12 Short-Haired Cat Breeds to Know About (With Info & Pictures)

A short-haired cat could be a great option if you love cats but dislike long fur. Getting a short-haired kitty can make cleaning your home less complicated. However, just to remind you, a low-maintenance coat doesn’t always mean a low-maintenance kitty. There are several considerations other than fur length (like personality, color, and energy levels).

Luckily, this lengthy list of short-coated kitties includes some pets you may recognize, a few you may not know anything about, and their colors, temperaments, and sizes.

The 12 Short-Haired Cat Breeds

1. Abyssinian Cats

The Abyssinian cat is one of the oldest and most popular breeds, developed and refined in Great Britain. They arrived in America in the early 1900s. The Abyssinian is a beautiful short-haired and medium-sized breed with a long body and well-chiseled muscles. They have large green or golden almond-shaped eyes, triangular heads, and large ears that point forward, showing the breed’s alertness.

Resembling a mini-mountain lion or cougar, the Abyssinian is an active cat that is pretty athletic and loves to jump and climb on high perches and trees. While an active kitty, the Abyssinian is easy to keep in any home. They’re people-oriented, love other pets, and enjoy being petted and combed.

2. American Shorthair Cats

The American Shorthair is one of North America’s most pedigreed cat species, thanks to their gentle nature. This breed is a great family companion, friendly to kids and other pets, and can adapt to various home conditions.

American Shorthairs are also playful and happy but have independent personalities. While they may not be well-known for athleticism, they are surprisingly muscled and have robust features from years of hunting rodents.

The most prominent features of American Shorthairs are their wide-set eyes, round and slightly flat faces, rounded ears, and a short and thick coat that comes in over 80 different colors and patterns.

3. Bombay Cats

A Kentucky breeder named Nikki Horner developed this cat in the late 1950s because she wanted one similar to a Burmese but with a deep, glossy, and patent leather coat.

Bombay cats got their name from a city in India. They combine the American Shorthair’s easy-going nature with a Burmese cat’s curiosity and social temperaments. They have wild features, but they are lap cats that love human company and are friendly to all.

Bombay cats dislike being alone, and it’s best to adopt two unless you rarely leave your home.

4. British Shorthair Cat

This dignified cat with heavy jowls and big bones is among the oldest English cats. British Shorthairs have chubby cheeks and short and dense coats and are popular in blue and white color combinations,

British Shorthairs always appear smiling, thanks to their rounded whisker pads. They are quiet-natured, loyal, people-oriented, and perfect for families with pets and kids.

5. Siamese Cat

If you looking for a short-haired cat that’s highly social, graceful, people-oriented, and intelligent, the Siamese cat is ideal.  They are playful, friendly, and beautiful thanks to their vibrant blue eyes and colored points on the ears, mask, legs, and tail. Siamese cats are available in several color combinations and can easily get along with dogs, kids, and strangers.

6. Burmilla Cats

The Burmilla is a product of accidental mating between a male Chinchilla Persian and a female Burmese cat in 1981. The heavy-built yet elegant cat has two notable features: green eyes and a stunning silver-shaded coat.

The Burmilla d blends the Burmese’s demanding and mischievous dispositions and the Persian’s laid-back temperament to produce a playful, intelligent, and social feline. The Burmilla requires minimal care and can get along with everyone, including other family pets.

7. Cornish Rex

You’ll love the Cornish Rex cat for their short, silky hair that forms into waves and looks like cornrows. They’re medium-sized cats that make excellent pets. The Cornish Rex has inexhaustible energy and athletic tendencies that help them maintain an ideal weight, especially if you provide enough activity and space.

They love spending time with their owners and are well-suited to tiny homes and apartments.

8. Munchkin Cats

Although they’re little cats, Munchkins are not short on intelligence and personality. They have short legs but can get around just the same as the longer-limbed kitties; it just might take them a few extra steps.

Munchkins are cute and curious, and they always “borrow” small, shiny objects like jewelry and stash them away to play with later. They are proficient hunters and love to chase catnip mice before warming up on your lap and getting stroked with a loving hand.

Munchkins are short-legged cats with wedged heads, rounded ears, long spines, widely-spaced walnut eyes, erect tails, and thick muscular bodies. They don’t grow very large and are easy to handle.

9. Sphynx Cat

The Sphynx is a distinct breed known for their hairless body and oversized ears. Some have light, fuzzy coats, but you can see their skin. Sphynx cats are susceptible to sunburn and must use canine-safe sunscreen to protect their vulnerable skin. They also need jackets when playing in cold weather. They are medium-sized but well-muscled with a triangular head, spaced-out eyes, and a prominent cheekbone that resembles ancient Egyptian cats.

Besides being hairless, you can identify a Sphynx from their triangle-shaped ears, similar to a bat’s. They are also energetic, humorous, and loyal to their owners.

10. Havana Brown Cat

The Havana Brown is a medium-sized cat with a silky, short chocolaty coat. They’re very muscular and robust with a distinct triangular-shaped head, green oval eyes, and large ears.

Havanas were developed after crossing a Siamese and black-shorthaired Persian 50 years ago. They are graceful, dignified, and elegant, and they’re ideal for busy owners since they don’t mind being alone.

11. Tonkinese Cats

The Tonkinese is a product of crossing Siamese and Burmese cats from Southeast Asia to create a medium-sized cat with a less piercing voice than the Siamese. Nicknamed “The Tonk,” they are happy, friendly, active, and demand lots of attention. They’re also intelligent and vocal and enjoy snuggling in their owners’ laps.

12. Manx

If you’ve seen a cat without a tail, they may have been a Manx. The Manx is a stocky and heavily-boned medium-sized cat. Although most are tailless, you can find Manx cats with normal-length tails, known as “longies,” and others with stumps or nubs (known as “stumpies”). The tailless Manx cats are called “rumpies.”

They have a round head, bold round eyes, a stout body, and a broad chest. Besides the tail, what also sets Manx cats apart is their shorter front legs and longer hind legs. Manx cats are friendly, gentle, playful, and intelligent. They are capable of opening doors and getting into cabinets using their paws. They can also come in long-haired versions.

Summary

There are many short-haired cats, and the breeds we discussed make fantastic family pets. However, as you can see, each cat has a unique personality, so you should consider every feline’s personality before settling for the best fit for you and your family. When you adopt a short-haired cat, you don’t have to pick up loose clumps of hair often or groom them as frequently.

See also:

• 13 Asian Cat Breeds and Their Incredible Histories (With Pictures)