Shorthaired cats are celebrated for their manageable coats and the sheer variety within their ranks. While the feline world may not boast the breed diversity seen in dogs, cats present a captivating spectrum of physical attributes. If you’re captivated by felines with easy-to-groom coats and a wealth of colors and patterns, Short Hair Cat Breeds are an excellent choice. This guide explores fifteen remarkable short hair cat breeds, highlighting what distinguishes each one and why they might be the perfect addition to your home.
1. British Shorthair Cat
A serene cream British Shorthair female cat with captivating yellow eyes, showcasing the breed's plush coat and rounded face, popular among short-haired cat lovers.
The British Shorthair stands as one of the most iconic short hair cat breeds globally. Their signature round faces and sturdy builds are instantly recognizable, but it’s their dense, plush coat that truly steals the show. Originating from the naturally occurring cats of Britain, this breed is known for its loyalty and affectionate nature, though they may initially exhibit a touch of shyness. While the classic image is a blue coat with striking yellow eyes, British Shorthairs actually boast a diverse palette of colors and patterns, including tabby and tortoiseshell variations. They are a fantastic choice for those seeking a low-maintenance, loving short hair cat breed.
2. Bombay Cat
A sleek Bombay cat with a panther-like appearance, its glossy black short coat and striking copper eyes exemplify this unique and affectionate short-haired breed.
Resembling a miniature black panther, the Bombay is a truly special short hair cat breed. These felines are characterized by their sleek, muscular bodies and intensely black coats that gleam with a polished shine. The Bombay’s luxurious short fur, coupled with their mesmerizing copper eyes, creates a striking and unforgettable appearance. Beyond their beauty, Bombay cats are incredibly low-maintenance when it comes to grooming, requiring minimal brushing. Known for their deep affection and devotion, Bombays are quintessential lap cats, forming strong bonds with their owners and eagerly awaiting their return home, making them ideal short hair companions for those seeking a close bond.
3. Egyptian Mau
A poised Egyptian Mau cat displaying its naturally spotted short coat and distinctive eyeliner markings, features that link this breed to its ancient and revered heritage.
The Egyptian Mau is a breed steeped in history, tracing its lineage back to the revered cats of Ancient Egypt. These elegant, slender short hair cats are distinguished by their large, expressive eyes and captivating spotted coats, a feature unique in the cat world as they are the only naturally spotted domestic breed. Adding to their exotic allure is the natural “eyeliner” that accentuates their eyes. While Egyptian Maus may be reserved around strangers, they are intensely devoted and demanding of attention from their chosen humans. Their short, spotted coat comes in three stunning colors: black smoke, bronze, and black silver, each highlighting their unique beauty as a short hair cat breed.
4. Havana Cat
A Havana cat with a rich chocolate brown short coat and piercing green eyes, showcasing the breed's elegant Siamese-like features and rare coloring among short-haired cats.
Originating from Britain, the Havana is a relatively rare short hair cat breed with a history dating back to the 1800s. Sharing a similar build and facial structure with Siamese cats, the Havana is immediately recognized by its rich, lustrous coat in shades of chocolate-lilac or mahogany-brown, which beautifully contrasts with their striking green eyes. Havana cats are known for their affectionate and inquisitive personalities, always eager to explore their surroundings and investigate new sounds and objects. Their short coat is thick and glossy, enhancing their muscular physique and making them a visually stunning, easy-care short hair cat breed.
5. Russian Blue
Russian Blues are truly captivating short hair cats. Their smoky, true-blue coats, tipped with silver, shimmer with every movement, giving them an almost ethereal beauty. This unique silver-blue hue is the hallmark of the breed, being the only color variation recognized. Beyond their stunning appearance, Russian Blues are celebrated for their loving and attentive nature, often described as having “dog-like” personalities. They are known to be playful, even enjoying games of fetch and learning tricks. Their dense, short coat requires minimal grooming, typically just a few brushes per week to maintain their pristine look, making them a low-maintenance and beautiful short hair breed.
