20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Brazilian Shorthair

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Known to its native country as Pelo Curto Brasileiro, you might be surprised to find out that the Brazilian Shorthair is simply the common street cat of Brazil. It’s very much like its counterpart from other countries such as the American Shorthair or the British Shorthair. This cat breed is the first ever breed to be recognized by the international community. It’s rightly so as well because this cat breed is one of the most adorable there is. If you’ve ever wondered if having a Brazilian Shorthair is a good idea, here are 20 things about the breed that you should know first.

1. History

When talking about established breeds, the Brazilian Shorthair is definitely one of them. These cats have been around since the 1500s. Developed by Dr. Paulo Samuel Ruschi, this Brazilian cat was mated with other breeds from British voyages during the time. The goal was to eventually transform the street cats of Brazil into a purebred cat. This is a process that takes years to do, but it eventually happened. Today, the Brazilian Shorthair is considered to be a purebred, and it has also become a favorite among cat lovers everywhere.

2. Size

There’s no questioning the size of the Brazilian Shorthair. This cat is one large domestic breed. Much like other cat breeds, the male Shorthairs tend to grow larger than the females. Male Brazilian Shorthairs can grow up to 15 inches in height, while females can grow up to 13 inches. The ideal weight for the male cats falls anywhere from 11 to 18 pounds, while the ideal weight for females is from 8 to 14 pounds. Although these weight limits are ideal, it’s typical for Brazilian Shorthairs to exceed these numbers because they are domestic pets. These cats have been known to grow upwards of 25 pounds.

3. Appearance

Apart from their incredibly large size, Brazilian Shorthairs have a few distinctive features. While they have an incredibly strong build, these cats are more slender compared to their American and British counterparts. They tend to have longer heads, and their medium ears are adorably rounded. Their large eyes are striking, and their medium-sized tails taper towards the end. The overall appeal of the Brazilian Shorthair is quite elegant despite the fact that they are common street cats.

4. Coat

Brazilian Shorthairs have gorgeous coats. Their coats come in a variety of colors that include black, white, gray, brown, and orange. They have stunning coat colors, but the fact that each coat pattern is unique to every cat. This means that no two Brazilian Shorthairs look alike. Their coat patterns also happen to be one of their most striking features. You’ll even find some Shorthair cats with spots of colors or ones that only have markings on their tails.

5. Grooming

Cats are generally low-maintenance pets, but the Brazilian Shorthair is even more when it comes to grooming. Cats groom themselves anyway, but the Shorthair sheds very little. Brushing once a week should be enough to keep matting and hairballs at bay. If you seem to notice them developing even with your brushing, you can increase to twice a week until they disappear. Otherwise, you can also groom as needed. You’ll have no need to bathe your cat, unless you need to do some spot cleaning here and there. Your cat will clean itself regularly. However, you’re going to need to check and clean teeth, ears, and claws regularly.

6. Personality

Adventurous and curious, Brazilian Shorthairs are quite friendly cats. They tend to spend more time walking around compared to other cats. They like to meet new people, as they are quite adaptive creatures. This cat breed enjoys socialization and will need plenty of toys to keep it entertained. Otherwise, it will find things in your home to entertain itself with. Brazilian Shorthairs are affectionate because of their outgoing personalities, and they are likely to be the least aloof cats you can find.

7. Health

Much like any other domestic animals, Brazilian Shorthairs are also prone to specific health problems that are known to plague their breed. One of these health problems is polycystic kidney disease, in which cysts form throughout a cat’s kidneys. Eventually, these cysts will cause the kidneys to fail if the progression of the disease is not cared for or addressed. Brazilian Shorthairs are also prone to developing respiratory diseases and anxiety.

8. Care

Caring for a Brazilian Shorthair should be easy and manageable. These cats are great cats for beginners or first-time pet owners. Apart from providing your cat all its basic needs for survival, you also want to make sure that you’re doing what you can to keep your cat healthy and strong. Regular visits to the veterinarian are important for checkups. This will ensure that your cat is in tiptop shape. If you ever suspect anything is wrong with your kitty, you should always take it in for a checkup as well.

9. Exercise

There’s a reason why domestic cats tend to gain weight easily. They have a tendency to forego all manners of physical movement in order to just hang around and observe all day long. While Brazilian Shorthairs are rather more curious and adventurous compared to other cats, they’ll still need motivation to move from time to time. Giving your cat toys to play with is one way to provide it with much needed exercise. You can also get a climbing tree for your home, so your cat can have something safe to climb on.

