 |
Brazilian shorthair |
|
TranslationFrancis Vandersteen |
||
OriginThe Brazilian shorthair, also known as the Pelo Curto Brasileiro, is a breed of cat native to Brazil. |
| This medium-sized cat is characterized by the fact that it is the first internationally recognized Brazilian breed and is extremely rare. |
Standard |
| The current standard published by the WCF is due for revision. |
A brief historical overview |
| The Brazilian shorthair is a relatively recent cat breed, and its development is not very advanced. It is said to be descended from cats brought to Brazil by European settlers. In 1985, Brazilian street cats began to be selected and bred on an experimental basis. The Brazilian cat federation had noticed that Brazilian feral cats were peculiar: throughout the country, their physical appearance was very similar to one another, but different from that seen elsewhere in the world. It was Paulo Ruschi, a cat judge working for the WCF, who came up with the idea and worked on the breed standard. The first cats selected came from Rio de Janeiro, Ceará and Porto Alegre. The WCF recognized the breed in 1998. In 2008, there were still very few Brazilian shorthair breeders, most of them in the United States, with the aim of preserving the breed from extinction. Since interbreeding with alley cats is permitted, this has created a great deal of opposition in the pedigree cat world. |
General appearance |
| The Brazilian shorthair is generally described as a cross between the European or American shorthair and the Oriental. |
Behavior / characteristics |
| Brazilian shorthairs are generally described as affectionate, intelligent and active. They are, however, quite sensitive. However, these traits are entirely individual and depend on each cat's history. |
Head |
||
Cranial region |
||
Head |
It's the Brazilian Shorthair's head that characterizes the breed. It is small to medium-sized, and longer than it is wide. The profile is slightly curved, with a strong chin and lower jaw. | |
Facial region |
||
Eyes |
The eyes are large and rounded, positioned slightly curved and set far apart on the head (one and a half eyes are counted between them). They are very expressive and their color should match that of the coat. | |
Ears |
The ears are large and high on the head, with a well-furnished interior. | |
Body |
||
Generality |
The standard describes a medium-sized cat with a muscular body, but finer than an American Shorthair. | |
Tail |
| The tail should not be too broad at the base, tapering slightly to a rounded tip. |
Limbs |
| Elegant, with medium-length legs, round paws and medium-to-long tail. | ||
Forequarters |
Hindquarters |
Coat |
||
Coat and texture |
The coat is short, with no undercoat and a silky texture. The coat should be glossy and close to the body. All colors and patterns are accepted, with the exception of colorpoint. | |
Size and weight |
English (United Kingdom)