6. Siamese Cat
A graceful Siamese cat lounging on green grass, its cream and chocolate point short coat and striking blue almond-shaped eyes exemplify this talkative and elegant breed.
The Siamese cat, renowned for its vocal nature and confident demeanor, possesses a highly recognizable short coat. Sleek, fine, and close-lying, the Siamese coat is typically a creamy base color with distinctive color points in shades like chocolate or red. Their large ears and elongated noses further contribute to their distinctive appearance. Siamese cats are also known for their longevity, frequently living well into their twenties. They are incredibly affectionate and love to cuddle with their owners. The striking contrast between their pale bodies and darker points makes the Siamese a truly unique and elegant short hair cat breed.
7. Singapura Cat
A Singapura cat in close-up, highlighting its petite size, large ears, and ticked sepia short coat, characteristic of this energetic and affectionate breed.
The Singapura, with its sweet facial expression, is recognized as the smallest domestic cat breed, yet they are brimming with energy and personality. So beloved in their native land, they are designated the national cat of Singapore, considered a national treasure. The Singapura’s short and sleek coat comes in a beautiful sepia tone, subtly ticked with grey, yellow, and sable against an ivory background, which beautifully complements their large, captivating light-blue eyes. Despite their small size, they have big personalities and are known for being affectionate and playful short hair cats.
8. Bengal Cat
A Bengal cat with a striking spotted short coat, showcasing the breed's wild appearance and energetic, playful nature, popular among active cat lovers.
The exotic-looking Bengal is an immediately recognizable short hair cat breed and one of the most popular worldwide. Bengals possess a richly colored coat with high contrast patterns of spots or marbling, available in a variety of colors including silver, tabby, and brown. Intelligent and affectionate, Bengals form strong bonds with their owners and are known for their curious and explorative nature, often investigating every corner of their home. They are highly active and require plenty of mental stimulation through toys and play. Remarkably adaptable, Bengals can often be trained to walk on a harness and leash, providing an outlet for their energy and adventure, making them a dynamic short hair cat breed.
9. Abyssinian Cat
An Abyssinian cat displaying its ticked tabby short coat and regal bearing, highlighting the breed's playful personality and elegant appearance as a popular short-haired companion.
The Abyssinian is a richly colored short hair cat with a distinctive “ticked” coat pattern, known as agouti banding. Each hair shaft features multiple bands of color, creating a depth and vibrancy in shades of gold, brown, and black. Despite their elegant and somewhat regal appearance, Abyssinians are inherently playful and even silly cats. They are excellent family pets, known for their love of play and interaction. Their short coat is dense and firm to the touch, rather than soft and fluffy. This combination of striking coat and engaging temperament has secured the Abyssinian’s place among the top 10 most popular cat breeds globally, especially favored by those seeking a short hair cat with personality.
10. Exotic Shorthair Cat
An Exotic Shorthair cat with a round face and plush short coat, exemplifying the breed's gentle nature and easy-care grooming, often described as the "lazy man's Persian".
The distinctive Exotic Shorthair belongs to the Persian breed group and is easily recognized by their flattened faces and stocky bodies. Exotic Shorthairs are solidly built cats, but unlike their Persian cousins, they possess a short, dense, and somewhat coarse coat. They come in a wide array of colors and patterns, including tabby, red, chocolate, and cream. Despite their sturdy build, they are known for their incredibly friendly and gentle nature. Often referred to as the “lazy man’s Persian,” the Exotic Shorthair offers the loving temperament of a Persian with a much easier-to-manage short coat, making them a great short hair cat breed for those who love the Persian look but prefer less grooming.
11. Cornish Rex
The Cornish Rex stands out among short hair cat breeds due to its unique curly coat. They are one of the few breeds with naturally curly hair, featuring tightly curled or waved fur that lies close to the body. Cornish Rex cats lack guard hairs, giving their coat a perpetually glossy appearance. However, they can be prone to oil buildup on their skin and between their toes, requiring some grooming attention. Known for their affectionate and playful personalities, Cornish Rex cats are incredibly loyal and make exceptional lap cats. Breed standards allow for all colors and patterns, from deep black to pure white, in this distinctive short hair cat breed.
