European shorthairs are robust and hardy cats with an impressive lifespan of 15-20 years, making them a wonderful choice for anyone looking for a long-term companion.

The oldest fully domestic European cat in their study dates to just before the Common Era, from Mautern, Austria — an imperial frontier town. Once inside Europe, cats spread fast.

The European wildcat is the smallest of Europe’s cats and is a subspecies of the African wildcat, which is thought to be the ancestor of domestic breeds.

The analysis shows that cats are generally more popular than dogs in Europe. On average, 27% of households own at least one cat, compared to 25% that have at least one dog.

There are so many things to love about European shorthair cats that it's little wonder they're so popular. The kind of kitty that will thrive in almost any living situation, they get along ...