European Shorthair

Temperament

The European Shorthair is a cat of no extremes. It is attached to its people without being clingy; it likes lounging on the couch with you and then goes off to do its own thing. It has kept a strong hunting instinct, so it stalks wand toys with passion, and a hamster or guinea pig in the same room is a bad idea. It is wary of strangers and happily uses a hiding spot when the house gets crowded. It usually gets along well with children and dogs because it adapts quickly to new surroundings. It is intelligent and enjoys puzzle toys and feeders that make it work for its food. It meows very little. It copes well with being alone during the workday, and seniors appreciate it for its predictability and modest grooming needs.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Talkativeness

quietchatterbox

Indoor-only life

needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the European Shorthair for?

The European Shorthair is a good choice as a first pedigreed cat, for families with children, people who work outside the home and seniors who want a healthy, low-maintenance cat. It does well in a house with a yard or an apartment with a cat-proofed balcony. We do not recommend it for a home with caged rodents or birds, or for anyone looking for a lap cat to cuddle all the time.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The European Shorthair's short, dense coat is no trouble. The cat looks after it on its own, but a weekly going-over with a rubber mitt or a brush removes dead hair and reduces shedding, especially in spring. Trim its nails regularly and get it used to toothbrushing. This is a skilled hunter, so it needs daily hunting games, scratching posts, shelves and ideally a lookout spot by the window. It is very interested in the outside world; a cat-proofed balcony or an enclosure is a good solution. It is not a picky eater, but neutered cats gain weight easily, so measure portions. Its adaptability means it handles moves and vet visits well. If it is going outdoors, it must be vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped and neutered, and supervised outings are better still.

Health and breed-related conditions

The European Shorthair is considered a hardy breed with a broad, natural gene pool, and there are no diseases described as typical of it alone. Hill's gives a lifespan of 15–20 years, although independent population data for the breed itself are lacking. The only signal in the literature is urate stones: in an American review of urate urolith cases, the European Shorthair stood out as a breed with a high share, but the number of cats was small and it is unclear how many were pedigreed FIFe cats. As with any cat, it pays to look after hydration, a healthy weight and annual checkups. For breeding, heart screening of the parents and blood typing are recommended.

• urate stonesIn an American review of urate urolith cases, the European Shorthair stood out as a breed with a high share; data are scarce.
• no known breed-specific diseasesA broad, natural gene pool; standard preventive care applies, plus heart screening for breeding cats.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

Shorthaired domestic cats have lived alongside Europeans since Roman times, but the show breed took shape late. For years, European and British cats were judged by a single standard. When the British began crossing their cats with Persians to get a cobbier body, a shorter nose and a denser coat, the two types went separate ways. In 1982, FIFe registered the Scandinavian type of European cat as a separate breed with its own standard, and breeding developed mainly in Sweden and Finland. A pedigreed European Shorthair may not be crossed with other breeds. WCF recognizes it as the Celtic/European Shorthair, while in North America the breed is virtually unknown.

Fun facts

• FIFe split off the Scandinavian type of European cat as a separate breed in 1982.
• European Shorthairs may not be crossed with other breeds, so that they keep their natural type.
• In WCF the breed is called the Celtic/European Shorthair.
• In Finland, the European Shorthair is sometimes called the national cat.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. 1Wikipedia – European Shorthairen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hill's Pet – European Shorthairhillspet.com
3. 3Cat Breed Selector – European Shorthaircatbreedselector.com
4. 4FIFe – Breedsfifeweb.org
5. 5WCF – Breed standards shorthair (Celtic/European Shorthair)wcf.de

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.