breed Library > Cat > British Shorthair

Description

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.

British Shorthairs have very dense, soft coats. The eyes are large, round and copper in colour. The head is round with chubby cheeks. The body is rounded and sturdy. The breed has a broad chest, shoulders and hips with short legs, round paws and a plush tail.

The males of this breed are larger than the females, and the size difference between them is more easily noticed compared to other breeds.

The British Shorthair may be any colour or pattern, but the blue variant is common enough to have a name of its own: the 'British Blue'. However, a large variety of other colour and pattern variations appear and are accepted as breed standards.

The lifespan of this breed is 9 to 15 years.

Background

One claim of the British Shorthair's origin is that it was bred for the first time in the 19th century in an attempt to create a beautiful cat out of an alley cat and a domestic cat. The result was a British Shorthair named "Brite", which was presented to the public in 1871 with widespread approval.

Another claim indicates that the breed's ancestry traces back to domestic cats in Egypt and Rome. Under this claim, it is believed that the British Shorthair cats arrived to Britain after the 2nd century AD when the Roman Empire spread to Britain

Personality

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.

Things to Note

Care
The British Shorthair does not require a lot of grooming because the fur does not tangle or mat easily. However, the coat should be brushed weekly to remove loose hair and minimize shedding.

The breed is prone to obesity and some members of the breed have dental problems.

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. 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.