of the largest eyes in the cat world.
So, if you are looking at welcoming a saucer-eyed beauty into your home, you could find your next kitty best friend amongst our top 15 cat breeds with big eyes.
Elf Cat Breed
Eye color: yellow and green
The Elf Cat is an experimental breed that has recently taken the cat world by storm, thanks to its almost alien-cat like looks, triangle shaped head, Elfin features and intelligent, affectionate demeanor.
This quirky cat first appeared around 2004 and is a combination of the Sphynx and American Curl breeds. The breeders wanted to retain the hairless, velvet soft yet muscular body of the Sphynx but up the cute factor by mirroring the American Curl’s unique ears.
The result is the Elf Cat, which also has the most beautiful large oval shaped cat’s eyes which can range from golden yellow to a vibrant green. Very striking indeed.
Due to their hairless, sensitive skin, the Elf Cat is not particularly good at tolerating changes in temperature and so are best as an indoor cat.
Personality-wise, the Elf Cat is a sharp cookie, and is also very outgoing and friendly. However, these cats with big eyes are not clingy cat but still want plenty of love so make lovely companion pets.
Norwegian Forest
Eye color: green, gold or copper
One of the largest domestic cat breeds, everything about the gorgeous Norwegian Forest seems over-sized, and their eyes certainly don’t disappoint! Weighing up to 20 pounds as a fully grown adult, their luxurious and fluffy coat can also make them look even bigger than they are. And nestled in amongst all their face fur are a pair of truly stunning big eyes.
A native of Norway, this cat has been bred to cope with the cooler conditions of the land of the Fjord and are also accomplished hunters.
But that doesn’t mean they don’t make wonderful pets as their temperament is incredibly loving. However, their prey instinct means they need plenty of playtime to work off their hunting energy excess.
A close relative to the Main Coon, the main difference is that the Norwegian Forest Cat has large almond-shaped rather than round eyes, which come in shades of green, gold or copper. Sociable and affectionate cats, they make wonderful family pets, although all that lush fur will need regular attention.
Sphynx
Eye color: blue, gold or green
Another distinctive hairless cat breed, the Sphynx is one of the most recognizable cats in the world, thanks to its soft wrinkled skin, large, bat like ears and strikingly over-sized eyes.
Sphynx cat eyes come in a host of colors, from ice blue, to gold and green, and can also present as different colors. And the intense gaze of those large eyes is exaggerated due to the compact shape of the face, making it a cat that is truly eye-catching!
The name of the Sphynx is actually a bit of a red herring as this breed didn’t originate from ancient Egypt but rather Canada, where the breeding program was established in the 1960s.
While the Sphynx appears bald, his lithe body is covered in a super-soft peach skin fuzz which creates a velvety texture that’s a delight to stroke and touch. And, despite this lack of real fur, the Sphynx cat needs careful grooming as they don’t have the fur that would absorb natural oils on their hairless skin.
Best suited to life as an indoor cat, Sphynx cats are not as aloof as they look, and make a fun-loving, energetic, and playful pets.
Scottish Fold
Eye color: amber, gold, blue or green
One of the most popular cat breeds, the Scottish Fold cat combines sheer cuteness with an easy-going personality and distinctive folded ears. Add in huge expressive eyes in the most delightful amber gold, blue or green and you also have one of the most affectionate kitty breeds.
As the name suggests, the most defining feature of Scottish Fold cats are ears, which are small, fluffy, and unusually folded flat to give a much larger appearance to their head and eyes.
Natural born mousers, the Scottish Fold cat likes to be active and enjoy puzzle toys and anything that will test and challenge their agility. However, when it comes to cuddle time, they are also more than happy to get plenty of fuss and attention.
They are pretty vocal too, which lets their unique character shine through, which also includes enjoying lying in a host of odd positions, including on their backs with their paws in the air. Life is always fun with the big-eyed Scottish Fold cat!
Burmese Cat
Eye color: green or gold
An ancestor of the Siamese Cat, the Burmese cat is a handsome kit, and are surprisingly robust and muscular. This athleticism makes the Burmese excellent jumpers and climbers and are curious, affectionate, and playful.
With their short, super silky coat, this breed is low maintenance when it comes to grooming. And their large oval shaped eyes – usually green or golden eyes – and slim face really set off this feline’s handsome looks.
A cross between the copper-colored Burma Cat and the Siamese, most Burmese cats are a warm brown in color, although you can find them in champagne, platinum, and even blue.
