Cat Breeds: British Shorthair

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 BRITISH SHORTHAIR

Although there are only written records for the British Shorthair back to the beginning of the century the breed has been in existence for hundreds of years. The first shorthair cats were probably brought to Britain by invading Roman troops and they feature in engravings and paintings through the centuries. They were exported in large numbers to the New World where they were very popular. The variety of colors and coat patterns available today have come about from the selective breeding of the best street cats during the nineteenth century and continuing careful breeding plans to the present day. 

Willow and Bosco

The British Shorthair is one of the largest breeds of cat. It is chunky and substantial and the male is much larger than the female. The face is round with full cheeks and the nose is short and broad. The chin is deep and strong. The tip of the chin is in line vertically with the tip of the nose. The ears are small and rounded and set so as to blend with the round contour of the head. The eyes are large and round. The head is set on a short thick neck. The body is Cobby with a short level back. The chest is deep and the shoulders are strong. The legs are short and strong with round paws and the tail is thick.

The British Shorthair is bred in over one hundred colour and coat pattern combinations. The coat is short and dense. The British's eye colour can be deep sapphire blue or deep gold, orange or copper. White coloured Britishes may have one eye of each color. The common colors in the British Shorthair cats are Blue, Lilac, Red, Cream, Chocolate, Black, Tabby and White.

Blakeman

The British Shorthair is a sturdy healthy breed and suffers from no specific health problems. They are capable of living into their teens but an annual health check from about the age of eight is advisable. This may include teeth cleaning and a blood test for liver and kidney function. 

The British Shorthair is a big soft lump of a cat. These are the ‘gentle giants’ of the cat world. They are loving and affectionate. They are good with children and other animals. They do not continuously demand human attention and are quieter than their foreign counterparts. Nor do they have the curious nature that gets many foreign breeds into trouble and if allowed out in the garden they are unlikely to roam. However they are often more than happy to be indoor cats.

*This information was collected from www.purina.com