Brazil's first internationally recognised cat breed — a refined, athletic descendant of the street cats brought over on Portuguese ships. Outgoing, people-focused and famously easy to care for.
- Origin
- Brazil
- Category
- shorthair
- Lifespan
- 14–20 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 4–7 kg
- Coat
- Short, sleek, low-maintenance single coat
- Colours
- All colours and patterns
😺 Temperament
🏡 Best suited to
📊 Personality ratings
📜 History & origin
The Brazilian Shorthair traces back to the domestic cats carried to Brazil aboard Portuguese sailing vessels in the 1500s, which spread across the country as common 'pelo curto brasileiro' street cats. In the 1980s, breeder Paulo Samuel Ruschi set out to have these everyday Brazilian cats formally recognised rather than letting the type be lost to random breeding. His work paid off in 1998 when the World Cat Federation accepted the Brazilian Shorthair as a distinct breed — the first cat breed to originate from Brazil.
🧼 Care & grooming
Wonderfully low-maintenance. The short single coat needs only an occasional weekly brush, and the breed is generally robust and hardy thanks to its broad street-cat ancestry. Provide plenty of interactive play and climbing space to satisfy its high energy, and lots of human company — this is a cat that genuinely wants to be with its people.
🩺 Health notes
As a naturally developed landrace breed, the Brazilian Shorthair has a wide gene pool and few inherited disorders, and is considered a hardy, long-lived cat. Routine vaccination, parasite control and dental care are the main needs. As always, keep an eye on weight, as their sociable nature makes them enthusiastic about food and treats.
📸 Brazilian Shorthair photos
Photographs from Wikimedia Commons, used under their respective licences.