What is the character of the British shorthair cat?

 Its name allows from the outset to know its origins and physical characteristics. The British Shorthair originated in Great Britain. With a majestic look, it is recognizable by its short hair and is similar to a real teddy bear.

History of the British Shorthair breed

The British Shorthair has had a rather turbulent history. Originally from England, he had as ancestors gutter cats whose ancestors themselves had a strong Carthusian look. Important crosses were made between the best of the breed so that they could be exhibited in London at the Crystal Palace in 1871. Decimated during the First World War, these cats have been the subject of many crosses over the years to be able to be reborn.

However, because of these different breed mixes, it took several generations before they were recognized as British Shorthair. The same problem that appeared during the Second World War caused the destruction of the breeding of this breed. Persian crosses made it possible at the time to restore all the physical characteristics of the British Shorthair.

Appearance: a real ball of hair

Its short and dense coat is easy to maintain. Its short head and large round eyes are reminiscent of the appearance of a teddy bear. So it's no surprise that the British Shorthair has become one of the most popular cat breeds.

British Shorthair is rather robust by their physique. Like other large cat breeds, their growth is relatively slow. As a rule, British Shorthair reaches their adult size between 3 and 5 years of age. Females weigh up to 5 kilos, while males can reach 7 kilos.

The different colors of the coat

Whether they have a plain coat or several colors, all British Shorthair is a pleasure for the eyes. Animals with a plain coats are blue-gray and black in color. The colors "lilac" or "fawn", which corresponds to a light beige, are also very popular. There are red or cream-colored cats.

If you like originality, you will probably appreciate the color variants "chocolate smoke" or "blue tortoiseshell tabby". And how about a "British Shorthair silver shaded"? Cats that are referred to as "shaded" have color only at the tips of the coat. This is called nuances.

The classic "tabby" variants are particularly popular. Who doesn't know the "Whiskas cat", this famous silver tabby?

What are the most common colours at British Shorthair?

With more than 300 varieties of different colors, the British Shorthair has nothing to envy other breeds. Here is a brief summary of the most common colors:

• Colorpoint: For this color, only the tips (face, ears, paws, tail, and genitals in males) are tinted with the basic colors.
• Chinchilla: British Shorthair chinchilla has a very interesting coat color: one-eighth of the coat is tinted with one of the basic dark colors, and the rest of the coat is silver.
• Tabby: "tabby" means much more than tabby. Depending on the colour of the coat, the British Shorthair tabby can be "mackerel", "classic", "blotched", "spotted", or "ticked".
• Tortie: refers to a British Shorthair tricolor, also called "tortoiseshell". British Shorthair torties are usually always females, due to their genetic dispositions.
• Torbie: the coat of these cats is halfway between the tortie and the tabby.
• Harlequin: only 1/6th of the coat is colored.
• Van: These cats have a plain coat, mostly white.

In technical jargon, the name is often associated with the predominant color of the coat.

Character: calm and affectionate cats

The British Shorthair is an uncomplicated breed, considered calm and friendly. As a rule, they are not acrobats, but rather cats of a calm nature.

In addition, these cats like to be the focus of their parents and love cuddles. Be careful, however, not to let them sleep all day because of their tendency to be overweight.

Livestock and feeding

Breeding and feeding of the British Shorthair

The cozy character of the breed is ideal for families with children. As a rule, it also gets along well with other pets. Finally, if you plan to keep your cat indoors, it is recommended to adopt two animals.

The British Shorthair is considered an ideal indoor cat due to its calm nature. However, a varied environment with plenty of places to sleep, play and hide is a necessity, especially if it's not meant to go out. Playing with humans or other cats is therefore essential so that he does not get bored and must be constantly stimulated physically and mentally. We also offer wall-mounted cat trees for even more fun.

Grooming: a coat that requires little maintenance

British Shorthair is easy to groom. Their short, silky coat should only be brushed every two or three weeks or so. If he enjoys the grooming session, you can of course brush him more often.

However, during molting, in spring and autumn, it is better to brush it more regularly so as not to find a significant amount of hair in your home. You will also reduce the risk of hairballs forming in your cat's stomach.

Health: What is the life expectancy of a British Shorthair?

Unfortunately, the cat is not immune to a disease, but in purebred cats, these are more common due to artificially restricted gene pools.

Their strong build puts a strain on their bones and joints. In addition to the predisposition to joint diseases, heart diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (MHC) and hemophilia B, a blood disease, are unfortunately also more common in British Shorthair cats.

Similarly, polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is well known to breeders. British Shorthair has hereditary kidney cysts or polycystic kidney disease. Persians and Exotic Shorthairs are also more frequently affected by this disease. Symptoms manifest themselves only in old age, which is why affected animals can transmit the disease unnoticed for a certain period of time. As this is a hereditary disease, potential breeding cats should be screened beforehand.

Apart from the diseases mentioned above, the British Shorthair is among the most robust cat breeds. Their life expectancy varies between 12 and 16 years.

Adoption: How much does a British Shorthair cost?

Depending on the pedigree and possible exhibition titles, a British Shorthair kitten can cost between 600 and 1000 euros. But with a professional breeder, you ensure the good health of your protégé.

A breeder also gives kittens the time they need to be ready for adoption. As a general rule, British Shorthair kittens should stay with their mother and siblings until the age of twelve weeks or more. During this time, they learn everything that is important for a balanced and healthy life. In addition, kittens should be vaccinated and dewormed regularly during their first months of life.

Don't forget the associations

Before turning to a professional breeder, you can inquire with local associations to know their little protégés. Indeed, many cats are waiting for a new family that will give them all the love they deserve.

Origins: Great Britain

The British Shorthair is considered the oldest British cat breed. They are said to have been brought to Britain by the Romans. They remained isolated there for a long time. For more than 100 years, they have been the subject of specific breeding and, in 1871, the first British Shorthair was exhibited at the Crystal Palace.

After the two world wars, crossovers took place. In order to improve the decreasing stock of purebred cats and its type, Persian and Carthusian cats were included in the gene pool. As a result, the type of chartreuse and BKH became more and more similar.

In 1970, the two breeds were even united by the breeding association FIFe. According to this principle, all blue cats were considered Carthusians, all other colors as British Shorthair. This classification was withdrawn in 1977.

Crossing with Persian cats also gave birth to the British Longhair, sometimes called the 'Highlander'. This is a mid-length-haired variety of the British Shorthair. They differ from the British Shorthair only in the length of their coat.