British Shorthair cats: characteristics, color, and standard description

The British Shorthair is a beloved cat. It's one of the oldest breeds, with its history dating back to the 1st century AD. However, the breed as we know it has only been known since the 19th century. The very best specimens of this breed are registered in special stud books, many of which are over 100 years old.

British is popular not only in its home country, but also all over the worldAnd the main features that this cat has are:

• stocky body;
• thick "plush" fur;
• wide muzzle.

Blue is rightfully the most popular color of this breed. However, today these cats can also come in other colors and patterns, and a great variety have been developed.

History of origin

The British Shorthair cat traces its history back to ancient Rome and Egypt. There, they played the role of faithful companions to humans. Historical chronicles contain numerous accounts of powerful cats with sharp fangs and gray fur. There is a possibility that the British Shorthair cat came from them.Thanks to Roman legionaries, these cats migrated to the British Isles, where they began interbreeding with the wildcats native to the area. These cats became very popular with the locals (the British), thanks to their aristocratic appearance. The British breed boasted excellent hunting skills, robust health, and remarkable endurance.

The 19th century was marked by English cat lovers seeking to create a truly British cat, one with the ideal characteristics. For this purpose, only the most beautiful male and female cats were selected. Harrison Weir even created a breed standard specifically for this purpose., and later even organized the first exhibition of these cats. The British Shorthair was officially registered as a separate breed only about 100 years ago.

British Shorthair: a variety of colors

British a cat can have a wide variety of colorsAll of them are divided into the following options:

1. Solid. In this case, the cat is uniformly colored in one color. No spots are visible. Blue is the most popular and beloved color among breeders.
2. Tortoiseshells are a combination of several colors. For example, blue and cream; red and black. The spots on the coat can be distributed in any way.
3. Smoke cats are cats with a contrasting coloring. They have a light undercoat and dark, rich tips.
4. A tabby or British shorthair cat has a spotted, striped, or marbled coat. The pattern must be as bright and distinct as possible. These cats have a distinct "M"-shaped marking on their foreheads.
5. The Siamese (colored) cat has a very interesting coloring. This breed can easily change color depending on weather conditions. This British Shorthair has a white body, and colored paws, ears, tail, and face mask.
6. A bicolor cat has two colors in its coat. One is the primary color, and the other is white (the amount of white should not exceed 50%).

Accepted breed standards

The description of the British cat breed corresponds to the following standards:

• The British Shorthair's head should be round and well-shaped. The skull should be broad. The breed also requires the muzzle to be as close to a circle as possible. The "Cheshire Cat smile" and jowls are important features.
• The British Shorthair's nose is straight, short, and fairly wide. There should even be a slight indentation at the bridge.
• The breed features small, low-set and wide-set ears.
• The eyes are round and very large. They are most often golden. If the cat is a pointed cat, the eyes are standardly blue. Chinchillas, however, can see through lavender and green eyes. It's important for a British Shorthair to be free of the dull rim that can surround the pupil. Otherwise, such a cat will be considered a breed defect.
• The British Shorthair's body should be strong, muscular, and broad-boned. A massive back, a fairly broad torso, and strong limbs characterize this breed. The British Shorthair's tail is thick and short, tapering noticeably toward the base. The British Shorthair male is much larger than the female. Small kittens grow to adulthood very quickly, but they don't reach maturity until they are four years old. Male cats can weigh up to 8 kg (17 lbs). Female cats typically weigh no more than 5–6 kg (11–13 lbs).
• British Shorthairs can have long or short hair. These are two distinct branches of the same breed. The longhaired British Shorthair has an aristocratic appearance. Its coat is straight and has a thick undercoat. This breed considers its luxurious tail, with its long, elegant feathering, a particular asset. The shorthaired British Shorthair has a soft, neat coat up to 2.5 mm long, all over its body.
• Every British Shorthair must have a coat that fully complies with the breed standard. If it is a solid color (for example, blue), the coloring must be uniform. Only slight shimmer and smoky reflections are allowed. Currently, there are approximately 30 different colors. Kittens of white, black, red, and blue colors are especially popular.

This cat breed may have the following disadvantages:

• Too strong, bright highlighting of the whisker pads;
• A hump on the bridge of the nose. This greatly alters the overall proportions of the muzzle;
• The British Shorthair should not have a muzzle like a domestic cat;
• A narrowed muzzle and, as a result, an incorrect bite is a common flaw in British cats.

Now you can even tell from a photo whether the person on it is truly British.

Description of the British character

The British Shorthair cat has its own unique character. It's unlike any other breed in its habits and characteristics. But, like any other breed, The British cat has its fans and haters.Every Brit values ​​independence highly. That's why they don't like being picked up even by their owners, let alone strangers.

British Shorthair cats do not tolerate affection. Only in exceptional cases will they allow themselves to be petted. Otherwise, they will squirm, hide, and run from their affectionate pursuer.

This breed is quite self-sufficient. Such the cat will never ask, make a noise. If he wants food, he'll sit for a long time waiting near his bowl.

The British are very arrogant. He will respond exclusively to its nicknameThere's no need to say "kitty-kitty"; he won't respond to these clicks.

The British Shorthair cat breed has a complex personality. Key characteristics:

• Independence and pride. This cat feels great alone.
• Balanced. A British Shorthair cat will not behave inappropriately.
• This breed of cat is very even-tempered. Aggression and other emotions are not typical for them.
• The Briton is very ambitious. He will not tolerate restrictions on his own freedom or insults.
• Inflexibility is another characteristic of this breed. And the only way to change such a cat's mind is through affection.

Characteristics of British behavior

A British Shorthair cat needs to be trained until it's one year old. During this time, it can be trained to develop certain personality traits. After a year of life, it will be too late to change anything.And if a cat behaves badly, it is a consequence of poor upbringing in childhood.

The British Shorthair is very lazy and can sleep for very long periods. If this happens, the owner is forbidden to disturb him. Otherwise, the British Shorthair will become aggressive and irritable.

This noble breed implies that its representatives devote a lot of time to their appearanceLicking is a favorite pastime of such cats.

Despite the fact that the British breed is quite positive in terms of its behavior and character, there are still some characteristics that cause a lot of dissatisfaction among British owners:

• Throwing things and objects around. Kittens need to be weaned off this "cute" behavior even as kittens. Indeed, at first, it looks adorable both in photos and in real life. However, in the future, flower pots, vases, and other items will be used. To do this, treat the "favorite" items with special solutions.
• Playing with your owner's hands and feet. It's best to offer your baby a scratching post or special toys.
• Brits are incredibly curious. That's why they're easy to spot in bags, new items, and hard-to-reach places. You often see photos like these, which are downright adorable.

The British breed is one of the most popular in the world today. Such Cats attract attention not only with their cute appearance, but also an unpretentious character.