Brazilian Shorthair Cat Breed Description

Active: Brazilian Shorthair cats are a moderately active cat breed. They love to play and want attention but they are not ones to bounce off the walls with energy. They enjoy playing as much as they enjoy a cuddle on the couch - ultimately, they just want to be where you are.

Size: Brazilian Shorthair cats are medium to large in size, ranging in weight from 11 - 22 pounds.

Characteristics: The medium-sized body of the Brazilian Shorthair cat is slender yet muscular giving it a sleek and elegant appearance. Their legs are medium in length and their tails are medium-long. Their head is medium in size and is a modified-wedge shape with a long, curved profile. Their beautiful eyes are large, round and wide-set and their eye colors tends to correspond with their coat color. They also have large, high-set ears that add to the overall sweetness of their face.

Temperament: Brazilian Shorthair cats love attention and affection. They are sure to stick by your side as much as possible and demand your time. They are an incredibly friendly cat and will bond closely with everyone in the house that will give them the attention they need. Brazilian Shorthairs love to play games and interact with toys and take well to training because they are highly intelligent.

Care: Because of their short coat and lack of undercoat they do not shed an immense amount. Simply combing or brushing them weekly will keep their coat in pristine condition. Additionally, routine care such as occasional nail trimming and ear cleaning is ideal for all cats including Brazilian Shorthairs.

Coat: The coat of the Brazilian Shorthair is short and silky with no undercoat. All colors and patterns are accepted for the breed except pointed colors.

Origin: The Brazilian Shorthair cat breed is not the result of a breeding program but originated as a feral cat breed. They are a street cat and are said to have been brought by sailors in 1500 a.d. to protect their food from rodents because they are skilled mousers. They lived as street cats until Brazilian-born breeder Paolo Samuel Ruschi, in 1985, began to study the various street cats of Brazil. He noticed that they had similar features and began to establish a breed standard and breeding program. In 1998, the WCF (World Cat Federation) recognized the breed.