The British Shorthair Cat Breed Information

The British Shorthair Cat was once described by the renowned cat fancier Harrison Weir as “ordinary garden cats”, but he did so with great affection for this breed. These cute felines rarely have met a lap that they did not like. These docile cats, with their remarkable physical strength, are the offspring of farm cats that are known for their hunting prowess. If you are considering this cat to make your feline friend, than you must read this article. In this article, you’ll know about all important information of this cute feline.

1. General Information

Star Rating:

Characteristics	Stars (based on 5)	Characteristics	Stars
Activity		Grooming needs
Playfulness		Good with children
Need for Attention		Stranger Friendly
Affection		Social Needs
Need to Vocalize		Shedding Level
Intelligence		Energy Level
Docility		Affection Level
Independence		Adaptability
Health Issues		Curiosity

Do you know?

• The British Longhair and British Shorthair are the same except, of course, for their coats.
• These cats first gained popularity as the ‘Cheshire Cat’ which appeared in the Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ in the year 1865.
• These cats can be bred in more than 30 different colors, although some colors are not readily available.
• The British Shorthair cats are considered as the oldest English breed of cats
• Blue is the most popular color for the British Shorthairs cats, so that the “British Blue” almost seems as if he is his own breed.

Is British Shorthair Cat suitable for me?

♦ It is ideal for you if you want a cat which is :

• Adaptable to apartment living
• A lap seeker
• Compatible with other pets
• Suitable for First-time cat owners
• Extremely tolerant and friendly

♦ It is not ideal for you if you don’t want to deal with

• Excessive shedding 

Tell me more about ‘ British Shorthair ’

• History

When the Romans invaded the Britain, they also brought cats with them in order to protect their food supplies from the rodents along the way. Eventually, the Romans left, but the cats remained behind. When the breeding of pedigreed felines became a fashion in the Victorian England, the British Shorthair cats (also known as the Shorthair in Britain) was one of the first varieties of cats to be developed. The Longhair variety of this cat came when the breeders made crosses to the Persians at the time of World War I.

The British Shorthairs cats were almost died out during the World War II due to food shortages that left the breeders unable to feed their cats. When the world war ends, this breed was again revived by crossing domestic shorthairs, Persians, Russian Blues, and other cats. The timeline when the British Blue cat was recognized by different association is as follows:

• The American Cat Association in 1967
• The International Cat Association in 1979
• The Cat Fanciers Association in 1980
• In 2009, TICA recognized the British Longhair as a different variety, and it is the only cat association to do so

• Description

The British Shorthair is a medium to large breed of cats that are known for compact build. Taking years to mature, these cats often do not reach full size and development until the age of 3. Once gained full maturity, these cats are a sight to see. Know for their full broad chest, rounded paws, medium to short strong legs and a modified tail, these cats present a football player physique.

These cats have a massive round head which sits almost immediately on broad shoulders. Female cats are smaller than males, but retain the overall bulk and roundness associated with the breed. The ears of these felines are set far apart. Although their ears don’t appear to react, there is no doubt these cats catch every sound. The eyes of these cats are wide-open and round, as befits a true predator.

• Personality

Living with the British Shorthairs is quite relaxing because these are not highly active cats. The low level of activeness of these cats makes them comfortable in houses as well as apartments. These cats are satisfied to be with you and stare at you while you read, watch TV or sew. Seldom, they will put a single paw in your work to ensure you know they are still watching.

The British Shorthairs cats are the great supervisors, as they watch everything and even follow you from room to room in order to ensure you adhere to your daily routine. Time and again, these cats will be seen on a chair or ledge simply observing what is going on, as these cats carefully watch the people in their world.

These are quiet cats which talk or do meow only now and then. They are the confident cats and are quite comfortable with the other pets. But, do not expect these cats to ignore the small rodents and birds, even if they are pets. These cats can adjust well to the dogs and other cats. These cats are a great family pet, as it is more than willing to spread their attention and love to everyone.

The British Shorthairs cats are excellent with children despite their ruggedness because they possess the gift of great patience. With a little adult cultivation, the relationship between a child and a British Shorthair is long lasting and deep. These cats will simply move away to a quiet out of reach place when too overwhelmed to continue in a child’s activities.

• What to feed

The British Shorthair cats are prone to obesity and hairballs. There are special commercial diets that can assist in controlling weight and reducing hairballs. Make sure to buy or make nutritious treats for your cat. You should not over-feed your cat and limit the treats. In addition to high quality cat food, remember to provide her with clean water daily. Some ideal treats and foods for this breed of cats are given below:

• Hills Science Plan Feline Kitten Chicken 2 Kg
• Finikee Marine Sardine topping
• Royal Canin Fit
• Hills Science Plan Feline Kitten Tuna 2 Kg
• Drools Cat Food Ocean Fish 1.2 Kg

• Grooming

The coat of British Shorthair needs regular grooming to keep it in excellent condition. You could brush the coat of this cat once or twice a week using a pig-bristle brush and more often when the cat is shedding in order to remove the loose hair and to avoid matting. You brush the coat them carefully. Bathing is optional for these cats and these cats should not be bathed more often in order to keep their skin from drying out.

You should check the ears of these cats every week for the redness or a bad smell that could indicate any severe infection. If the ears of these cats look dirty, you should wipe them out with a cotton ball dampened with a gentle cleanser recommended by your vet. Try to brush the teeth of thee cats frequently with a vet-approved toothpaste for fresh breath and good overall health. Start hair brushing and teeth brushing early so that your kitten becomes accepting of all these activities.

Some good grooming products for these cats are as follows:

• All4pets anti tangle molting comb
• Virbac Ketochlor shampoo
• Pets World Nail cutter for cats
• All4pets pin brush
• Forbis aroma deodorant for cats

• Health Concerns

The British Shorthair cats are relatively healthy breed. However, some major concerns associated with this breed of cats are neonatal erthrolysis, cardiomyopathy, and gingivitis (inflamed gums). These breed of cats is also prone to becoming overweight, therefore, it is better to feed these cats in small portion during the day rather than one big meal.

In the British Shorthair cats, the most common inherited health problems are cardiomyopathy, which can cause anything from a slight heart murmur to a severe heart trouble; and gingivitis (red inflamed gums) that will cause an affected cat to require careful dental care. Neither of these health problems is specific to the breed.

British Shorthair Cat Personality and Breed Traits