The Burmese is one of the most affectionate cat breeds, with a huge personality that loves fuss. Burmese cats are intelligent too and crave human attention so can be a bit on the needy side and won’t like to be left alone for too long.
Tonkinese
Eye color: sky blue, aqua, violet, and gold
With a distinctive dark colored mask on their face, contrasting with their light gold or mink fur, the Tonkinese cat breed is already a head turner. But it is their exquisite large round eyes that takes them to the next level and seals the deal for cat lovers.
The eye colors of Tonkinese cats are both beautiful and exotic, with sky blue, aqua, violet, and golden eyes the typical hues you can find. Put this all together and you have a big-eyed cat beauty.
The Tonkinese cat breed first appeared in the 1960s and has been developed from the Chocolate Siamese, crossed with a Burmese. The result is a slimmer feline with a more muscular frame, defined by their large, color pop eyes.
As a pet, the Tonkinese cat is a huge amount of fun, and is naturally playful and affectionate. He also prefers to be with his human family than being on his own and loves to entertain with their almost kitten-like personality.
Devon Rex
Eye color: copper, gold, hazel, amber, aqua, blue, or green
Also known as the Pixie Cat, the Devon Rex cat is a cheeky chap, both in looks and personality. Originally bred in England in the 1950s, they share a lot of similarities with the geographically close Cornish Rex, including large oval eyes coupled with similarly over-sized ears.
Another distinctive feature in the Devon Rex cat is their curly coat, which can be found in a wide range of solid colors as well as tortoiseshell, calico, pointed and tabby. Devon Rex cats’ coat colors are lifted by their saucer-like big eyes which can be copper, gold, hazel, amber, aqua, blue, or green.
A fine-boned medium sized cat with very large eyes, the Devon Rex cat is both loving and loyal to his human family and make entertaining companions, as well as great kids’ pets. Intelligent, active, and prone to climb, the Devon Rex do however, need plenty of playtime, toys, and mental as well as physical stimulation.
Singapura
Eye color: green, hazel or yellow
One of the smallest cat breeds you can buy, and the smallest of the big eyed cat breeds to be registered, the almond shaped eyes of the Singapura give this cute tiny cat a permanent over-sized wide-eyed look that’s difficult to ignore.
With a ticked tabby coat, this small cat breed with big eyes is also very lovely to look at, and their whole demeanor is enhanced by either green, hazel, or yellow eyes to give them an alert and enquiring face.
Originating from the streets of Singapore, Singapura cats are also one of the few curly tail breeds recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association. Weighing on average between 4-6 pounds as a fully grown adult, there’s also a lot of personality packed into this mini cat.
Affectionate, inquisitive, and just a little bit mischievous, the Singapura cat is a fun addition to any home, and they love fuss and attention as much as they do their play time. Singapura cats are also very sociable and comfortable with other pets, so make great indoor cats for any home.
Persian Cats
Eye color: aqua blue
Famous for their super fluffy coats, Persian cats are also showstoppers for their huge aqua eyes, which can look particularly exaggerated thanks to their smaller head. The result is an extremely pretty cat that also comes with a gentle, almost elegant personality that loves to be loved and pampered.
This is a luxury cat breed that is also thought to be one of the oldest breeds in the world, having originated in Persia (then known as Mesopotamia) and which is now modern day Iran.
The Persian cat look is instantly recognizable, thanks to their dense, fluffy coats and large aqua eyes. Persian cats are a flat-faced breed – also known as brachycephalic – which gives them a shorted muzzle to further offset those saucer-like eyes!
As a pet, Persian cats prefer calmer home environments and will need a consistent grooming routine to keep all that fur tangle free and in tip top condition.
Russian Blue
Eye color: yellow (kittens), green (adults)
The Russian Blue is a premium cat that comes with a price-tag and are highly sought after as they are so beautiful to look at. Famous for their almost emerald color, the Russian Blue has large green eyes that are piercingly bright and wide set to give them an even larger appearance.
An interesting fact about the Russian Blue cat is that they are born with yellow eyes that slowly turn green as they mature to adulthood. Offsetting their startling big eyes, the coat of the Russian Blue is also a rich silver and the double fur is plush and soft. This all adds up to one of the most beautiful cats with big eyes you can buy today.
