Brazilian Shorthair Breed History
The Brazilian Shorthair, which is also known as “Pelo Curto Brasileiro,” is the first feline breed to come from Brazil and receive international recognition. This is actually the common street cat of Brazil, much like the American Shorthairs and the British Shorthairs of the US and UK, respectively.
Brazilian Shorthairs date back to about 1500, when Portuguese sailors brought British Shorthair cats on their ships in order to keep the rodent population on the boats under control. Even though they soon became street cats, they were eventually bred into the modern day Brazilian Shorthair, which received approval as a purebred in 1998.
Paulo Samuel Ruschi is credited with creating this breed. He was a cat breeder, as well as the founder of the Cat Federation in Brazil and Cat Club in Rio de Janeiro, and he was inspired to take certain street cats and transform them into a recognized breed. He focused upon Iberian Peninsula cats that could be found and studied easily. After several years of experimental breeding, the Brazilian Shorthair was approved.
The Brazilian Shorthair is also known as “Pelo Curto Brasileiro”
Breed Traits
The adaptable and agile Brazilian Shorthair can easily adjust to a new living situation and environment, as it’s inquisitive and enjoys exploring new places and meeting new people.
This breed is outgoing and enjoys socializing, so giving it plenty of interaction is one way to keep it happy. These cats are also great with children, and will also get along really well with other pets, including dogs. They’re also fast learners, and they do demand quite a bit of attention and affection from their owners.
If you’re in search of a cat that will love snuggling up to you in bed or on the couch, the Brazilian Shorthair won’t disappoint. These cats are really affectionate and will want to spend time with you. However, they can also exhibit high levels of energy, so you should have time to devote to playing with your cat. And because these cats are so intelligent, you may even be able to train your pet to do tricks.
Overall Description
One of the first things you’ll likely notice when you see a Brazilian Shorthair is just how large it is. They have a medium length tail that tapers towards the tip, large eyes, and a surprisingly sleek and elegant physique.
These cats have strong bodies, but they’re more slender than British Shorthairs and American Shorthairs. Their heads are also a bit long, and their ears are medium in size with rounded tips.
Colors
The Brazilian Shorthair comes in a wide range of colors and patterns, including white, black, orange, gray, brown, and tan. In fact, you can find these cats in just about every possible color and pattern that a feline could come in.
Grooming Requirements
Because of their short coat, Brazilian Shorthairs don’t require extensive grooming from their owners. If you want to brush your cat occasionally to help remove excess fur and prevent hairballs, you can certainly do so, in addition to the usual teeth brushing, claw trimming, and ear cleaning that any cat requires.
Photo credit: Valter França/Flickr; rodrigobellizzi/Bigstock
