The European shorthair, also called the European or Celtic shorthair, is a breed originating in Europe, an elaborate way of referring to common European cats. The European can be compared to the kind of domestic cat, which has developed naturally, i.e., without having been subject to special rules for breeding. European Shorthair has its counterparts in Great Britain (British Shorthair) and USA (American Shorthair), that have been bred much longer.