Sometimes nature itself comes to the rescue of selection and gives unusual surprises. The Brazilian Shorthair cat is just such a gift. These four-legged friends have been accompanying people for many years and during this time they have managed to prove their love and devotion. Despite the most common, one might say unremarkable appearance, the breed is winning an increasing number of fans every year.

Brazilian Shorthair photos
[foogallery id=”44316″]
Physical characteristics
Despite the apparent variety in appearance, Brazilian Shorthair cats have a very clear standard. All individuals, never born in a crèche or at home, meet its requirements. In general, the silhouette of Brazilian Shorthair cats is slim and elegant. This quality is also underlined by the weight, which is usually maintained between 3 and 5 kg.
Adult cats have average body parameters. Visually, you can determine the rectangular shape of the body. A well-developed muscular system allows the Brazilian Shorthair to show strength and agility. A rounded chest, a strong neck and pronounced hips speak in favor of this feature.

Distinctive features
- The head is medium sized with a slightly elongated muzzle. Its length is greater than its width.
- The nose passes smoothly into the forehead, without stopping.
- Cats have a powerful chin, it protrudes a little.
- The ears are wide, rounded at the tips. A purebred cat may have tassels on its ears.
- An unusual gaze and almond-shaped eyes are characteristic of the breed. Due to a certain bulging of the eyeball, all felinologists agree that the cat has a piercing gaze. Eye color may vary. But they must be combined with the color of the coat. Thus, a purebred white cat will have blue eyes, a gray will have green eyes, a black will have yellow eyes, etc.
- Muscular and powerful neck.
- The cat’s body has a rectangular shape and an average height. Strong hips and a rounded chest give grace to the cat.
- The legs are medium in size and the paws are rounded and miniature.
- The tail is wide, tapering towards the end. It corresponds to body size.
Coat and color
There is no undercoat in the hair of these cats. This is due to the climatic zone of their development. The coats are short, snug to the cat’s body. It is silky to the touch, but the stiffness of the wool is also acceptable by the standard. Plush is considered a breed defect. The coat color of the Brazilian Shorthair allows for all colors. It can be: black, red, white, tortoiseshell, blue. The main thing is that colors under Siamese or Oriental cats are not allowed.
Character and behavior
These fluffy cuties can be called universal animals for the home. They combine the best character traits one could wish for a pet. Playfulness and moderate activity are harmoniously combined with an unobtrusive and delicate behavior. Brazilian cats do not single out someone as the main thing in the family and willingly play with everyone. They are very fond of affection and tenderness towards themselves. In response to this, they give the person their love, affection and loyalty.
Four-legged beauties can be got by both single people and large families with children. At the same time, cats and cats pay attention not only to the owners, but also to the guests of the house. They are the same tame cats that love to sit on their laps and rub their furry sides. However, with such gentle notes of character, cats love freedom. That is why walks on the street or in the yard are important for them. If the pet has not yet memorized the way to the house, you can walk it on a leash. Descendants of the Brazilian aborigines from the feline squad calmly endure such limited movement.
The backyard past is well imprinted in the gene pool of the Brazilian Shorthair cats. They make excellent mouse hunters, so there are never rodents in the house where they live. Agility, quickness of reaction, strength and resourcefulness – these are the natural qualities that distinguish multi-colored handsome men.
The characterization of the Brazilian Shorthair cat would be incomplete without mentioning their level of intelligence. The mental abilities of these animals are always at their best, which allows them to quickly adapt to changed living conditions and easily navigate in a new environment.
Health
The Brazilian Shorthair cat has excellent health and strong immunity. The only thing you need is to monitor his diet, otherwise there may be problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Due to the cat’s excessive curiosity and habit of “putting everything in its mouth”, it is easily infected with worms. Signs of illness can be:
- Diarrhea or constipation;
- Mucus or blood in the stool;
- Weightloss ;
- Apathy;
- Bloating;
- Partial baldness;
- Cough.
If at least one sign is present, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.
Life expectancy
On average, Brazilian Shorthair cats live 15-20 years
Care
Caring for these cats is very simple. They are clean in nature, so all care measures are based on routine procedures. Two or three times a month it is necessary to comb the animal’s fur with a rubber brush. This protects your pet from hairballs in the stomach and intestines. Cats are rarely bathed, only if necessary and in accordance with the general recommendations of this procedure.
Ears, eyes and paw pads are examined periodically. There must be a scratching post in the house, as this will not only preserve the furniture, but also satisfy the needs of the animal.
History of the breed
The emergence of the Brazilians has no intriguing history or legend. This is one of those breeds that are of natural origin. There are always pets and stray animals on the territory of any country. There were those in Brazil as well. Local cats on the streets were perceived by people as ordinary mongrel creatures with no value. However, fate decreed differently: people who know how to understand cat breeds drew attention to them. Experts seized the opportunity to find a new species and conducted appropriate studies of four-legged street children. Their expectations were more than justified. It turned out that the population of Brazilian cats was nothing more than an individual line with its own specific stable traits. Nurseries began to be created for animals, in which they were purposefully bred.
It is with these events that occurred in the eighties of the twentieth century that the history of the Brazilian shorthair cat begins. Globally, the standard was officially recognized by the World Cat Fanciers Federation (WCF) in 1994. But the breed received a geographical reference in the name later. And at first, she was united with similar European cats in the Celtic Shorthair group.
Only in 1999 the individuality of the Brazilians outweighed and they became an independent pure breed.
Such a natural and seemingly simple origin does not diminish all the merits of South American cats. Their appearance, character and health features deserve attention from all cat coffee lovers.