The British Shorthair Cat: Royal, Beautiful And Calm

The British Shorthair Cat is formidable, in particular, because he combines the alley cat's robustness and the purebred cat's beauty. He is an animal with iron health, sometimes calm, sometimes playful, but always kind and easy to live. With her expressive look and adorable rounded jowls, it's hard not to fall in love!

At A Glance To The British Shorthair Cat

Size: Medium to large. Its silhouette is of the semi-cobby type, that is to say, that its body is rounded but robust and powerful, and its shoulders and chest are broad.

Weight: 9 to 18 pounds; this cat is considered heavy. Note that the males are significantly larger and more massive than the females.

Average life expectancy: 13 to 20 years old

Eye color: Blue, copper, gold, or odd. The eye color matches the dress.

Hair type: Short, dense, and compact, with a thick undercoat.

 

Origins of the British Shorthair Cat

In 1871, English breeders decided to exhibit the most beautiful alley cats they had found at Crystal Palace in London. On the one hand, these cats were named British Shorthair to differentiate them from foreign and oriental cats, and on the other, to distinguish them from long-haired cats.

Around the beginning of the 1900s, the British Shorthair was imported into the United States and was called the Domestic Shorthair until the mid-1950s

The First World War greatly affected British Shorthair breeding, so much so that the breed nearly became extinct. Crossing with cats without pedigree was practiced to revive the breed, resulting in the loss of the typical physique of the breed.

To restore their lost roundness, Persians were used. This made it possible to renew the initial robustness, weigh the frame a little, and obtain an even thicker and thicker coat.

The same scenario repeated itself during the Second World War, and it was once again necessary to appeal to the Persians, in addition to American Shorthairs, to reestablish the breed of the British Shorthair.

Due to the many obstacles that arose in breeding the breed, the British Shorthair was not recognized until 1979 by the TICA and in 1980 by the CFA.

Physical characteristics of the British Shorthair Cat

The British Shorthair Cat is a massive cat with powerful muscles and bones. Thus, his shoulders and back are broad, which makes him rather imposing. His legs, just as massive, end in the round and firm feet. Although he is a plump and quite heavy cat, he does not have to be large.

In the show, the lack of muscle tone or a fine bone structure is considered a fault. The British Shorthair's head is apple-shaped; the contours and cheeks are rounded. The muzzle is short, well curved, and particularly wide. The eyes are very large, set apart, and round, giving the British Shorthair an expressive look.

The eye color is intense and matches the coat of the cat. The ears, medium to small, are set well apart on the head.

The British Shorthair's fur is short, very dense, and very compact, so much so that the coat separates at the neckline when the cat turns its head. This fur covers a thick undercoat.

As for the dress, all colors are allowed, in all possible shades and patterns.

  

Behavior and character traits of the British Shorthair Cat

The British Shorthair is a kind, dignified and peaceful cat. This placidity, however, does not prevent him from being a good hunter and defending his territory as it should.

His ancestors being great hunters of wandering rats, the British Shorthair inherited from them a marked predatory instinct and a specific need for freedom.

Thus, the British Shorthair Cat has an independent character, which will be evident if the cat is allowed to go outside. That said, the British Shorthair adapts to indoor life with no problem.

He is attached to his family, he loves the company of children and he gets along wonderfully with his congeners as well as dogs. He is also a very playful cat who greatly appreciates having a playmate. If he has no one to play with, he will still find a way to entertain himself with a toy or any object found.

The British Shorthair Cat is a loyal and endearing cat that is an integral part of the family. Curious, he will not hesitate to come and explore the surroundings when an event occurs and meet the guests.

However, he remains a discreet cat who prefers to spend most of his time in quiet places. If he has an attachment to all family members, the British Shorthair tolerates loneliness well.

 

British Shorthair Grooming

Although the British Shorthair Cat is short-haired, its double coat is very dense and requires careful grooming. A few times a week, the cat should be combed with a fine-toothed comb to remove dead hair in its coat.

Naturally, this operation must be carried out more frequently during the molting period, which usually occurs in the spring, when there is a considerable loss of coat and undercoat.

It is imperative to carry out this maintenance; otherwise, the cat will ingest a large amount of hair during his daily grooming, which could lead to health problems addition, if the British Shorthair goes outside, his coat should be inspected as soon as it returns home to ensure that no parasites have lodged in its fur.

Best Products for British Shorthair Cat

 Health issues of the British Shorthair

The British Shorthair has very good health. However, certain genetic diseases are present in the breed such as polycystic kidney disease dominant type - in particular, because the British Shorthair Cat descends from the Persian, like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The breeders are tested to ward off these affections in the British Shorthair.

 Is the British Shorthair right for you?

The British Shorthair Cat adapts to all environments. Thus, he will like living in the city and the countryside.

He can also live very well inside, provided he never goes outside.

If he tastes the outdoor life, he could be inclined to want to escape from the house to explore new territories.

 Remember that he is a born hunter; he will not hesitate to run away if he sees prey outside, so be careful when you open the front door.

The British Shorthair is a calm cat but also very playful at times. Thus, it is advisable to provide him with a cat tree and some toys.

 

The ideal master

The British Shorthair is everyone's cat. Given its origins, it is a robust and independent cat that requires little care and human presence. But, like all animals, he likes to be pampered by his guardians and can be very affectionate when the heart tells him to.

The British Shorthair Cat will be happy in a family with children and other animals because they will allow him to satisfy his need to play.

Note that this cat tolerates loneliness well and does not constantly need attention.

 To note

 Despite the strong muscles of the British Shorthair, it is necessary to observe his diet to maintain a reasonable weight and not lose his good shape.

Interactive exercises are necessary to avoid weight gain.

The ideal is to provide the British Shorthair with a cat tree and toys, such as small balls or mice stuffed with catnip, to make it move a little.

Tends to be overweight if he does not move enough and/or if the diet is not controlled.

Independent cat, less "sticky" than most other purebred cats

Runaway due to his need for freedom and his hunting instinct.