12. Korat Cat
A Korat cat with silver-blue short fur and heart-shaped face, symbolizing good luck and showcasing the breed's intelligent and affectionate nature.
The Korat is a Thai breed revered as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. They are distinguished by their beautiful silver-blue short fur. Korats are expressive, intelligent, and deeply affectionate felines, forming very close bonds with their human families. They are known for their gentle nature, especially with children. Uniquely, the Korat is the only cat breed with a heart-shaped head. Their short coat lacks an undercoat, allowing it to lie smoothly against their skin. Korats enjoy being groomed, and while not strictly necessary, daily brushing is a wonderful way to maintain their sleek, shiny coat and provide them with the attention they crave, making them a delightful and easy-care short hair cat breed.
13. American Shorthair Cat
An American Shorthair cat with a classic tabby pattern, displaying the breed's robust build, sweet expression, and easy-going temperament, popular as a family-friendly short-haired cat.
American Shorthairs are beloved for their sweet and easy-going temperaments, making them exceptionally tolerant of children. They possess charming faces and gentle expressions, all wrapped in a luxurious, dense short coat. American Shorthairs have thick, lustrous fur that comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, including classic tabby, silver, brown, and tabby with white markings. Due to the density of their coat, American Shorthairs benefit from more frequent grooming compared to some other short hair breeds, but they remain relatively low-maintenance and are cherished as wonderful family companions.
14. Tonkinese Cat
A Tonkinese cat with a mink-like short coat and striking aqua eyes, highlighting the breed's affectionate and people-oriented nature.
Tonkinese cats are another ancient breed, originating from the crossing of Siamese and Burmese cats. They are known as some of the most affectionate cat breeds, often staying close to their owners, even perching on their shoulders! Tonkinese cats have short, soft coats that lie close to their bodies and are found in a diverse range of colors, including chocolate, seal, cinnamon, blue, red, lilac, fawn, and cream, as well as beautiful tortoiseshell patterns. Their silky coat beautifully complements their distinctive aqua-colored eyes, giving them an exotic and captivating appearance as a short hair cat breed.
15. Chartreux Cat
The Chartreux is a gentle and serene short hair cat breed with soft features and striking golden-orange eyes. Their luminous eyes provide a beautiful contrast to their deep gray fur. The rounded facial structure of the Chartreux often gives them a perpetual smiling expression. They are known for their calm and collected personalities, being very gentle with children and affectionate towards their families. While not overly energetic, they do require playtime and exercise. Chartreux cats are unique as one of the few breeds that exclusively come in blue coats, often with silver-tipped guard hairs that impart an almost ethereal glow to their short, woolly fur.
Conclusion
These fifteen short hair cat breeds showcase the incredible diversity and beauty within the feline world. Each breed possesses unique characteristics, making them special in their own right. Compared to longhaired cats, all these breeds offer the advantage of easily manageable coats. Whether you prefer a more outgoing or a more reserved feline companion, this list offers a variety of personalities and appearances to suit different preferences. Choosing a cat from these short hair breeds guarantees a pet with some of the most beautiful and lustrous short coats in the feline kingdom. Your ideal feline friend with a stunning, easy-care coat is waiting to be discovered!
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Sources
Featured Image Credit: Apisit Hrpp, Shutterstock
Contents
- Top Short Hair Cat Breeds: A Comprehensive Guide
- 1. British Shorthair Cat
- 2. Bombay Cat
- 3. Egyptian Mau
- 4. Havana Cat
- 5. Russian Blue
- 6. Siamese Cat
- 7. Singapura Cat
- 8. Bengal Cat
- 9. Abyssinian Cat
- 10. Exotic Shorthair Cat
- 11. Cornish Rex
- 12. Korat Cat
- 13. American Shorthair Cat
- 14. Tonkinese Cat
- 15. Chartreux Cat
- Conclusion
