Mary Allen
With the British Shorthair, everything is a “round thing”: Both their body shapes and their easy-going and affectionate nature characterize this breed. Learn all about the British Shorthair cat breed here.
British Shorthair cats are extremely popular pedigree cats among cat lovers. Here you will find the most important information about the British Shorthair.
Origin of the British Shorthair
The success of the British Shorthair is legendary because it is one of the most popular cat breeds of all. And its origin is also a bit legendary. There is talk of Roman legionnaires and of the wild Britain of the early days. The Romans are said to have brought cats there, some sources assume from Egypt. In the British Isles, they met native feral cats with whom they naturally interbred. There was also a lively exchange with the animals that were already kept as house cats at the time. And from this, the archetype of the British Shorthair is said to have emerged.
Targeted breeding only began in the 19th century. Over time, breeders experimented with both colors and other breeds. Some Persian cats were crossed in, which explains the dense undercoat and the rather short nose of the British Shorthair in some lines. Basically, however, the type of the robust, somewhat stocky, and the large short-haired cat was retained and this archetype has hardly changed over the many years.
The appearance of the British Shorthair
The look of the British Shorthair can best be described with the word “round”. The breed has a rather stocky build, emphasized by the broad chest and short, powerful legs, and large, rounded paws. The short, thick tail is also rounded at the end.
The round head of the British Shorthair with the relatively broad skull sits on a short, strong neck. The nose is slightly shortened to a snub nose, although there are large variations depending on the line. The large, round eyes are orange, copper, green or blue, depending on the color.
Coat and colors of the British Shorthair
The strong, short and very dense fur with undercoat provides the teddy look of the British Shorthair in over 70 colors. The following colors are allowed:
- Black
- Blue
- Chocolate
- Lilac
- Red
- White
- Cream
Patterns and badges are also possible such as:
- Tabby
- Tortie (tortoiseshell)
- Tipped
- Smoked
- Bicolour
- Colorpoint (with dark face mask)
The temperament of the British Shorthair
The British Shorthair is a calm, easy-going, even-tempered cat with a soft, unobtrusive voice. Her coziness and inner peace as well as her attachment to people she trusts make her an extremely pleasant and lovable house companion. At first glance, the British Shorthair sometimes seems a bit reserved, but with their familiar caregivers, they are quite a cuddly tiger. As with any cat, regardless of breed, childhood imprinting plays a crucial role. When kittens are surrounded by people and other cats from the start, they become very sociable.
It’s the same with gaming. As adults, the British Shorthair does not naturally have such a wild play instinct as other cat breeds. But when she’s used to being played with, she likes it too. The young British Shorthair cats are playful like all kittens and they get their crazy five minutes.
Keeping and caring for the British Shorthair
The British Shorthair is suitable as an apartment cat due to its calm and affectionate nature. When kept indoors, the British Shorthair needs plenty of sleeping space, and a large scratching post is also very suitable. Even if the British Shorthair is not one of the most playful cat breeds, it still needs a lot of play opportunities in the home. Because the British Shorthair is a very intelligent cat breed and as such needs good activity and playful encouragement.
However, if given the opportunity, a free-roaming attitude is even more appropriate for the British Shorthair. Both the garden and a cat-proof balcony are suitable for this. However, British Shorthair cats tend not to be fully outdoor cats. They usually stay close to their home.
The British Shorthair can be kept well with other cats. However, it is important that she can also withdraw on her own.
Grooming of the British Shorthair includes regular brushing once a week, and possibly more often during the shedding season. It is also important to ensure a balanced diet in order to prevent obesity in cats that tend to be lazy and easygoing.