There are many more short-haired cat breeds than long-haired ones. Some of them were known in Europe long before the appearance of their furry competitors. For example, the ancestors of the British Shorthair roamed the English streets back in the Middle Ages, and the Russian blue cat was the favorite of Peter the Great himself.
They all differ in build and character. Just look at the handsome plush Scottish Fold: he doesn’t look at all like an elegant Abyssinian cat! Siamese cats are well known for their capricious and capricious nature, and many funny stories can be heard about the playfulness and sociability of Burmese cats. The only thing they have in common is short hair, which, however, also differs among different breeds.
Main recognized breeds
A cat whose hair is no longer than 5 cm is considered short-haired. This group includes short-haired cats themselves, most cats of the Siamese-Oriental group of breeds and hairless cats - Sphynxes.
In the short-haired group, cats of the Asian group are distinguished, sometimes cats with a rex mutation (curly hair), and bobtails can be distinguished.
Let's start with the shorthairs themselves, in alphabetical order according to the Latin alphabet:
Giant Aphrodite
A young breed from the island of Cyprus, which has one distinctive feature - large size. All colors are recognized, including colorful ones.
Abyssinian
A small, elegant cat with slender limbs, a wedge-shaped head and large ears. A distinctive feature is ticked wool, that is, the tip of the hair in any color must be black. The breed was created by American breeders. Colors - wild, blue, sorel, fawn and these colors with a silver undercoat.
American Curl
Shorthair option. The breed was created in the USA from a natural mutation of a domestic cat; its distinctive feature is the tips of the ears curved back into a semi-ring. All colors are recognized.
Anatolian
Turkish breed, short-haired version of the Turkish Angora. It has a special wool texture - soft and silky. Also a recently recognized breed. All colors are recognized, with the exception of the colorful ones and the eastern group (fawn, cinnamon).
Arabian Mau
A newly recognized cat breed of natural origin from the Arabian Peninsula, this is a medium-sized, robust cat that comes in two color variations - red tabby and red tabby and white. The tabby pattern can be spotted or marbled.
American Shorthair
National cat breed of the USA. It is believed that the ancestors of these cats arrived in America with the first settlers on the Mayflower. A beautiful, strong, well-built cat with a round head and a slightly snub nose. All colors are recognized except colorful and oriental.
Australian mist
The breed, bred in Australia, has recently gained international recognition. Several specific color variations are recognized - brown, blue, caramel, chocolate, gold (cinnamon), peach (fawn), without tabby pattern.
American Wirehair
Another breed from the USA, created on a natural mutation: the outer hair is very hard and ends in a hook.
Bengal
The breed was created on the basis of a wild Bengal cat with infusion of blood from Abyssinians, Ocicats, and Orientals. A large, strong animal with a beautiful spotted pattern, like wild cats, or a variation of the merle color (marble). There are now several recognized color variations among Bengals, including Lynx Tabby Point, Sepia and Mink Spotted and Marble.
Brazilian Shorthair
Created by Brazilian breeders. A small, elegant cat with a soft, close coat, all coat colors and patterns are recognized.
British Shorthair
The most numerous breed at exhibitions. Created in England by mixing the blood of local cats and imported Persian cats. A cat resembling a bear cub with a strong body build, a rounded head with developed cheeks and thick whiskers, with beautiful standing hair with abundant undercoat.
British
Aristocratic cats do not like familiarity, they love comfort. All colors are recognized (more than 260 color variations), but the breed is best expressed in blue cats.
How to care?
It is much easier to care for the coat of short-haired cats than representatives of breeds with medium or long hair. But even short plush hairs require periodic combing. For these purposes, use special gloves or brushes with rubber bristles. At least once a week, devote a few minutes to this procedure, and your pet will always be well-groomed, and the coat will look beautiful and healthy.
Among short-haired pets, there are several types and caring for their coat is slightly different.:
- Smooth coated cats. They are the easiest to care for and also need to be brushed periodically.
- Curly cover. It is not advisable to bathe or especially comb pets with curly hair immediately after water treatments.
