I love European Shorthair Cats

European shorthair is a breed of short-haired cat originating in Sweden. It's one of the oldest and most common breeds, but it wasn't standardized until quite late and is currently only recognized by one major cat club.

Because it hasn't been bred in a regal meaning until very recently, many European Shorthairs don't have a pedigree and have not been certified as an European Shorthair. Instead, many European shorthairs are called "bondkatt" (Cat of the Farmer) in Swedish, by the fact that many were bred on farms. To confuse things many mixed breed cats are incorrectly referred to as "bondkatt" instead of the preferred term "huskatt" (Cat of the House).

Body

The body should be rectangular in shape with substantial bone structure and good muscular development. The neck should be of medium length and muscular. Chest welldeveloped and rounded. Legs should be of medium length, sturdy and muscular, tapering towards round feet.

Head

The head should be quite large in proportion to the body. From a front view it should give the impression of beeing rounded but is actually somewhat longer than wide. The forehead and skull should be slightly rounded. The transition between the forehead and the nose is marked by a shallow indentation between the eyes. Nose of medium length, straight and uniformly broad. Cheeks should be welldeveloped with strong chin.

Eyes

The eyes should be of medium size, rounded and slightly oblique in setting, somewhat more than one eyes width apart. Colour clear and pure. Open expression.

Ears

The ears should be medium size and slightly rounded at tips. Approximately as wide at base as tall. Setting rather high and fairly upright on the head so that the beginning of the ears is in line with the pupils. May be tufted.

Tail

The tail should be medium long, rather thick at base and gradually tapering towards a rounded tip. Coat structure short and dense.

Coat

The coat should be short and dense, firm and glossy. Of evenly cover-, mid- and under hair. Coverhair should be fiarly coarse and approximately 3-5 mm longer than underhair. Characteristic that coat does not get soaked when put through normal wetness like rain, wetness stays in hairtips and is easily shaken off.

Temperament

In general the European Shorthair is a vivid, playful and good-natured creature. It is very affectionate.

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