Short hair for wild cats is the most suitable. It is easier to keep clean, it is easier to get rid of parasites and prevent the appearance of warlocks. Long fur appeared on the wild ancestors of our pets only in cold climates, when the animal had to live at very low temperatures. Short fur is a genetically dominant feline trait, so cats with short hair will always exist.
There are quite a few types of short fur: soft and fine Rex fur, smooth, shiny Siamese hair, dense fur coat of Manx. But in general, no matter what breed of shorthair cats we consider, there are only three main categories: American, British, and Oriental. We are best known for British and European Shorthair.
Shorthair british
British Shorthair cats are the favorites of all cat people . The breed was first bred in the UK at the end of the 18th century. To obtain a new breed, an English domestic cat and a Persian were crossed. But that long-bred breed has nothing to do with current British cats.
The modern breed of British Shorthair cats has a rather large body size, massive legs, a large and round head with a large leather fold. Low ears, a wide, shortened nose, a short plush fur and a thick straight tail - these are the external signs that in general terms can characterize this breed.
But what this breed is rich in is a large selection of colors. British Shorthair cats have more than 200 different variants! This is a solid color of white, blue, red and even lilac color without any spots and patterns. For kitties, girls are characterized by a tortoiseshell mixture of colorful spots. Smoky Britons are also found with a distinctive coloring of the protruding parts of the body (ears, muzzle, paws, tail). In some species, the combination of white with the main color is clearly emphasized, and funny, but one animal’s ear is always painted in a different color. There are cats with a tiger pattern, with chinchilla color and many others.
British shorthair cats are great for living in a city apartment. They are beautiful, spectacular, smart, calm, clean. One can endlessly be surprised at how affectionate and companionable they are, kind and understanding. The British do not require complicated care, they do not need to be combed out. But although they are selective in food, they still love to eat! Therefore, if they are not restrained, then very soon they will turn into fat and lazy.
European Shorthair
European short-haired cats were bred in the middle of the 20th century. At first glance, it seems that this is a completely ordinary domestic cat. But she has an amazing ability - she is a very good hunter. The qualities of an excellent Pied Piper were obtained as a result of selection. And outwardly she does not represent anything special: a strong muscular body of medium size, a rounded head with round cheeks, medium sized ears and a wide variety of colors: from the most banal black and white, to cream or silver.
The European Shorthair cat breed differs from others in its balanced character. These are stately and beautiful, affectionate and loyal, playful and independent animals. European cats are not prone to vagrancy, very attached to the owners and can live well in a city apartment or in a rural house.
It is said that a wild African cat was the ancestress of modern European shorthair. A lot of water has flowed since the breeding of the breed, but no changes have occurred either in appearance or in the structural features of these animals. They are still graceful and beautiful.