European shorthair cat: description, breed content

The European shorthair cat quietly walked side by side with man in the history of European countries, and in the 20th century did not remain behind the scenes of the theater called “high life”. How was it possible for a cat that looked so ordinary and familiar to residents of cities and various populated areas to conquer that felinologists zealously took up breeding work? Why there was such a clear interest in the feline person on the part of humans becomes clear if you spend time and learn about the characteristics of a simple and sweet cat of this breed.

History of the origin of the European Shorthair

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//data-ad-slot=”2475549904″ $ads_google = empty($ads_google) ? false : true; ?> if ($ads_google == false) {?> $ads_google = true; ?> } ?> How harmonious and beautiful it is to take a gift from nature and, with the help of some intervention, improve it, turning it into a wonderful purring creature. In these lines you can see a brief history of the origin of the European shorthair cat, whose ancestors lived freely in most of the northern territories of Europe.

The genes of aboriginal cats turned out to be strong and were easily passed on from generation to generation, which resulted in a specific type of appearance and temperament.

Breeders paid attention to the animal, but since the approaches were different, the appearance of the bred breeds was somewhat different from each other, and the names were different.

So there is no special legend in the origin of seals: the whole of Europe can safely be considered the animal’s homeland. The first time a European (Celtic) cat appeared at an exhibition was in 1938, but a similar cat was registered as a representative of the breed only in 1948, and then as a variety of the British one. The new breed received official status only in 1981.

Interesting Facts

Fans of purring creatures will be interested in the following information:

• It is surprising that the oldest breed in the world, the European Aboriginal, is also the youngest. It received its official name ─ “European or Celtic shorthair cat” in 1982;
• There is another variety of European cat - longhaired. This is a relative of the elegant “Celt” - a Siberian breed popular in Russia. It is widespread both in the Eastern European part of the continent and beyond the Urals;
• The Celtic Shorthair is more of a companion than a relative. This is her character, free and independent;
• On the scale of temperament, Celtic Shorthairs occupy the golden mean: affectionate without intrusiveness and leaders in spirit, but not aggressive.

Description of the European Shorthair cat

Despite some similarities with British cats, obvious differences in the breeds are visible in the cat from a young age. The description of the standard dictates clear characteristics of the appearance of short-haired Europeans, so it is impossible to make a mistake.

The head is of medium size and looks wide and round. The nose looks smooth and straight, the transition from the nose to the forehead is nevertheless definitely noticeable.

The ears are medium in size, widely spaced from each other and arranged vertically, and the width and height of the ears are the same. Sometimes there are tassels at the ends.

The eyes are also widely spaced from each other and somewhat slanted. A feature of the eye color is that the color of the iris matches the color of the fur coat. If the fur is red in color, then the eyes will be bright amber; gray cats have gray or blue eyes, but black cats will always have magical green shades of the iris.

The limbs of the Celts are powerful, the paws are round.

Closer to the base of medium length, the tail is wide and narrowed at the end.

The cat's fur is shiny and thick. Despite the short pile, this breed will not be found on the list of hypoallergenic.

Various colors are allowed, with the exception of chocolate, lilac, fawn and acromelanic varieties. All other colors can be found among happy owners of representatives of this breed.

Dimensions and weight of the European cat

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//data-ad-slot=”2475549904″ $ads_google = empty($ads_google) ? false : true; ?> if ($ads_google == false) {?> $ads_google = true; ?> } ?> It is amazing how small kittens at the age of several months grow into quite large and muscular animals, with grace, strength, flexibility and natural agility. The impression of impressiveness is given by developed muscles, although in fact the cats are more of a medium size than a large one.

According to the tradition of natural data, females are inferior to males in size: their length, weight and height are always somewhat less than those of males. A European cat weighs approximately 2.5-5 kg, and an adult cat weighs 3-8 kg.

Peculiarities

The history of the appearance of short-haired cats takes us back into the depths of time, 60 million years ago, to the miacids, the ancestors of all predators on Earth, including cats. Over time, the weight of the animal became smaller, and about nine million years ago, animals appeared that were somewhat similar to modern felines.

