British Shorthair Cats are known for their broad and round face and they are the pedigreed version of the traditional British domestic cat. The breed has a distinctively stocky body and dense coat with the most familiar color variant as the “British Blue” (with a solid grey-blue coat, orange eyes, and a medium-sized tail).
Watch the video to discover interesting facts about British Shorthair cats and see more breed information details below.
British Shorthair Cats Video
British Shorthair Cats Origin
The origin of this breed is believed to date back to the first century AD, making British Shorthairs one of the most ancient domestic cat breeds in the World. The Romans imported these cats to keep their camps clear of rodents and they were interbred with the local European wildcat population. Over the centuries, they developed into large, robust cats with a short thick coat, to better withstand conditions on their native islands. Based on historical artists’ representations, the modern British Shorthair is unchanged from this initial type.
In the late 1800s, a determined cat breeder named Harrison Weir began developing the British shorthair officially by crossing different individual felines. At the first organized cat show, held at London’s Crystal Palace in 1871, a blue tabby British shorthair owned by Weir won Best in Show.
British Shorthair Personality and Temperament
They are considered an easygoing and dignified breed, and are devoted to their owners. British Shortairs are often not as active and playful as many other breeds. They are typically safe around other pets and children since they will tolerate a fair amount of physical interaction. As a general rule, they do not like to be picked up or carried. British Shorthair cats are not lap cats and most would prefer staying next to people. Common personality traits include:
- easy to train
- easy to groom
- friendly toward humans
- friendly toward other pets
- friendly toward strangers
- tolerates being alone
- high prey drive
- good for first-time pet owners
- strong loyalty tendencies
British Shorthair Lifespan
The UK breed committee considers the British Shorthair a long-lived cat, with a life expectancy of 14–20 years
British Shorthair Cats Size
Height: 12-14 inches Length: 22-25 inches Typical Weight Range: 10 – 17 pounds. Larger males may weigh up to 25 pounds.
British Shorthair Colors and Fur Patterns
The British Shorthair’s soft and plush coat is very dense but does not have an undercoat. Although the British Blue remains the most familiar variant, British Shorthairs have been developed in many other colors and patterns. Colors include: Black, blue, white, red, cream, silver, golden, cinnamon and fawn are accepted by all official standards. Patters include either solid or in colourpoint, tabby, shaded, tortoiseshell variants, and bicolour patterns. The Tabby patterns include: Classic Tabby, Mackerel Tabby, Spotted & Ticked Tabby. The non-tabby patterns include: Tortoiseshell, Bi-Colour, Van patterns Bi-Colour & White, Smoke, Tipped and Colourpointed.
Their broad face and plush coat make them the Teddy Bear of Cats.
British Shorthair Care
Their coat requires only minimal grooming and they take well to being kept as indoor-only cats. British Shorthairs can be prone to obesity if their owner does not take proper care with their feeding and diet.
