14 Cat Breeds with Ear Tufts and Ear Furnishings

Cats have many features that make them look cute and adorable—from their eyes to the way they wag their tails. One such feature is their ear tufts. Although tufts help in important body functions, they also add to the cuteness of cats. But not all cats possess these, and some cats do not have ear tufts or ear furnishings.

It is important to make a distinction here between ear tufts and ear furnishing and their functions to clarify things a little.

Ear Tufts: These are clumps of hair that grow over the top of a cat’s ears. They are also called Lynx tips because they are also found on wild Lynx cats. The main function of these tufts is to keep a cat’s ears clean from any dirt build-up. They also help in sound detection, letting cats locate their prey easily.

Ear Furnishings: Ear furnishings are hair found on the inner side of cats’ ears. These hair are also important in detecting sounds made by prey. Without ear furnishings, it would have been difficult for cats to hear distant, small sounds made by their prey.

To help our readers better understand, we have rounded up 14 cat breeds with ear tufts and ear furnishings to discuss in our article. So, let’s take a closer look at these unique features in some cat breeds.

7 Cat Breeds with Ear Tufts:

1. American Curl

These cats are known for their jolly and high-spirited personalities. They got the name because of a backward curl in their ears. The American curls are considered among one of the youngest breeds of cats. Curls reach their age of maturity in 3 years, so they exhibit the energy and playfulness of a kitten for a long time. The kittens are born with straight ears, and they curl backward after a few days.

2. Maine Coon

Maine Coons also belong to one of the cat breeds with ear tufts. They have easy-going and friendly personalities, which are desirable to many cat lovers. They have large ear tufts and ear furnishings, as well as large tufts on their paws, which are their distinctive features. Native to America, these cats have been around since the 19^th century.

They were initially used as farm cats but later became more popular as family pets. Just like the American Curls, the Coons also don’t mature until they reach the age of three. Because of this, they exhibit kitten-like exuberance even after they become adult cats. Their cheerful personalities and beautiful appearance make them popular among cat enthusiasts.

3. Norwegian Forest Cat

Also known as Wedgies, the Norwegian Forest cats best fit the description of cat breeds with ear tufts. These cats have a gentle and friendly demeanor with their owners but will shy away from strangers. These cats originated from the forests of Norway, which explains their fondness for sitting in high places. Wedgies have tufts on ears and paws and also have ear furnishings. They also have a striking resemblance with the Maine Coons and have a lot in common.

4. Turkish Van

The Turkish Van cats have white bodies with some color splodges on their heads, tails, and ears. These cats have a muscular build and love to spend their time playing and being active. Unlike other cats, they love water and are considered good swimmers.

This breed was brought to the U.S. in the 1970s. They are also popular for their affectionate nature. Turkish van cats also love spending time with their owners. Like other cat breeds on this list, these cats have ear tufts as well as ear furnishings. 

5. Highlander

The Highlander cat is a mix of the Jungle Curl and a Desert Lynx. They take the tufted and curled ears from their Jungle Curl parent. The Highlanders seem wild from their appearance, but they are gentle, social, and affectionate. They are also considered intelligent cats and love to play games and learn tricks.

6. Pixie-bob

The next one we have on our list of cat breeds with ear tufts is called a Pixie-bob cat. These are large cats and give an impression to be wild or intimidating, but this is not the case. Pixie-bobs are very gentle and have a relaxed and laid-back personality.

Just like other cat breeds on this list, the Pixie-bobs also have ear tufts. They love to play with their owners and generally like to be around them.

7. Turkish Angora

The last one we have on our list is called a Turkish Angora. As is evident from the name, these cats originated from Ankara, Turkey, which was previously known as Angola. This breed of cats is believed to have been around since the 17^th century. They are also called Angora or Ankara cats.

These cats have ear tufts and ear furnishings, and just like their cousin cat breed—Turkish Van—these cats also love water and are considered good swimmers. This cat is described as graceful and has an attractive appearance due to its shimmery fur hair.

7 Cat Breeds with Ear Furnishings:

1. Ragdoll

Ragdoll cats are being given this name because, like the ragdolls, they can limp when picked up. Due to this characteristic, they are also called Floppy cats. Ragdolls are very docile and are quiet-natured.

They make good family pets because they are not very demanding and are also very friendly and docile. These cats also have ear furnishings as well as tufts of hair on their paws.

2. Siberian

The next one is called a Siberian cat which hails from Russia. These cats are very affectionate and love to follow their owners because they crave their owner’s attention.

Siberian cats were brought to the U.S. in 1990 and have been enjoying popularity since then. These cats have ear furnishings and a dense coat that protect them from the harsh cold weather of the Siberian regions.

3. Birman

Birman cats originated from Burma, where they are also known as Sacred cats. They have a Himalayan painted coat, ear furnishings, and white tufted paws. People who like Siamese cats but don’t like their loud nature can find a perfect cat in Birman. They resemble Siamese in appearance but are quiet-natured. 

4. LaPerm

One of the four truly curly-haired cat breeds, LaPerm cats originated from Oregon in the year 1980. These cats were first discovered when one kitten from a litter was born without any hair on its body. LaPerm cats have curly ear tufts, ear furnishings, and a curly-haired coat.

These cats are small in size and are very jolly and playful. They also enjoy learning tricks, and you can even take them for walks too after you train them to wear a harness.  

5. Lynx

Lynx cats are considered wild cats, and they can be found in snowy forests. These are medium-sized cats that are found in Asia, Europe, and North America. They have prominent black ear tufts that are their distinctive feature.

6. Caracal

Originated from Africa and Asia, these cats are the only ones with ear tufts as long as 5 cm. Their ears are tufted as well as have ear furnishings. It is also believed that these cats use their ear tufts for visually communicating with other cats.

7. Persian Cat

The last cat breed with ear furnishings on our list is the Persian cat. It has a silky coat and velvety ear furnishings. They are also known as “furniture with fur” because they like to spend most of their days lying around and being inactive. They are gentle and have a sweet nature.  

As established earlier, cats have so many features and characteristics that make them unique and adorable. Some may have a unique coat color, while others may display unusual personality traits. From a hypoallergenic cat to the one without a tail to the one with ear tufts—every cat is unique and special in its own way.

No matter which kind of cat you decide to own as a pet, it is important to look after it and show it love and care. With regular vet visits, a well-balanced diet, and numerous cuddles, keeping a feline friend will be the most rewarding experience to have.