Forget man's best friend: cats are taking over the country - on envelopes, at least.

New stamps to be issued by An Post tomorrow will feature four popular feline breeds - Maine Coon, Burmese, British Shorthair and Persian.

The cats, photographed by Amy Frenchon, will appear on the new 68c stamps.

They can be viewed and purchased at the GPO Dublin selected post offices and on the Irish Stamps website.

The Maine Coon is the largest domesticated breed of cat with a distinctive physical appearance and excellent hunting skills. The Burmese, with silky coats and big golden eyes are particularly good family and companion cats.

The British Shorthair is a medium to large cat with a broad chest, muscular neck, strong jaws and a well developed muzzle.

Persians are larger, heavy-boned cats whose thick coats can make them appear larger than their actual size.

Speaking on behalf of the Wicklow Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (WSPCA), manager Anne Fitzpatrick welcomed the new stamps - saying that Ireland has a great tradition of pet ownership - but she urged existing and would-be cat and dog owners to act responsibly.

"People are slowly but surely coming around to the idea of neutering, spaying and microchipping and we can't stress the importance of this as we try to bring Ireland to the fore in Animal Welfare. We encourage members of the public to visit their local animal centre and adopt a family pet."

An Post spokesperson said "They are simply the cat's pyjamas."