British Shorthair Cat History:
The ancestors of the British Shorthair cats were brought to England during the Roman period. British Shorthair cats were originally found in the alleys of 19th century British Cities. A man called Harrison Weir loved the British street cat so much that he selected some of the hardiest and strongest, bred them and almost single-handedly created the British Shorthair.
The British Shorthair became an officially acknowledged breed by 1889 and went on to become one of the most popular breeds in cat shows at that time and still are today. Physical characteristics:
The British Shorthair cat is medium to large in size, well balanced, powerful and is a very muscular cat, with a "square" body shape and thick legs, showing good depth of body, a full broad chest, strong short legs, rounded paws, tail thick at base with rounded tip. The head is round with good width between small ears, round cheeks, firm chin, large round, well opened eyes and a short broad nose. Coat:
Their unique coat is plush and very dense with more hairs per square inch than on any other cat breed; is very similar to a child’s teddy bear in texture, and is also very easy to groom and maintain. Varieties:
British Shorthairs come in many colours and patterns. For many years, the more popular blue variant was common enough to have a breed name of its own: the "British Blue". It remains one of the most popular colours, though there is now a large variety of other colour and pattern variants accepted by most feline governing bodies and associations. These include the colours black, blue, white, red, cream, chocolate, lilac, cinnamon and fawn. Temperament:
British Shorthairs are an easygoing, intelligent, placid, not demanding, tolerant, docile and respectful. They are not vocal cats and in fact are very quiet and can cope with being alone without fretting. Very affectionate, they become quite attached to the people they own. British Shorthairs are easily trained and very adaptable. They seem to get along well with all human members of the household, regardless of age They love children and get along extremely well with dogs. They tend to be safe around children as they will tolerate a fair amount of physical interaction and hiss or scratch very rarely. They have a stable character and take well to being kept as indoor-only cats, making them ideal for apartment living. They are not terribly demanding of attention, though they will let their owner know if they feel like playing. The breed has become a favourite of animal trainers because of its nature and intelligence, and in recent years these cats have appeared in Hollywood films and television commercials. They can learn small tricks. Care:
British Shorthairs do not require a lot of grooming as their fur does not tangle or mat easily. However, it is recommended that the coat be brushed occasionally, especially during seasonal shedding, since they may develop hairballs at this time. With proper care, these cats will live a long, healthy, and joyful life and bring happiness to their family.
*"If you want a quiet cat that is loyal and doesn't tear the place apart then the British Shorthair is for you."
