Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Background
The Celtic Shorthair cat belongs to the indigenous European breeds that developed naturally without artificial human intervention. Its ancestors lived in Central and Western Europe, where, through natural selection, strong health, endurance, and balanced temperament were established. For centuries, these cats served as reliable companions on farms and in towns, protecting food supplies from rodents. In the 20th century, systematic work began to fix the breed in studbooks. Within the ICCF system, the Celtic Shorthair is recognized as a natural breed that has preserved its harmony, solid constitution, and stable character, making it valuable for modern breeding.
General Appearance
The Celtic Shorthair is a medium-sized, well-proportioned cat with a strong bone structure and well-developed muscles. The body is balanced, without signs of roughness or excessive refinement. The breed features a round head, strong neck, balanced torso, and medium-length limbs. The tail is straight, evenly thick, and in harmony with the body. The coat is short, dense, and close-lying, with a developed undercoat that provides additional protection. The facial expression is calm and open, reflecting its friendly yet independent nature. The overall impression should convey naturalness and balance.
Important Proportions
All parts of the Celtic Shorthair’s exterior must be in harmony. The head is rounded, with approximately equal width and length, without sharp angles. The ears are medium-sized, set evenly, and smoothly complement the shape of the head. The eyes are large, slightly oval, harmoniously placed, and give a gentle expression. The body length is proportional to the height of the limbs, creating a strong and balanced appearance. The tail equals about two-thirds of the body length, with a rounded tip. The coat should cover the body evenly, emphasizing smooth body lines. The overall proportions must preserve natural balance without extremes.
Behavior and Character
The Celtic Shorthair is calm and even-tempered. Independent by nature, it still forms a strong bond with its owner. This cat is friendly with children, easily adapts to family life, and coexists well with other animals. It is naturally curious and active, often expressing this through playful behavior. Despite its independence, it remains social and gentle without being intrusive. It handles stress well, making it suitable for various environments. The Celtic Shorthair is a loyal, intelligent companion, capable of learning easily and adapting to changes.
Head
The head of the Celtic Shorthair should be round, solid, but not coarse, with smooth lines that create a harmonious and natural appearance. The skull is broad with a softly curved forehead, without excessive bulging or flattening. The transition from forehead to nose is smooth and noticeable but not sharp. The cheekbones are broad and well-developed, emphasizing the roundness and expressiveness of the head. The chin is firm and balanced, neither receding nor protruding, giving a harmonious finish to the muzzle. The overall shape of the head should express strength, balance, and natural harmony, while maintaining softness and fluidity of lines.
Face
The facial structure of the Celtic Shorthair is characterized by rounded, harmonious contours without angularity or sharpness. The nose is of medium length, straight, broad at the base, and gently narrowing toward the tip without being pointed. The nose leather is slightly rounded, its color corresponding to the coat. The chin is strong yet not heavy, blending smoothly with the lower jaw. The cheekbones are well defined, giving a soft but confident expression. The cheeks are rounded, complementing the head’s proportions. Whiskers are long and evenly spaced, enhancing facial symmetry. The overall impression should convey strength, softness, and balance.
Eyes
The eyes of the Celtic Shorthair are large and widely set, giving the face an open and friendly expression. They are slightly oval, close to round, with softly extended corners that create an attentive look. The expression is calm, kind, and intelligent. Eye color ranges from deep green and amber to bright yellow, always clear, rich, and uniform, without spots or uneven pigmentation. The eye color should harmonize with the coat color, enhancing the breed’s natural beauty. The gaze should be lively, intelligent, and serene.
Ears
The ears of the Celtic Shorthair are medium-sized, slightly rounded at the tips, complementing the rounded head shape. They are set moderately high, with the distance between them roughly equal to the width of one ear. The ear set is upright, without excessive outward or inward tilt. The inner ear is covered with fine hair; the outer surface is smooth. The ears must not appear too large or too small relative to the head. Their placement and shape complete the harmonious impression of the breed’s natural exterior.
Neck
The neck of the Celtic Shorthair is of medium length, strong, and muscular, smoothly connecting the head and torso without appearing heavy. It must be powerful enough to support the broad, rounded head, yet maintain grace and fluidity. The neck should be proportionate to the overall body, blending softly into the shoulders and withers. It must not be too short or overly long. The muscular structure should highlight strength and stability—key features of the breed.
Body
The body is medium in size, muscular, and strong, with a solid bone structure. The back is straight, the chest broad and deep, giving a sense of stability and strength. The topline is smooth, without dips or arches, emphasizing proper muscle development. The abdomen is tucked up but not hollow. Shoulders and croup are well-developed and harmoniously integrated into the body structure. The overall impression should be of health, balance, and natural strength.
