About the breed
The British Shorthair is a pretty big cat breed that could be described as thick or chunky, and is considered one of the oldest and most popular breeds in Britain.
The British Shorthair cat will be a great companion for people of all ages and families with children due to its calm, cheerful character and philosophical attitude to the owners’ daily absences.
British Shorthair
The British Shorthair is a beloved cat breed known for its dense, fluffy coat and round, expressive eyes. These cats are friendly, easygoing, and adapt well to a variety of living environments. They are excellent companions, known for their loyalty and affectionate nature. British Shorthairs have a sturdy, muscular build and come in a variety of colors and patterns. Their calm demeanor makes them ideal pets for families and individuals.
The breed, in brief
Country of origin
Great Britain
Weight
5 – 8 kg
Size
45 – 60 cm
Lifespan
12 - 17 years
Body
Small - Medium
Hair type
Short
The breed standard
British Shorthair cats are medium to large in size, with a stocky, well-developed body, a broad chest, well-developed muscles, a strong back and shoulders, short but stocky limbs, large round paws and a thick, slightly curved tail. The head is round, massive on a short, thick neck. In general, all parts of the body of animals of this breed should have a massive, rounded appearance.
British Shorthair males are significantly larger than females – 5.5-9 kg versus 3.5-6.5 kg, respectively. Growth is fully completed only by 5 years.
British Shorthair Weight Chart by Age
| Age(month) | Female | Male |
| Newborn | 65-140 g | 70-150 g |
| 1 | 260-610 g | 550-750 g |
| 2 | 440-910 g | 1-1.65 kg |
| 3 | 1-1.45 kg | 1.45-2.5 kg |
| 4 | 1.65-2.5 kg | 2-3.8 kg |
| 5 | 2.15-2.9 kg | 2.6-4.2 kg |
| 6 | 2.2-3.55 | 3-5.5 kg |
| 8 | 2.4-4.15 kg | 3.6-6.1 kg |
| 10 | 2.5-4.4 kg | 4-6.6 kg |
| 1 year | 2.5-4.7 kg | 4.4-7 kg |
| 2 years | 2.6-5 kg | 4.8-8 kg |
Breed characteristics
Physical qualities
Large, round, with full cheeks. The forehead is rounded, between the ears passes into a flat area, the “stop” is poorly expressed, but still noticeable.
The British Shorthair’s ears are small, wide at the base, with perfectly rounded tips. On the head, set wide and low.
The eyes of British Shorthair cats are large, round and expressive. Wide and straight set. The look is open and friendly. The color is in harmony with the color of the coat and can be yellow, copper-orange, blue, green. In white cats, heterochromia is possible – eyes of different colors.
Short, wide, straight. The nose and chin are vertical.
Well balanced, powerful and strong. Not loose! The chest is broad and deep. The back is short and muscular.
The British Shorthair’s dense, plush coat is short and luxurious. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns, requiring regular grooming to maintain its softness and minimize shedding.
The British Shorthair comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns including solid, tabby, bicolor, etc. Popular colors include blue (gray), black, white, red, cream, and silver.
Short, muscular.
Lifespan
What to Expect When Caring for a British Shorthair
Caring for a cat involves regular feeding, grooming, and veterinary care. Expect companionship, loyalty, and joy, as well as responsibilities such as training, cleaning up after them, and providing a safe environment.
The health of British Shorthair cats is not a serious concern for specialists. But breeders who claim that British Shorthairs are generally not prone to diseases are shamelessly cunning. Yes, there are no diseases specific to British Shorthairs, but some affect pedigree cats – including genetically determined ones. Therefore, proper medical research must be conducted before animals are allowed to breed.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a thickening of the wall of one of the ventricles (more often the left one), which leads to a violation of the heart rhythm, heart failure and death. When a complex of drugs is detected at an early stage and taken for life, the development of the disease can be significantly slowed down. Animals with this diagnosis cannot participate in breeding.
- Hemophilia B – decreased blood clotting, as a result of which any injury is fraught with severe blood loss or extensive internal bleeding. The risk of disease is increased by closely related crossings. There is no full-fledged treatment, sick animals are given blood transfusions and iron preparations, hepatoprotectors, vitamins B6 and B12 are prescribed to combat anemia and stimulate hematopoiesis. Gene carriers and individuals suffering from hemophilia are excluded from breeding.
- Polycystic kidney disease is the formation of hollow tumors filled with fluid that disrupt the normal functioning of the excretory system. A typical disease of Persian cats, through hybridization with which British Shorthair cats suffered. In the initial stages, there are no noticeable changes in the behavior of the animal, so it is often diagnosed only at an advanced stage. There is no effective therapy. If the cysts are isolated, they can be removed during surgery, but in case of severe lesions, only medical treatment is possible, which will prolong the life of the animal by several months or years.
- Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums that affects the ligaments and bones. In the absence of proper treatment, teeth are lost and the infection spreads into the bloodstream.
British Shorthair cats are easy to care for, as their short coats are practically trouble-free. To remove dead hair, it is enough to stroke the animal with a damp glove or comb the coat with a soft brush.
Every week, the owner should inspect the animal’s ears and clean them with cotton swabs soaked in hydrogen peroxide.
It is also important to periodically rinse the animal’s eyes with plain water or tea. With frequent tearing, a decoction of chamomile is used to remove mucus.
The British Shorthair cat itself is very clean and its tray must be kept clean. Otherwise, the cat will find another place to go to the toilet.
Character and behavior
British Shorthair cats are “natural giants” of the feline world. They are kind and loving towards humans and other animals. These cats do not constantly seek human attention and are quieter than their oriental counterparts, with whom they also do not share the curious nature that leads many oriental breeds into trouble.
These cats are calm, cute, intelligent and gentle cats. They are much more active than other breeds related to the Persian. However, with age, these cats prefer not games but the opportunity to sleep peacefully. British Shorthair cats are balanced, sociable, discreet, independent and loyal to their owner.
Cats of this breed usually give birth to 1-2 kittens in the litter. They usually do not need help with the birth of a baby. They are very loyal and caring mothers who do not transfer the care of kittens onto the shoulders of the owner.
These are very peaceful cats, so you can safely accommodate a British Shorthair cat in a house where other animals already live. They do not require much attention and are easy to train. By the way, that is why they love to shoot in films and commercials.
Did you know?
- Recognizable features are a round muzzle, a stocky body and thick fur of a special texture, tactilely reminiscent of plush.
- Long before the appearance of the first “feline” organizations, the British Shorthair cat was appreciated not for its external qualities, but for its unsurpassed talent as a mousecatcher.
- Animals openly show their affection for their owners, but they do not like to sit on their laps and cling to a person’s arms.
- They treat other animals well (including dogs, rodents and birds), but they feel good as the only animal.
- British Shorthair cats do not require complex and specific care.
- After reaching maturity, the level of physical activity decreases significantly.
- The main danger that threatens British Shorthairs is obesity.
History of the breed
The British Shorthair is by far the best known breed of cat in the UK. Although there are only written records of the British Shorthair’s existence – since the early 20th century, the breed goes back hundreds of years. The first British Shorthair cat probably arrived in Britain with the invasion of Roman troops and has been featured in engravings and paintings over the centuries.
It was exported in large quantities to the New World, where it became very popular. The variety of fur colours and patterns available today is due to the selective breeding of the best stray cats in the 19th century and the careful breeding plans preserved to this day.