- Plush-like wool. This type of hair requires more careful care and requires combing at least twice a week using a silicone glove or a rubber brush.
Bathing domestic short-haired cats is not recommended, unless necessary. Special products are suitable for water procedures. The white shorthaired breed may need bathing more often due to the color of its coat. If a cat is often outdoors, it may get dirty on the grass or ground.
Brushing is necessary so that less dead hair gets into the cat's stomach. Accumulated hair can cause intestinal blockage. This especially threatens lazy and inactive pets. The herb helps get rid of hairballs . It is easier for those who are allowed outside to find it and chew it. For domestic cats, you can find special grass and plant it in a tray, which you place in a place accessible to them.
© shutterstock
Cat breeds with rex coat mutations (curly)
It is mistakenly believed that cats with curly hair do not cause allergies.
Unfortunately, this is not the case - most often the allergen is a protein contained in saliva, so if there is a reaction, it will affect both curly and hairless cats.
Cornish Rex
List:
- Cornish Rex. A small, very graceful cat with short hair without center hairs and very large, high-set ears. The mutation was first noticed in England, Cornwall, where it originates. All possible colors are recognized.
- Devon Rex. A curly-haired cat with a naturally occurring mutation, named after the county of Devonshire, from where it spread throughout the world. The muzzle is shaped like a heart, the large ears are set so that the outer line looks like a continuation of the zygomatic arches. The small, elegant cat is recognized in all colors.
- Hermann rex. The breed was created in Germany based on a mutation discovered in 1939 in Prussia - the current Kaliningrad region. A medium-sized cat with fluffy curly hair, sometimes bald. A rare breed, recognized in colors traditional to Europe.
- La perm. Curly cats from France. The coat looks as if it has been permed, which is where the name of the breed comes from. A medium-sized muscular cat that can be of any color.
- Selkirk rex. The mutation was discovered in the USA in 1987 and was created by the infusion of blood from Persians, American and British Shorthairs. The rex gene is dominant, which is how they differ from other curly-haired cats. It has a semi-longhaired variant and is recognized in all colors.
- Ural rex. The indigenous breed of the Urals has recently been registered in international felinological systems. A medium-sized cat with a beautiful dense curl of fur, recognized in traditional colors. Has a semi-longhaired variant.
All Rex mutations have different genetic origins, which means that if you breed two representatives of different breeds, you will get straight-haired kittens, with the exception of Selkirks with a dominant mutation.
Dalmatian
The maximum weight of an adult dog is 32 kg. Height at the withers is up to 62 cm. Possessing one of the most extraordinary colors, the extraordinary and tireless Dalmatian is the choice of many families. But not everyone was ready for the fact that this beautiful dog had such great potential. Whether it will be creative or destructive depends only on the owner.
Contrary to existing stereotypes, Dalmatians are not the best choice for families with small children. No, the breed is not distinguished by excessive aggression or dislike for children, but rather by a violent, uncontrollably cheerful disposition.
Sweeping a baby off his feet and licking him is a Dalmatian's favorite thing. Not every parent agrees to put up with such behavior. The ebullient energy of Dalmatians is constantly looking for a way out; the owner’s primary task is to channel this energy into a peaceful channel.
Therefore, the breed is not recommended for homebodies. Daily long walks, a well-designed training program and mandatory physical activity will protect your home from destruction by this restless beauty. Unlike most other breeds, Dalmatians do not choose one person as their owner. They love all family members equally and try to participate in their lives.
Bobtails are cats with short tails.
There are few short-tailed breeds, as a rule, they are all of island or isolated origin, except for the Pixie Bob, the breed is not yet recognized by the WCF.
Japanese Bobtail
List:
- Japanese Bobtail. A breed from Japan of natural origin - cat - Chrysanthemum. Her short tail resembles a flower. Small in size, graceful cats have traditional colors, but most often in combination with white. Rare breed.
- Karelian Bobtail. A natural mutation was found in Karelia in two variants - smooth and half-length. Medium-sized cats in natural colors for Europe.