Today, short-haired cats include breeds of cats whose hair does not exceed 4.5 cm in length. When compared to human hair, wool has a more complex composition. The follicles of an animal contain two types of hair at once: guard hair, which makes up the fur, and down hair (undercoat). The guard (integumentary) can have different lengths, thickness and rigidity. The thickest and longest fibers are called guides.

A guard hair may emerge from one follicle, surrounded by a whole tuft of fluff. It always lies on top, covering the down, thereby saving the animal from frost and precipitation.

The density of the undercoat and guard hairs depends on the climatic conditions in which the cats live. Northern animals have much thicker and warmer fur, with a lot of fluff. In the south there live cats with short hair that fits tightly to the body. Selected animals brought confusion into the natural pattern. Today, there are species that have no undercoat at all (Burmese), or even wool (Don Sphynx).

Rexes, contrary to the straight guard coat created by nature, are endowed with a wavy mutation. And the type of fur “brush” (some sphinxes have) looks like hard twisted wire.

Habits and character of the European Shorthair breed

It’s not without reason that European Shorthairs are so revered and loved, judging by the reviews of owners in different countries: the cat’s disposition is not only calm, but also very affectionate.

At first, the cat even seems timid when it is first brought into the house. This is not the kind of fighter who throws his chest at an embrasure - first the pet carefully examines everything, and only then decides whether the owners of this house deserve trust.

When a Celt settles in and gets used to its owner, then all the features and facets of the cat’s character are already demonstrated. The habits of the animal are pleasant and understandable to adults and children: short-haired cats love to actively play and have fun, and do not particularly expect attention, since they themselves have a good time. This is a definite plus for the breed for those people who spend a lot of time outside the home.

The breed's character is exceptionally kind, so cute cats will not be a threat to small children. In extreme cases, if the pet itself gets scared or angry, then it will not bite or scratch, but will simply express its emotions by hissing.

A high level of intelligence can easily be attributed to the sociability and simultaneous unobtrusiveness of cats of this breed. With due diligence of the owners, it is possible to engage in training along with raising a cat with excellent results.

Don’t worry if suddenly after work you have absolutely no energy or desire to communicate - the pet will understand this and wait, minding its own business.

Features of behavior

Of course, each cat is different from others to one degree or another and has its own character. But representatives of the same breed still have common features. As a rule, European Shorthairs are smart, very affectionate and quiet cats. They quickly adapt to new conditions and are unpretentious. They almost immediately become attached to their owner and love him very much and are devoted to him.

But it happens that among quiet people there are energetic restless ones who love to play and be naughty. They are quite unpredictable. People who value the natural instincts of cats will find them comfortable and not boring.

They are quite delicate and are not intrusive. Only something serious can make them angry - like a real threat to life. Very, very inquisitive.

They do not consider a person to be a master; for them, he is rather a neighbor, a partner. They do not demonstrate their feelings, they are extremely restrained.

Care and feeding of the European shorthair cat

The great news is that Celtic cats do not require special care. Caring for the breed is simple; it is enough to follow a number of standard procedures.

Once a month, the kitty needs to have its claws trimmed, and once a week or two, the ears need to be examined - if they look dirty, they need to be cleaned with a damp cotton pad. The eyes are washed as they become dirty.

The cat's fur is short, so the breed does not need a haircut, and the kitty can be bathed with cat shampoo about once every six months. During this time, a bath can easily be replaced by combing.

Keeping a European Shorthair requires proper nutrition. The food can be natural or ready-made; the breeder himself chooses what his pet’s diet will be.

You cannot feed your cat milk, raw fish, salty, spicy or sweet foods, but the menu should contain at least 30% and up to 70% meat.

In general, cats are unpretentious in nutrition, and feel great thanks to the high protein content and low fat and carbohydrate content. In addition to meat, the menu should include cereals, vegetables and dairy products.

Feeding small kittens is more fractional: their daily diet is divided into 4-5 servings.

Celtic cat health

The most wonderful information about the health of the European Shorthair should be considered the absence of genetic diseases. Simple cat diseases can be avoided if vaccinations are not skipped. Although the breed is healthy, no one has canceled vaccinations as an immune defense! This applies even to those cats that do not leave the house: people bring viruses and bacteria from the street on their clothes and shoes, this is quite enough to create a threat to the cat’s health.

