British Shorthair

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British Shorthair
A blue British Shorthair ("British Blue")
Country of origin
United Kingdom
Breed standards (external links)
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.^[1]

1 Breed Description
2 Origin
3 Temperament
4 Care
5 Famous British Shorthairs
6 References
7 External links

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. The breed has a broad chest, shoulders and hips with short legs, round paws and a plush but not fluffy tail. ^[2]

The males of this breed are larger than the females, and the size difference between them is more easily noticed compared to other breeds. ^[3]

The British Shorthair may be any colour or pattern including all solid colours, dilutes, tabby patterns, bicolours and colourpoints. For many years the more popular blue variant was common enough to have a breed name of its own: the 'British Blue'. However now a large variety of other colour and pattern variations appear and are accepted in most breed registery standards.

The typical lifespan of this breed is 9 to 15 years. ^[4]

Origin

A male 'blue' British Shorthair's face

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.^[5]

Another claim is presented by F. M. Rowley in her book "British Shorthair Cat" which traces British Shorthair ancestral stock directly back to the domestic cats taken from Egypt to Rome, and later to Britain. Most likely, the ansestors of modern British Shorthair cats arrived to Britain after the 2nd century AD when when the Roman Empire spread to Britain.^[6]

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.^[3]

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 is 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 clean with raw bones, chicken wings and dental diets to help control tartar. ^[7]

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 ^[8]. 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. Also Winston Churchill (Church) from Pet Semetary was a British Blue.