- Kurilian Bobtail. Powerful cats, excellent jumpers, were brought from the Kuril Islands in the 80s of the last century, on the basis of which Russian enthusiasts created the breed. Natural colors are recognized.
Korat
The homeland of the Korat is Thailand. They believe that this cat brings good luck and fortune. She has emerald-colored eyes and blue fur.
Description
Dense body, powerful tail at the base, large ears and eyes.
They have a sociable character, are energetic and do not like loneliness. They get along well with other animals and children.
Care
Standard care. Feeding on ready-made super premium food or high-quality natural products.
The Korat is a rare breed and only the SILVER SHARM nursery operates in Russia.
Price from 30,000 rubles.
Korat
Asian cats
All Asian cats are obtained on the basis of the Burmese breed, interbreeding with Persians, British and American Shorthairs in the USA.
Burmese cat
The standards differ only in color:
- Burmanskaya. The breed was created on the basis of two cats exported from Southeast Asia with a temperature-sensitive gene different from the Siamese. They are distinguished by a strong muscular body and heavy weight, despite their average size.
- The mask and limbs are painted in a more intense color, which is darker than that of the Siamese. Color variations - seal, chocolate, red, silver, seal torti (tortoiseshell), chocolate torti and lightened variations - blue, lilac, cream, smoke (smoky), blue cream, lilac cream.
- Bombay. Black cat with golden eyes, the result of a mix with a black American Shorthair.
- Burmila. A silver shaded or chinchilla variant of the Burmese cat.
- Asian tabby. The cat is ticked in color, with a residual pattern on the paws and tail.
- Asian selfie. The Burmese type cat without dark markings is recognized in all evenly colored colors without a pattern - blue, red, cream, lilac, cinnamon, fawn and tortoiseshell varieties.
Pug
The maximum weight of an adult dog is 8 kg. The height at the withers is up to 32 cm. The pug is a very popular dog breed in modern society. The red, smooth-haired muzzle with black tan evokes affection just by its appearance. Brown round eyes, a snub nose, cute folds and a ringed tail are what make pugs stand out from other breeds.
The dogs are ideal for indoor keeping by inexperienced owners. They are absolutely devoid of aggression towards people and other animals. They do not need long walks; the older the dog gets, the less active it is, although pug puppies do not mind running and frolicking.
Among decorative dog breeds, you rarely find such a calm and even slightly phlegmatic representative as the pug. Dogs by nature have a completely healthy psyche, but long-term loneliness can provoke depression and melancholy. Even your neighbors can look after your pug—a representative of the breed willingly makes contact with strangers.
Pugs are perhaps the biggest treats in the canine world. For their favorite treat, they are ready to hypnotize the owner with their gaze for as long as desired. But it would be a big mistake to succumb to the pug’s charm and give him a piece from the master’s table.
Firstly, Pugs are prone to obesity, so their diet must be carefully balanced. Secondly, if you give in once, be prepared to watch the beggar during every meal.
Pugs are definitely not suitable for people who sleep very lightly. These babies are snoring champions. And when they are not sleeping, pugs grunt, sigh and make any sounds except the usual barking. They begin to bark very rarely, in moments of particular emotional instability.
Siamese-Oriental group of shorthair cats
Cats from Siam with a light body and dark markings on the face, ears, legs and tail have been known for a very long time. A great admirer of these cats was Sergei Obraztsov, the director of the world-famous puppet theater, which in the post-war years brought Siamese from tours to European countries.
Mekong Bobtail
American breeders greatly modified the breed, creating a strong, muscular, but at the same time very graceful cat with very large ears and long limbs and a tail, which we see today at exhibitions under the name “Siamese cat”.
And we know representatives of the traditional appearance as the Thai cat.
List:
- Siamese. A very elegant and graceful, but strong cat with a wedge-shaped head, large ears, and a long tail. Variants of acromelanistic color with evenly dyed hair along the entire length on points, tabby and silver tabby markings are recognized. The semi-longhaired version of the breed is called the Balinese cat (Balinese).
