15 Cat Breeds That Didn't Exist 100 Years Ago On 4/12/21 at 8:28 AM EDT Like all other pets, new cat breeds can both naturally occur and be developed deliberately. As a result, there are now scores of different breeds, meaning there is a perfect pussycat suited to every taste. Newsweek picks out 15 cat breeds that have only come to exist in the last century. American Curl Close-up portrait of a white American Curl cat with blue eyes. The American Curl is named after its characteristic ear shape eugenesergeev/Getty Images The American Curl is named after its characteristic ear shape, which is controversial as this is associated with severe and painful degenerative joint disease.