Cat Of European Or European Shorthair: Character, Education, Health Price

The European Shorthair is often confused with the different street cats, because many veterinarians tend to write “European” in the health records of cats whose origin they do not know. However, this cat is indeed a purebred animal recognized by the LOOF. He must respect a standard and has a pedigree.

Discover the European Shorthair, its origin, its character and its standard.

The European Shorthair In Brief

• • Other name(s): Celtic shorthair, European

• • Life expectancy: 13 to 15 years

• • Weight: 3.5 to 5 kilos (male and female)

• • Height: about 30 cm at the withers on average

• • Silhouette: Semi foreign

• • Hair: short

• • Dresses: all

• • Character: independent, intelligent, affectionate and sociable

• • Origin: Europe

• • Cat breed recognized by the LOOF: yes

History Of The European Shorthair Breed

The European Shorthair is a natural breed cat. It therefore developed without the intervention of man. It is descended from common cats that lived in Europe. But its origins go back further and we even find its trace in Ancient Egypt.

First of all valued for their hunting instincts rodents, these cats protected food. They have, from the twelfth^e century, were persecuted by the Catholic Church which associated them with witchcraft and considered them evil. They did not gradually resume their place until the 16th^e century, when wealthy people began to develop the breeds and pay attention to these cute little felines.

It is really in the XIX^e century that breeding and cat shows channeled passions for cats, especially in England.

Today, the European responds to a specific standard. It is recognized by the FIFe (International Feline Federation) under the name of European in 1983, then as European Shorthair in 2007. The WCF (World Cat Federation) calls it Celtic Shorthair. As for the American and English federations, they do not recognize these cats.

The European differs from street cats, although many veterinarians still tend to confuse them. Moreover, they often mention ” European type and not European, which means that the cat comes close to it without belonging to the breed. Unfortunately, this confusion has contributed to the breed’s lack of success. Indeed, since adopters find it difficult to differentiate a simple street cat from a European, they do not really see the point of going to pay for a pedigree cat when many very similar little unfortunates are waiting for a warm home. In addition, competition from the British Shorthair and the American Shorthair got the better of the development of the European. It is especially popular in Finland and the Nordic countries.

Did you know ? Since 2020, LOOF has not registered any European Shorthair kittens. In 2019, only 4 Europeans were born. The association would have issued a total of 135 pedigrees since 2003, which makes it a very rare cat.

Physical Characteristics Of The European Shorthair Breed

He is a rustic cat, whose silhouette is semi-foreign, i.e. fairly rectangular. Medium to large in size, this cat is muscular with a fairly powerful bone structure.

The head: her is medium in size, longer than wide. His full cheeks give him a rounded appearance, accentuated by the forehead and the skull, which are also quite round. The Sythem are medium to large, also rounded. They are placed at an angle and should be shiny and bright. As to ears : they are medium in size with a slightly rounded tip, but a wider base. They are quite spaced out. Their height is about the same as the width of their base.

The paws, of medium length, are strong and solid. They lead to round feet. The coat, on the other hand, is short, but dense and lustrous. She is lying on the body. The European does not have too much undercoat. Finally, thetailed is wide at the base, it tapers all the way. It is of medium length and its tip is rounded.

The Colors Of The European Shorthair

All colors are authorized except for the colourpoint pattern and those derived from chocolate, lilac, cinnamon and fawn.

• • Plain(solid): black, white, blue, red;

• • Tabby (striped, spotted or tabby);

• • Smoke (smoked), tortoiseshell or tortie (random red spots in the color), silver (silver);

• • Dresses with or without white.

Tabby Europeans are the most wanted.

Character Of The European Shorthair

He is said to be independent, but that does not prevent him from being affectionate. Good hunter due to his origins, he is also a playful cat. Intelligent and sociable, as much with bipeds as with quadrupeds, it is a balanced feline, without excess. Neither too talkative nor too energetic, he is a perfect compromise between autonomy and tenderness. It brings its discreet presence without invading you. It is a cat that easily adapts to different environments. He is easy going.

