10 Shorthair Cat Breeds Perfectly Suited to Sharing Life With

What ’s in a name ? For cats , it ’s often pretty simple . Some of the most popular quat stock are defined by the duration of their luxurious locks — take the British shorthair or American shorthair ( two of the 10 most popular computed axial tomography breeds in the earthly concern ) for case . For cats with unknown bloodline , fur duration also becomes a cardinal signifier .

" Traditionally cats have been divided into short - haired and long - hirsute , " says Bonnie Bragdon , DVM , Chief Executive and Colorado - beginner of theIndependent Veterinary Practitioners Association . " As a thing of fact , when a computerized tomography ’s breed is obscure a veterinarian will lean the cat as a ' DSH ' ( i.e. domestic short - hairy cat ) , ' DMH ' ( i.e. domestic average - haired cat ) , and ' DLH ' ( i.e. domesticated recollective - haired computerized axial tomography ) . "

Of course , a felid ’s fur is just one lineament that distinguish them from other breeds . shortsighted hair cat breeds , broadly speak , requireless groomingand may shed less than other cats , but each breed is unique in their own right .

person holding Devon Rex

Photo: Jaroslaw Kurek / Shutterstock

American Shorthair

duncish - coated and strong , theAmerican shorthaircat has long been an enemy to vermin stalking American ground — early root of the American shorthair made quite the mousers aboard the Mayflower . Today ’s American shorthair cats arefriendly family pet , check in well with children and furry booster alike . Much like the less - strictly - defined domesticated short - hairy cat , American shorthairs vagabond dramatically in coating and eye color . Nonetheless , their stalwart stature , short ears , and round of drinks faces serve as distinct identifier of a proud purebred lineage .

European Shorthair

Like the American shorthair , theEuropean shorthairis a muscular mouser well - recognized in their plate continent , though they are rare in other office of the world . They fend out from their " American " counterparts with a bit stockier build but also come in a variety of colors . Well - fit for family life , some European shorthairs may not take as well to strangers or other household pets , but with a tenacious lineage , disposition disagree bet on the cat . One thing these kitties have in common ? They take a with child deal of pride in their appearing , satisfying most of their grooming need themselves — a hebdomadal brush - through on your part should do the trick !

British Shorthair

Rotund and teddy - bear - esque , it ’s no surpriseBritish shorthairsrounded out the top fivemost popular cat breedsin the Earth this past twelvemonth . Often carrying blue - gray coats , these beauties are dear call British vapors . Cheery and chubby - cheeked , the British shorthair is a delightful house pet just as subject matter to curl up on the lounge as he is to chase after a favorite toy from time to time .

Exotic Shorthair

A double - take may be required for thesePersiandoppelgangers . With their flat faces and round eye , theexotic shorthairis nearly a dead dead ringer for the popular Iranian breed , with one central distinction : brusk hair ! Unlike their first cousin ' considerable coats , these low - maintenance true cat postulate little outside of weekly brushing .

Oriental Shorthair

Spoiler alert : If Dobby ’s death in " Harry Potter " still bring tears to your eyes , theOriental shorthaircat might catch you by surprise . Their long ears atop minute noses absorb adorable Dobby to mind . Much like the house elf , they are entire chatterboxes , eager to be around you and let you know how they ’re doing . They prefer a pal over riding solo , soadding another favorite to the homeis a good theme .

Burmese

Soft and silky , theBurmeseis intimately recognized for a dark sable coat , but brown , bluish , pick , and even reddened coats are possible , almost always as a single solid color . If dogs are more your speed , do n’t count out the boisterous Burmese — extremely societal and craving companionship , they are often described as dog - the like . These catsdon’t wish to be leave behind alonefor farseeing periods of prison term and relish excite environments with their the great unwashed , complete withtoys , window access , and perhaps even a friendly game of fetch .

Devon Rex

speak of cats resemble their dogtooth counterpart , theDevon rexis thepoodleof kitties , boasting ok , wavy fur well - suit forpet parents with allergic reaction — curly coats are often easygoing on sniffle - prostrate owners . However , the stock is a bit more gamey - maintenance than other short whisker Arabian tea breeds , withregular bathingrecommended to fight greasy fur . Playful and alive , toys , qat trees , and mountain of attention are the key to a happy kitty .

Manx

Do n’t panic : The case of theManxwith the absent tail is due to a naturally come about transmissible mutation in the strain , causing most of the descendants to have forgetful , stumpy rear end or no behind at all ( adorably referred to as rumpies ) . What they lack on their rump , they more than make up for with their thickset double coating , bestbrushed daily to keep up with shedding , which the Manx does frequently liken to other inadequate - hirsute breeds .

Singapura

Weighing as little as 4 pounds and typically maxing out at no more than 8 Ezra Loomis Pound , the petiteSingapurais the smallest domestic cat breed . Their endearing fineness is underline by their large eyes and ear , which steal the show atop their slim frames . Their personalities are also large than life , demanding attention despite their demure appearance . Owners with a silly streak will apprize a lifelong kitten - like companion by their side .

Tonkinese

TheTonkineseis the offspring ofSiameseand Burmese parentage , sharing many of the beloved qualities of these strain , include the short , sleek pelt noted in the Burmese . Much like the Burmese , Tonkinese cats are citizenry pleasers and love being at the center of tending , not distant to node as other breed may be but rather to the full immerse in the happenings of your home . Watch out though — if he feels ignored , he may stir up a little trouble just to keep things exciting . Plenty of cat toy , scratching posts , and cat tree should keep maleficence at bay .

Do Short-Haired Cats Shed or Not?

As you may have gleaned by now , short - haired cats are n’t exempt from peeling , but sure strain may bebetter for owners with allergiesthan others . Not to refer , most necessitate minimum grooming to keep hair in origin . Still , every CT is different .

" crinkly , curly , or unforesightful haircloth may cause less of a reaction because there is less hair to shed into the surround , " Bragdon says . " There is no scientific proof that any specific strain is less or more allergenic , and individual cats produce allergens in variable sum . "

In light , it ’s not always as well-to-do as confine the home to a specific breed . Bragdon recommends potential favorite parents plagued by allergic reaction commence out with single cat ownership tominimize allergen exposure .

multicolored american shorthair lying down