Tail
The tail of the Celtic Shorthair is medium in length—about two-thirds of the body length—broad at the base and tapering gradually toward the tip, which is rounded. It should be flexible, well-muscled, and always in proportion to the body. The tail must be evenly covered with dense hair, complementing the cat’s overall appearance. It provides balance and completes the harmonious silhouette.
Exterior Description
Forelimbs
The forelimbs are of medium length, straight and strong, with round paws and well-developed pads. The bones are firm but not coarse, and the muscles well-defined, emphasizing strength and stability. Paws are compact with strong, retractable claws. The legs should be straight and proportional to the body, ensuring stability and graceful movement. Any curvature or weakness is considered a fault.
Hind Limbs
The hind limbs are slightly longer than the forelimbs, creating a gentle rise toward the croup and giving the silhouette a dynamic look. Thighs are muscular and firm, joints well-developed. Paws are round and strong, providing agility and jumping power. The hind legs should be straight, stable, and harmoniously proportioned. The structure reflects the breed’s natural balance and endurance.
Gait and Movement
The movement of the Celtic Shorthair is smooth, free, and coordinated. The cat walks confidently with light, elastic steps. When running or jumping, the motion is energetic yet graceful, without heaviness. The gait should always appear balanced, reflecting the cat’s natural agility and coordination. The overall impression should be of a confident, strong, yet supple animal with natural grace and vitality.
Coat
The coat of the Celtic Shorthair is short, dense, and thick, with a well-developed undercoat. It lies close to the body, forming a protective layer while remaining soft and resilient to the touch. The fur has a natural sheen and appears healthy and well-groomed. The evenly developed undercoat adds volume and insulation. The coat’s texture emphasizes the breed’s natural beauty and vitality.
Acceptable Colors
Almost all colors are permitted for the Celtic Shorthair. Common solid colors include white, black, blue, red, and cream. All tabby patterns are allowed—mackerel, spotted, classic—as well as silver and smoke variations. Bicolor, tricolor, and tortoiseshell combinations are accepted. Excluded colors include chocolate, lilac, colorpoint, and Abyssinian ticking. Coat color should be even, rich, and harmonious with the eye color.
Size
Male Celtic Shorthairs are medium to large, weighing 5–7 kg, with a strong build and developed musculature. Females are more delicate, weighing 3.5–5 kg, with softer body lines. Height is proportionate to body length, maintaining overall balance. The cat should appear strong, healthy, and harmoniously built—neither too massive nor too light.
Faults
Faults include deviations from standard proportions and features: a too narrow or elongated head, angular muzzle, weak or sloping chin, incorrect ear shape or placement. Small, closely or widely set eyes, dull or uneven eye color are also undesirable. Excessively long or short tail, weak musculature, overly stretched or compact body are minor faults. Sparse, overly soft, or insufficiently dense coat is undesirable. Small white markings on solid coats are acceptable but reduce evaluation if they disturb balance. Any traits that disrupt the breed’s natural harmony lower show scores.
Disqualification
Disqualifying faults include severe structural or behavioral deviations: lack of the typical rounded head, skull deformities, crooked nose, jaw asymmetry, or weak chin. Oversized or tiny ears, extreme tilting, or vertical placement are not allowed. Eyes with defects, strabismus, or iris anomalies also disqualify. Tails with kinks, breaks, or rigidity, incorrect bite, missing teeth, or excessive white patches in non-bicolor cats are not permitted. Chocolate, lilac, colorpoint, and Abyssinian ticking are disqualifying colors. Aggression, fearfulness, or unstable temperament lead to exclusion. Any major deviation from ICCF standards results in automatic disqualification.
Important Notes
The Celtic Shorthair is a natural European breed, and its standard aims to preserve its harmony and authentic type. Breeders must avoid artificial exaggeration of traits that disrupt balance. Health, strong bone structure, and proper musculature are priorities. Breeding must maintain genetic diversity and adhere strictly to ICCF documentation verifying lineage. Minor deviations that do not affect overall harmony should not lead to exclusion, but serious faults must be eliminated. ICCF emphasizes respect for the breed’s natural type and prohibits artificial modification for trends.
Conclusion
The Celtic Shorthair is a unique breed preserving the natural European type with strong health, harmony, and a calm temperament. Its appearance reflects balance and authenticity without extremes. The breed is recognized by ICCF, and participation in shows or breeding is allowed only with official ICCF documents confirming lineage. Only cats meeting the standard in conformation, proportion, and behavior are accepted. Breeding is permitted exclusively for individuals with verified ICCF pedigrees and no disqualifying traits. The main goal of breeders is to maintain the breed’s purity and natural harmony, avoiding extremes and non-standard colors. According to ICCF standards, the Celtic Shorthair represents the ideal of natural beauty, stability, and friendly temperament—a valuable symbol of European feline heritage worthy of preservation and recognition.