10. Household

When it comes to children and other pets in the household, Brazilian Shorthairs are great to have. These cats love to play and socialize with children, and they can certainly hold their own when it comes to little ones that are rougher with pets. Although they interact fairly well with dogs, Brazilian Shorthairs require early socialization in order to learn how to interact with dogs that will share their household space. If you socialize your kitten as early as possible, you shouldn’t have any problem with it getting along with other humans and pets in your home.

11. Vocalization

Many people looking for a cat forget to consider vocalization as something to consider before choosing a pet to take home. Most picture cats as quiet creatures, but there are some breeds that vocalize a lot more than expected. Fortunately, Brazilian Shorthairs have moderate vocalization tendencies that can also be controlled. Vocalization tends to happen for this breed after overstimulation or also when bored. Keeping your cat content and occupied should do the trick of keeping it quiet when necessary.

12. Diet

Because Brazilian Shorthairs expend quite a bit of energy compared to the average domestic cat, make sure you provide your cat with high quality cat food that contains a ton of protein. Larger cat breeds typically eat more food also, but you want to make sure that you’re not overfeeding your cat. You want a good balance of cat food, and you can get this by either feeding it just dry food or combing dry and canned cat food. You can also give your cat healthy fresh meats, as long as your veterinarian approves it.

13. Attention

It may be an odd thing to say about cats, but a Brazilian Shorthair will actually require more attention from you than you’d expect. It may be because of their affectionate or playful nature, but this cat breed will want to get engaged and stay engaged for a while. Also unusual is its desire for company. While most cats tend to be more independent, the Brazilian Shorthair wants and needs company whenever possible. Because of this reason, this cat breed does not do well in long periods of solitude. If you’re going to be gone for an extended period of time, make sure that you have someone familiar check in on your cat.

14. Intelligence

Most cat lovers know just how intelligent cats are. The Brazilian Shorthair is no different; this cat breed is highly intelligent and curious. You’ll easily develop a connection with a Brazilian Shorthair because of how quickly it will pick up on your cues and anything else that you might teach it. Brazilian Shorthairs will benefit tremendously from challenging puzzles, toys, and other games. It’ll only strengthen them mentally and keep them entertained.

15. Training

Most people don’t think of cats as trainable creatures, but they can be trained just much like dogs. In fact, some cats are even easier to train than dogs. One example of this is the Brazilian Shorthair. This cat breed has more than enough intelligence to learn specific skills and even endearing tricks. It may not be something you might want to pursue for show, but it’s certainly something that can come in handy even at home.

16. Energy

The Brazilian Shorthair will never be short on energy. If you wanted the stereotypical house cat—lounging atop the fridge or sitting by the window all day—this is probably not the cat for you. You’ll find a Brazilian Shorthair constantly exploring, mingling, and seeking attention wherever it goes. You might find it exploring in places and areas you don’t want it to. Once you take a Brazilian Shorthair home, you’ll have a companion that will feel right at home where you are.

17. Affection

Cats are commonly known as aloof pets. Although there’s some truth to this, it’s not always true. Only cat owners and cat lovers can attest to the fact that cats are actually pretty affectionate creatures. They may not show their affections the way most people imagine. They may not wag their tails or jump up and down in excitement each time they see you. However, Brazilian Shorthairs will show their love in a subtler way. They will cuddle, snuggle, give you kisses and rubs, and they will also tell you through their vocalizations.

18. Home

Before you take a Brazilian Shorthair home, you’ll have to make sure that you are well prepared for your new companion. There are a few things you’ll need to have in order to provide your cat with a safe place. Although it may not be a lot when it comes to the physical things—litter box, bed, toys, cat tree, and more—you’ll also need to make sure that every member of the household welcomes your cat with warmth and love. A cat needs a loving environment to thrive, be healthy, and be happy.

19. Lifespan

One of the best things about Brazilian Shorthairs is their incredible life span. This cat breed typically has a life span of 14 to 20 years. That’s an amazing amount of time to spend with any pet, and it’s also a great thing for pet owners to have such an opportunity. What’s even better is the fact that this life span can be prolonged with proper care, diet, exercise, and lots of love. Brazilian Shorthairs definitely make it easy for anyone to love them, so this shouldn’t be an issue.

20. Cost

Although they may be the common street cats in Brazil, they’re pretty much on a pedestal everywhere else. Brazilian Shorthairs are much loved cat breeds, and the cost of owning one reflects that as well. These cats can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $1,200. This cost might be even higher depending on the breeder you buy from. There’s always the option of adopting your cat from a shelter, which is always where we recommend looking first. Apart from the cost of buying your Brazilian Shorthair, make sure you also take into account the cost of maintenance, which includes all the food, care, and entertaining expenses. It can add up quite a bit, so preparation is key.