Their fine looks and huge eyes are also matched by their temperament, as Russian Blue cats are even tempered, intelligent and playful. They are also speedy – their legs are long – and enjoy their food, so can be prone to weight gain if not managed.
British Shorthair
Eye color: gold or orange
A medium to large sized cat, the British Shorthair are clever and affectionate kits that make wonderful companions. These cats with big eyes also love attention and have an easy-going personality that should fit in with most family homes as well as other animals.
However, as a pet, while they are not super needy, they do expect one-on-one pampering and can be a little over-protective of their favorite human.
Best kept as an indoor cat breed, British Shorthair cats resemble fluffy teddy bears, and have large, vivid golden orange eyes, which work beautifully against their soft fur, which can be white, blue, and black as well as tabby, calico or shaded. Blue and green eyes are occasionally seen in this large cat breed but they are rare.
As well as big eyes, the British Shorthair cat also has a chunky body and round face, with a round tip to the tail and ears. All to match beautifully with those gorgeous large eyes!
Abyssinian
Eye color: gold, green, hazel or copper
There’s a definite wild cats look about the Abyssinian, with its stripes, large, pointed ears and athletic body. But his personality is the complete opposite as the Abyssinian cat is intelligent, sociable, and ready for plenty of play and fun.
One of the oldest known domestic cat breeds, the Abyssinian cat dates back to the temples of Ancient Egypt – the breed has been found mummified in some of the Egyptian tombs – and there is certainly a regal look about the breed. And it is the big eyes which are the most remarkable; almond shaped eyes which then slant upwards and are highlighted with distinctive thin black line. Very beautiful indeed.
This is a cat breed that loves to climb and does need company, so another cat as a pet friend will help to keep him happy, especially if you need to be out at work all day.
Affectionately known as the Clown of Cats, the Abyssinian cat breed will also keep you on your toes so make sure you give him plenty of quality play time when you do get home.
California Spangled Cat
Eye color: copper, amber, blue or green
The wonderfully named California Spangled cat was bred to take on the appearance of a leopard, as the breeders’ intention was to originally highlight the conservation issues facing our big cats.
A mix of the Siamese, Angora and Abyssinian cats as well as the British and American Shorthair cat, this means this is another breed that rocks the wild cat look but is a total softie in the home.
With their leopard like coat, the large cool eyes of this gorgeous breed really do stand out, and are usually either a bright copper or warm amber, although paler blue or green colors can be seen.
With a reputation for being agile cats, the build of the California Spangled cat is lean yet muscular and their short coat is beautifully soft and easy to groom and maintain.
Growing in popularity since the late 1980s, the California Spangled cat breed is now more affordable and so makes an excellent family pet as they love to play and be at the heart of the action.
Ocicat
Eye color: green, gold or copper
Don’t be put off by the wild looks of the Ocicat, this is a soft pussy cat that loves to play and laps up all the attention you can give him. And those piercing big eyes certainly make this stripy cat a stunning-looking feline.
The eyes of the Ocicat are almond shaped and wide set with a slight upward slant and are mainly found with green, golden, or copper irises, but occasionally they can be orange or hazel. In fact, the only eye color not recognized for the Ocicat breed is blue.
A cross between the Siamese cat and Abyssinian, with the later addition of the American Shorthair, the Ocicat breed was officially registered back in 1966 and continues to grow in popularity.
A medium to large sized cat breed, the Ocicat’s body is lean and athletic, meaning he can be high energy at times and so needs plenty of play. And another good tip if you are thinking of getting an Ocicat – watch out at bath-time, as unlike other cat breeds, the Ocicat loves his swimming!
Chartreux
Eye color: amber, orange or gold
Our final cat breed with large eyes is the gorgeous Chartreux, which not only comes with stunning huge eyes but manners to die for.
Known for being a polite cat breed, the Chartreux fits well into a busy household as they don’t demand constant attention – in fact, they are adept at keeping themselves entertained. Alert, gentle, sociable, and friendly, they can however step it up for playtime when the chance allows.
One of France’s most popular native cat breeds with big eyes, the Chartreux is a medium to large cat with a large, round head and a coat that makes the breed look like soft, fluffy cats.
Their distinctive blue coat works beautifully with the breed’s eye colors, typically amber (ranging from light gold to dark almost pumpkin orange). You will never find a Chartreux with either blue or green eyes.
And, as the Chartreux is not a vocal cat, they use their large, expressive eyes to fantastic effect, so you will never be in any doubt how your furry friends are feeling.
