Origin
The British Shorthair is the descendant of cats brought to Britain by the Romans, which were interbred with wild native cats. Later they were crossbred with Persian cats to improve the thickness of their coat. The breed was defined in the 19th century and British Shorthairs were shown at the 1871 Crystal Palace cat show. The popularity of the breed had declined by the 1940s, but since the end of the Second World War, breeding programs have intensified and the breed's popularity is high once again.
Breed description
British Shorthairs have dense, plush coats that are often described as crisp or cracking, which refers to the way the coat breaks over the cat's body contours. Eyes are large, round and widely set. They can be a variety of colours, though the copper or gold eyes of the British blue are the best known. They have round heads with full, chubby cheeks and a body that is rounded and sturdy. British Shorthairs are large and muscular, and are described as having a cobby build. The breed has a broad chest, shoulders and hips with short legs, round paws and a plush but not fluffy tail that ends in a round or blunt tip. These are the characteristics listed in most governing bodies breeds standards to which show cats must conform.
The males of this breed are larger than the females, and the size difference between them is more easily noticed compared to other breeds. The males' average weight is 5-10 kilograms, whereas a female would weigh up to 5-7. As with many breeds, the adult males may also develop prominent cheek jowls that distinguish them from their female counterparts. The typical lifespan of this breed is 14 to 20 years.
Physical Characteristics
The British Shorthair Cat is a very strong cat, with a body shape which people refer to as “square”, as they are nearly as long in length as they are broad. The legs on the British Shorthair are quite thick, but also very small, this is to hold up their very heavily muscled body. Due to the broad shape of the cat and also its amount of muscle this type of cat is often referred to as the bull dog of the cat world. The male version of the cat is much larger than the female, as they are a lot broader and rounder. Both of these cats however are quite imposing and this sometimes causes people to be put off.
British Shorthair Cats have heads which are very broad and also quite large. Their cheeks are chubby, which gives them a notably chipmunk appearance. Their eyes also stand out a lot as they tend to be large and of a copper colour. Relatively small sized ears with rounded tips which are set very far apart on the opposite sides of the head make the head look quite domed. Finally, they have a snub nose which is quite pert and a slightly rounded chin which helps to emphasises the powerful jaw and the round head this breed of cat has.
Varieties
British Shorthairs come in many colours. For many years, the more popular blue variant was common enough to have a breed name of its own: the "British Blue". It remains one of the most popular colours in the breed, but there are now a large variety of other colour and pattern variations accepted by most feline governing bodies and associations. These include the colours black, blue, white, red, cream, chocolate, lilac, cinnamon and fawn. They can be bred in "self" or "solid", which is all the one colour as well as the colourpoint, tabby, shaded and bicolour patterns. All colours and patterns also come in the tortoiseshell pattern, which is a combination of red and cream with other colours.
Temperament
British Shorthairs are an easygoing breed of cat. They have a stable character and take well to being kept as indoor only cats, making them ideal for apartment living. They are not terribly demanding of attention, although they will let you know if they feel like playing and enjoy mouse type or stick style toys. They are not hyperactive or "in your face" cats, preferring to sit next to you or near you rather than on you. They will tend to supervise household activities either watching from a comfy perch or lying on the floor nearby.
British Shorthairs are wonderful cats for people who work, as they are very happy just to laze around the house while you are out. They don't get destructive or need other animals for company, though they do enjoy having another British Shorthair or a cat with similar temperament around.
They like attention and enjoy being petted. They are not a very vocal breed but will meow to communicate with their owners. For example, they might meow when they are hungry and their food is being prepared. They may also meow at their favourite toy as they play with it. They tend to scratch doors to signal they want it to be opened rather than meowing like most cats. British Shorthair cats have a tendency to follow people from room to room, as they may want to be with you and see what is going on. Some do not mind being cuddled, but most prefer to keep four paws on the ground and have you pat them rather than pick them up.
The breed has become a favourite of animal trainers because of its nature and intelligence, and in recent years, these cats have appeared in Hollywood films and television commercials. They can learn small tricks spontaneously.
Care
The British Shorthair does not require a lot of grooming because their fur does not tangle or mat easily. However, it is recommended that the coat be brushed occasionally, especially during seasonal shedding, since at this time they may develop hairballs. British Shorthairs are big cats with a heavy bone structure and solid build. They can be prone to obesity when desexed or kept indoors so care should be taken with their diet. They are a heavy cat, so a good rule of thumb is how they look rather than how much they weigh.