Each cat has a past, a context in which it lives and a temperament. Certain traits come up more often, but that does not mean that all subjects will systematically accumulate them. The variety, in the character as in the physique, is what makes the richness of the feline race!

Ideal Living Conditions For The European Shorthair

Adaptable cat, he lives both in an apartment and in a house. Excellent hunter, he must be stimulated if he does not go out. Toys, scratching posts and cat trees must enrich his environment. If it goes out into a garden, it will prove excellent in hunting insects and rodents. It can bring back small prey as gifts.

Sociable, it can cohabit with another small feline or a dog if the rules of presentation have been respected and contact has been made gradually.

Playful, the European also likes to play with children if they are respectful. He gets along just as well with a family as with a single person, whatever his age and dynamism.

Grooming and maintenance of the European Shorthair

Its fur being short, it is a cat that does not tend to knots and does not need very rigorous maintenance. A quick weekly brushing enough to get rid of dead hair. This prevents him from swallowing too much, which could cause digestive problems. In addition, brushing is a treatment that improves the bond between the animal and its master. It provides the cat with a pleasant massage, especially if it was accustomed to it when young.

His ears need to be inspected from time to time and cleaned with lukewarm water, just like his eyes, which need cleaning with veterinary lotion.

Main Health Problems Of The European Shorthair

The European Shorthair is a particularly robust little feline with which no hereditary disease is associated.

This does not prevent him from having to take him regularly to the veterinarian to check his physical condition, his vaccination status, his weight and his diet.

Remember to respect his vaccination schedule and deworm him regularly to protect his health.

Feeding The European Shorthair

Like any feline, the European is a carnivore and must be fed mainly animal proteins and fats.. Supermarket food is best avoided as it is often unbalanced and made up of low quality ingredients. A mixture of pâtés and premium kibbles is recommended to protect the health, the urinary system and the kidneys of the cat.

It can also be fed with the household ration provided that it is perfectly adapted to its needs which requires knowledge, or with raw feeeding which also requires good training on the needs of the cat.

European Shorthair Price

There are currently no more Europeans in France, since they are no longer produced.

A purebred kitten generally costs between 1,000 and 1,500 euros when it is intended for the company.

There are many animals in shelters and associations with beautiful striped coats and adorable characters, like the European. This is also why tabby cats are called Europeans, even when they are not.

Celebrity European Shorthairs

It is too rare a cat for us to have been able to identify a personality living with one of them. In England, the British Shorthair is more sought after, in the USA, the place of the American Shorthair is a priority among natural breeds.

Anecdotes Around The European Shorthair

It was the conquests of Julius Caesar that enabled the European to develop in Gaul and then throughout Europe.

Our Advice For Choosing The Right European Shorthair

There are no more European Shorthairs in France. We advise against having a kitten travel too long from a distant country when it is intended for company, because the plane is anxiety-provoking, like train or car journeys. Staying locked in a transport box for a long time can be stressful.

In any case, if a person claims to breed European Shorthairs, ask him about it. LOOF registration number (DSN number) to make sure it’s a real European.

How to tell an American Shorthair from a European Shorthair?

The silhouette of the American is semi-cobby, that is to say rounder and stockier than that of the European who is semi-foreign. In addition, the shape of the head is a little different since in the first, it is more square while in the second it is longer than wide.

How To Differentiate A European Shorthair From A British Shorthair?

Like the American, the British is semi-cobby, rather stocky, unlike the European. The British is also much rounder, both in the head, body and eyes. In addition, its ears are slightly smaller and the muzzle shorter. Finally, the tail keeps the same thickness all along in the British while it becomes thinner in the European.

Adopting a European Shorthair means bringing in a rustic and affectionate little companion. It also means welcoming a cat that stands out from other breeds due to its very natural appearance. It is a balanced and agile companion, a worthy representative of the feline race.