Videos British Shorthair Breed Information
Country of origin -
United Kingdom
Breed standards -
AACE CFA(*) ACFA TICA(*) CCA ACF(*) FIFe(*)
The British Shorthair is a domesticated
cat that is said to resemble a teddy bear. Its features make it a popular
breed in cat shows. It has been the most popular breed of cat
registered by the UK's GCCF since 1999 when it over took the
Siamese breed.
1. Breed Description
British Shorthairs have very 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
copper in colour. Domesticated Shorthairs have round heads with
full, chubby cheeks. Most have 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. 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. 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 9 to 15 years.
2. Colours
British Shorthair Cats 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 however there is now a large variety
of other colour and pattern variations accepted by most feline
governing bodies and associations. These include the colours black,
white, red, cream, chocolate, lilac, cinnamon and fawn as well as
the colourpoint, tabby and bicolour patterns. All colours and
patterns also come in the tortieshell pattern as well which is a
combination of red and cream with other colours.
Chocolate and it's dilute form lilac are receently developed
colours. The British lilac is described as having a "pink-grey
coat." Even newer is British Shorthair cats in cinnamon and
it's dilute form fawn. British are also bred in a shadded
(tipped) coat pattern in both silver and golden form.
3. Origin
F. M. Rowley, in her book "British Shorthair Cat",
traces British Shorthair ancestral stock directly back to the
domestic cats taken from Egypt to Rome, and later to Britain. Most
likely, the ancestors of modern British Shorthair cats arrived to
Britain after the 2nd century AD when the Roman Empire spread to
Britain.
Almost all British Shorthairs disappeared in the 1940s, but
programs started up the breed's popularity once again.
4. Temperament
The British Shorthair is an easygoing breed. It has a stable
character and can easily live in an apartment setting. It is not
terribly demanding of attention, although it will make its desire
for play known if its owner looks available. It is not normally
destructive or hyperactive, although it can be playful.
It has become a favorite of animal trainers because of its
nature and intelligence, and in recent years these cats have
appeared in Hollywood films and television commercials.
5. Care
The British Shorthair does not require a lot of grooming because
the fur does not tangle or mat easily. However, it is recommended
that the coat be brushed now and again, especially during seasonal
shedding.
The British Shorthair can be prone to obesity especially when
desexed or kept indoors. They are also known to have teeth and gum
issues, more so than the average cat, so keep their teeth free of
tartar by brushing them
about once a day with a cat toothbrush. (Never feed cats small
bones as they may choke.)
6. Famous British Shorthairs
* Writer Lewis Carroll and
illustrator Sir John Tenniel
chose the breed as the model for the Cheshire cat in Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland.
* A British Shorthair silver tabby
is the face of Whiskas and a British Blue is the face of Sheba cat food. The Bacardi Breezer
commercials also featured a silver tabby British Shorthair.
* In Terry Pratchett's
Discworld Humour/Fantasy Novels, the
Lancre Witch Nanny Ogg's cat
Greebo (also known as The Terror of the
Ramtops) is a British Blue.
* Winston Churchill (Church) from Pet Semetary was a British
Blue.
* Happycat, an internet meme.
Copyright (c) 2008 Kitt Killion Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
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