British Shorthair Cat Breed

It’s official, the most loved cat breed across the world is the British shorthair. They not only have the most luxurious, plush, and thick coats, but they also possess a calm, non-complicated, more or less British-style sense of the world. British shorthairs make great family pets and are a pleasure to keep and love.

They like to be part of the family and stay close by but are not one for being molly coddled repeatedly. They do like occasional stroking but on their terms and for short periods though.

Besides being adored by their relaxed attitude to the world, British shorthairs are beloved for their dense, thick coats, which are available in nearly any shade or pattern. Blue-grey cats or commonly known as the British blue cat, are the most popular choice of British shorthair owners.

However, aside from their usual blue dense coat, the breed is easy to identify because of their long legs, broad chests, round heads, and chubby cheeks that are completely pinchable. British shorthairs with blue coats sport bright eyes that are orange-amber; however, people with coats of different shades may have amber, green, copper or blue eyes.

In terms of behaviour, the British shorthair is hard to beat. They’re energetic, and they’re affectionate, and they’re intelligent but don’t have the desire to be a show-off like their fellow Bengal Cats.

British shorthair cats are friendly and will take care of and show affection to everyone within the family. This includes other pets including dogs. It is still important to get a kitten which has been well-socialised to ensure it remains like that when it is older. This is crucial for any cat breed.

Although British Shorthairs work well with other cats and dogs, this doesn’t work for smaller pets. You need to be aware that these cats are generational descendants of mousers. They are extremely fierce prey drive. If you have pets that are small such as mice, rabbits or even hamsters. You must be extremely careful to keep them from the British Shorthair.

This happy breed enjoys the thrill of a good run and a good evening spent before the TV. British shorthair CATS tend to be ambiverts. They love the spotlight but also appreciate their space and might be irritated by being hugged or touched excessively all the time.

British Shorthair Cats are famous for their independent nature, and they complain the BSH cats are too aloof. They are some of the most loyal pets you will encounter. Shorthairs are very nice and friendly but can take a long time to warm up to a stranger.

After getting the habit of them, there’s nothing more loyal and dedicated to feline companions than the English shorthair. They’re true friends, they have ties to many special people and they have created some very special friendships between them.

There are two main players for registering your pedigree cats, below is an overview of both organisations. Incidentally, it is worth noting that they both accept most domesticated cat breeds.

As designer dogs before them, these are “it” cats. An English Shorthair kittenAlso known as British Blues as that was at one point the only colour you could pick could fetch anything as high as £2000. However, you must be on the waiting list through an accredited breeder.

Famous owners include also the singer Sam Smith and actress Sadie Frost. Advertisers also love them. British Shorthairs have modelled for all kinds of brands, including Prada and to Whiskas Cat food.

They’re social media catnip as well as there exist 3.6 million posts with the hashtag #britishshorthair, and are the most popular pedigrees within the UK.

As with most cat breeds, British shorthairs aren’t too concerned about their home so long they’ve got owners who spend time with them. British shorthairs are a lively mix of playful and looking to lounge in the sunshine all day. That means he’s always ready for a game of chase-the-mouse, and you don’t need to worry about being in trouble when you’re working (especially when you provide him with lots of toys to play with).

Since British shorthairs are a bigger cat breed, buy a minimum of two large litter trays to accommodate your pet once he comfortably leaves kittenhood.

The best rule of thumb to follow when selecting a litter pan is that it should be at least as wide as your cat’s body from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail and roughly half as long. As with all cats as well, like most cats, a British shorthair is a fan of the feline tree to play, stretch out, and burr off those sharp nails!

In contrast to cats with long hair, British shorthairs don’t require constant attention to look attractive. Their soft, short, dense coat needs regular brushing to get rid of loose hairs and this is also good practice for it’s health and well being.

Similar to the other breeds, British shorthairs require regular nail trimmings, dental treatment, and regular vet visits. It is important to sterilize or spay your pet and ensure they keep their vaccinations current as directed by your veterinarian. Examine their ears frequently to check for wax build-up or possible ear mites.

Take a further look below at the current Bengal Cat Costs 2022 which includes a list of the fundemental basics you’ll need to spend on your cat.

British shorthairs are a large breed that can last for up to 20 years. But they’re susceptible to health issues like all breeds.

They are susceptible to a condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy resulting from thickening in the muscle walls of the cat’s heart; this can cause breathing problems as well as lethargy and the loss of appetite among older pets. Similar to the other breeds of cats, British shorthairs may develop issues with the urinary tract and kidney problems.

To prevent health issues from forming, begin by purchasing British shorter-haired kittens from a trusted breeder that uses healthy adults. Make sure to bring your pet to the vet every year for a check-up.

Alongside regular health checks, exercise should be a major factor within your British shorthair. Interactive toys like fishing wands, fishing lasers, balls, and climbing structures such as feline trees and cat shelves can help keep your British shorthair trim and physically and mentally healthy.

To prevent health issues from forming, begin by purchasing British shorter-haired kittens from a trusted breeder that uses healthy adults. Make sure to bring your pet to the vet every year for a check-up.

Alongside regular health checks, exercise should be a major factor within your British shorthair. Interactive toys like fishing wands, fishing lasers, balls, and climbing structures such as feline trees and cat shelves can help keep your British shorthair trim and physically and mentally healthy.

An ancient breed, British shorthairs are believed to be direct descendants of cats brought to England by the invaders, Romans, According to The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy. They were used as vermin control and soon spread across the countryside as street and farm cats.

They soon found the calm, confident manner led people to invite them into their homes (and on the laps of their pets). Through the years, according to the Cat Fanciers Association, they formed round faces with thin, dense coats in various shades.

In the latter half of 1800, a cat breeder, Harrison Weir, began developing the British shorthair by crossing various felines. The first cat show was held in London’s Crystal Palace in 1871. An emerald tabby British shorthair owned by Weir was awarded Best in Show.

In the aftermath of World War I, our British shorthair is now a finer blend of Persian, Russian blue, French Chartreux and domestic shorthair cats to the mix.

In the 1970s, eventually in the 1970s, the British shorthair was eventually granted formal recognition throughout the world and is accepted through international cat associations such as TICA and GCCF.

Yes – because this cat is not apprehensive with other animals or children and adapts well into most diverse homes.

Certain breeds are sensitive and anxious when they’re home all daylong alone, whereas the British shorthair is not. This cat breed is a sturdy cat that can keep itself entertained during work hours without getting bored or upset.

On average one of these cat breeds cost between £750 and £1200. Of course this price range is dependant on the breeder and the pedigree status of the father and mother of the kitten

Like any cat, this breed is prone to all the daily hazards of getting hurt if it goes outside.

That’s your call and a personal choice. There is no reason it cannot from a genetic point of view but consider microchipping and vaccinating if you do let it out.

In actual fact, British Shorthairs are one of the most sought-after breeds of cats in the UK.

In addition, they have been ranked among the top five (according to the Cat Fanciers Association) for the past five years they are at the top of the list as among the top sought-after breeds of cats year after year in both the UK and the USA.

We hope that you enjoyed reading this article and now feel a bit more informed about this breed…visit our Cat Blog to read more articles.

You can find out more about us and our Bengal cats on this site and around the net, we are based in the UK. We are Cat crazy people who are hobbyist breeders of Bengal Cats but love learning and talking about anything cat related!