Despite the vaccinations, there are a number of diseases that can undermine a pet’s health and even cause a high temperature. In this case, you should not ignore the advice of veterinarians.

Before the age of one year, pets of this breed that will not take part in breeding should be castrated or sterilized. It is worth finding out the difference between these operations and making a choice.

When a cat comes into third heat, you can send your pet for mating. Mating is arranged in the first two days of estrus with an experienced cat partner.

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Pregnancy proceeds smoothly for an average of 65 days, and childbirth usually ends with the appearance of healthy offspring.

The life expectancy of pets is good and ranges from 15 to 17 years.

Buy a European shorthair kitten

Searches for officially registered nurseries in Russia will lead nowhere, and although the practice of turning to sites like Avito is risky, many have to turn to private breeders through them. If you have a strong desire to buy a purebred European Shorthair cat, then it makes sense to look for foreign nurseries and discuss options for purchasing a purebred kitten.

Abroad, a cat of this breed costs proportionately more: a baby will cost 30,000-40,000 rubles.

In Russia, private breeders do not charge too high a price, despite the fact that it is not easy to get a purebred cat for breeding. The cost of kotofeev is approximately 15,000 rubles.

Nicknames for European cats

The acquisition of a young European always becomes a joyful event for the whole family. The time of first delight passes and the question arises: what name should be given to a furry boy or girl of this marvelous breed?

There are a number of tips on how to choose a name for a kitten:

· pay attention to the euphony of the nickname, the presence of hissing sounds in the name;

· The gender of the animal plays a role, but there are nicknames that suit any animal. Boys are given more serious and masculine, even brutal names, while girls are called more elegantly and gracefully;

· The nickname should not be too long.

There are a number of great names that would suit your family pet!

Conclusions about the breed

The European Shorthair cat, once in the house, immediately falls into the hearts of the owners. This can be easily explained by the pet’s personal data and the characteristics of its breed:

• genetic health and good immunity;
• a good pregnancy and easy childbirth;
• not picky about care: you won’t need to spend a lot of time getting your pet in order;
• unpretentiousness in food;
• the animal’s sociability does not interfere with busy owners; the cat is always interested in spending time with someone and with himself;
• a kind and gentle disposition is characteristic of this breed.

Despite the difficulties in acquiring and breeding a beloved beauty, more and more people are giving their liking to Europeans and finding ways to get the desired breed into their home.

How to choose the right kitten

For a purebred Celtic Shorthair kitten, you should contact only special nurseries or trusted breeders.

The key to making the right choice is that the parents of the European baby have the appropriate documents about the breed ─ passports or certificates. They are transferred to the buyer upon sale.

You should pay attention to the appearance of the mother. There must be pronounced signs of the European Shorthair breed and compliance with the standards.

Typically, kittens are weaned from their mother and sold at 2.5 months. By this time, children are supposed to undergo anthelmintic treatment and vaccination and have a certificate about this from a veterinarian. The short-haired European animal must be litter trained and feed on its own.

The character of a two to three month old Celtic kitten is already clearly expressed. The future owner chooses a companion in accordance with his own temperament and needs.

Kitten care

No special skills are required in caring for a short-haired European baby. All he needs is attention and affection. At first, the new owner will have to replace the European kitten’s mother ─ kind, but strict.

It is immediately necessary to determine the place of feeding and toilet for the pet and ensure strict compliance with the rules.

At first, you will have to devote more time to your short-haired European baby, pick him up more often, and stroke his tummy so that there are no problems with stool.

Later, when the new tenant gets comfortable in the house, he will find something to do with himself. To keep your little Celtic European physically active, you can purchase several toys.

In general, caring for kittens is the same as for adult European purrs.

A short-haired Celtic baby should be fed frequently, in small portions, by chopping the food. Experienced breeders recommend leaving food overnight. Special food for kittens, dry and wet, is best suited for nutrition.

Your veterinarian will recommend vitamin supplements. Babies have a high metabolism, they quickly become hungry. After changing teeth, at 7-8 months of age, a European kitten can be switched to adult food.