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| Weight |
9-12 lbs. |
| Overview |
The British Shorthair, oldest of the English breeds, is easygoing, untemperamental, and reserved, yet also extremely affectionate. These adaptable cats take children and other animals in stride.
Although British Shorthairs enjoy the occasional romp, they are not rowdy cats and do not require a lot of attention. Their voices are soft and sweet.
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| Appearance |
The British Shorthair is most remarkable for its roundness: it has a large, round head; round, wide-set eyes and ears; and round paws. It is a solidly built, medium to large cat with a broad chest.
The coat of the British Shorthair is dense and plush, yet crisp rather than soft. Although the traditionally favored color is blue the British Shorthair is now recognized in an array of different colors and patterns.
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| Gromming Needs |
As with other dense-coated cats, twice- or thrice-weekly grooming will limit the amount of hair that winds up on the furniture. |
| Origins |
In the 19th century, when it became fashionable to own a cat in England, felines from the far reaches of the British Empire and beyond were brought to England. Even Queen Victoria owned two Persians. Perhaps the arrival of these exotic breeds aroused a certain patriotism and encouraged the development of a truly British cat.
The best examples of the hardy British working cat were selected by breeders, and in 1871 British Shorthairs held a place of prominence at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London. By the end of the century, however, interest in the native Shorthairs waned, until the Shorthaired Cat Society came to their defense in 1901.
During World War II, the population of British Shorthairs diminished significantly. After the war, some breeders crossed Shorthairs with Persians in an attempt to replenish the Shorthair stock. American associations were at first reluctant to recognize the British Shorthair because, with its Persian blood, it was genetically similar to the Exotic Shorthair, a cross between the Persian and the American Shorthair.
But in 1980 the British Shorthair achieved championship status in America.
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| Other |
Breed-related health problems include hemophilia B (a hereditary bleeding disorder). |
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