- Mekong Bobtail. Thai cat with a short curled tail.
- Oriental Shorthair. The body structure is similar to the Siamese, but without the Siamese color gene. All color variations are recognized in the breed without Siamese points. There is a semi-longhaired version of the breed
- Tonkinese (Tonkinese). The body structure is average between the Siamese and the Burmese. Cats with a specific eye color - average between blue and emerald, aquamarine in mink cats, blue in point colors, green or yellow-green in solids.
Ocicat
Ocicat is a hybrid of Siamese and Abyssinian. Externally, Ocicats resemble wild cats.
Description
Strong body, pointed head, muscular neck, long tail and almond-shaped eyes.
Care
By nature, Ocicats are affectionate and friendly. Attached to the owner. Standard care. Feeding on ready-made super premium food or high-quality natural products.
Features: ticked wool.
Price from 25,000 rubles.
Ocicat
Hairless cats
Don Sphynx
Cats without hair or having a thin fluff of 2-3 mm also belong to the short-haired group:
- Don Sphynx. The breed is from Russia, based on a natural mutation discovered in Rostov-on-Don in the 80s of the last century. The medium-sized cat is distinguished by a pear-shaped body, excellent character and complete absence of hair in the best representatives of the breed. Individuals with residual hair are used for breeding to increase the population.
- Peterbald. A breed created in St. Petersburg under the leadership of O. Mironova based on the descendants of a mating between a Don Sphynx and an Oriental cat. The body structure is similar to Siamese and Orientals, all possible colors are recognized.
- Sphinx (Canadian Sphynx). The first registered hairless breed created in Canada. It is distinguished by the presence of light velor on the skin.
Large (large) smooth-haired dogs
Large short-haired dogs are no less in demand; the features of their appearance and character are discussed below.
Dalmatian
Black Russian Terrier: description of the dog breed
This breed is known to everyone. Large dogs with spotted coats and laid-back ears are a hit with dog lovers. Their fur is short and soft. However, Dalmatians are not only endowed with a bright appearance, they are smart, have a sharp mind and good guard qualities.
For your information! There is a legend that the ancestor of the breed was the white Bengal tiger.
Doberman
A large dog that inspires fear by its appearance alone is the Doberman Pinscher. The breed was bred specifically for the purpose of intimidation, so representatives of the breed do not have the best working qualities, although they are used as service dogs.
The legs of Doberman Pinschers are long and slender. The muzzle is elongated, the ears are cropped and pointed. The tail is docked in the first weeks of life. The chest is well developed, the body is muscular.
Rottweiler
A large, muscular dog, up to 70 cm tall at the withers and weighing up to 60 kg. Good security qualities are combined with good nature and peacefulness.
The dog's muzzle is square, slightly flattened. The ears are small, drooping. The eyes are large.
Important! The purebred Rottweiler comes in only one color - black and tan.
South African Boerboel
A large African dog breed known for its excellent guarding qualities. Reaches up to 70 cm at the withers. The body is muscular and proportional, the muzzle is large and slightly flattened. The ears are thin and recumbent. Paws are straight, parallel.
Dogo Argentino
A dog with excellent external and internal qualities. These animals can be up to 68 cm at the withers, their body is very muscular. On the massive muzzle there are small eyes. Ears are cropped or recumbent. The color is white; small spots of other colors are allowed.
Dogo Argentino
Dogue de Bordeaux
Dogs of this breed are very large and have a slender build. The muzzle is covered with folds. The ears are recumbent, the muzzle is slightly shorter than the forehead. The coat of this breed is short and lies close to the body. There is no undercoat.
Neapolitan Mastiff
He's a mastino. A dog of enormous size, capable of scaring off ill-wishers with its appearance alone. The body is covered with folded skin. The head is short and massive. Representatives of the breed have a well-developed chest. The dog's height is up to 75 cm at the withers, weight is up to 70 kg. Characteristic gray color.
