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British Shorthair
British Shorthairs are a stocky, compact and powerful breed with broad chests, strong legs, and a calm, quiet demeanour.
They are valued for their endurance and loyalty to people.
The British Shorthair, an ancient breed originating from the Egyptian cats, is characterized by its sturdy body, dense coat and broad face.
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The most popular color is the British Blue which looks blue-gray and has copper eyes.
These cats also come in a wide variety of colors and patterns tabby and color pointed.
These cats are medium in length and have thick, strong legs and a blunt tipped tail.
Their eyes are large and rounded and males especially tend to have bigger cheeks.
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They reach maturity at 3 years old and males can weigh up to 17 lbs.
They don’t have undercoats and feel plush to the touch.
British Shorthair cats are calm but have a dignified air to them.
They do not like being picked up and aren’t as playful as other breed, tending to be less active.
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They require minimal grooming but have a tendency for obesity.
British cat loves to be close to humans without clinging, yet it is as devoted as a dog.
This cat makes a quiet, even-tempered house companion.
This breed shows no grumpiness or bad humor and holds no grudges.
Both sexes generally get along fine with dogs and other house pets when proper introductions are made.
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In short, this cat is quieter than the average house cat, yet it is more agile and active than the Persian cat, which is known for its passive, gentle nature.
They are so lovable, beautiful, and plush that you can’t resist stroking their soft coat.
The British Shorthair is one of the world’s most loved pedigree cat breeds.
Affectionate and friendly, they’re known for their easygoing and calm nature.
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This perfect balance of temperament makes them top-notch companions for children and additional pets.
In addition, their thick, dense fur, stocky body, and gorgeous chubby cheeks make them a much-cherished pet companion around the world.
The British Shorthair is solid and muscular with an easygoing personality.
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As befits his British heritage, he is slightly reserved, but once he gets to know someone he’s quite affectionate.
His short, dense coat comes in many colors and patterns and should be brushed two or three times a week to remove dead hair.
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overview
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The British Shorthair is a study in roundness.
He has a large round head, round eyes and rounded paws. Even his tail has a rounded tip.
He was once known as the British Blue because he came only in that color, but these days his short, plush coat comes in many different colors and patterns.
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There is also a longhaired variety, called the British Longhair. Except for his coat, the British Longhair is the same as the British Shorthair.
A British Shorthair is a dignified, intelligent and affectionate companion.
He’s not generally a lapcat, but he will want to be at your side on the sofa or at least nearby.
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Females tend to have a serious demeanor, while males are more happy-go-lucky.
These laidback cats can get along well with dogs and are calm around children, but they don’t enjoy being hauled around.
Teach children to treat them with respect.
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The British Shorthair is big, but he shouldn’t be fat.
Watch his food intake to make sure he doesn’t become obese.
Encourage him to chase fishing-pole toys or peacock feathers for exercise.
Brush or comb the British Shorthair’s coat two or three times a week to keep loose hair at a minimum.
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You’ll need to brush him more often in the spring when he sheds his winter coat.
Trim the nails as needed and keep his ears clean.
The British Shorthair is well suited to any home with people who will love him.
Keep him indoors to protect him from cars, diseases spread by other cats and attacks from other animals.
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Other Quick Facts
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The British Shorthair has a stocky, sturdy, square body with a broad, full chest, short, strong legs, and a short, thick tail that tapers to a rounded tip. He wears a plush, luxurious coat that makes you want to roll around in it. He has a round head with a short nose, chubby cheeks and round eyes, all of which combine to give him a smiling expression.
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Blue is the most popular color for British Shorthairs, so much so that the “British Blue” almost seems as if he is his own breed. Other colors and patterns include white, black, blue, cream, various tabby patterns, tortoiseshell, calico and bi-color (a color plus white). His eyes can be deep gold, copper, blue or green, depending on which of his many coat colors or patterns he sports.
Origin
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The British Shorthair, probably the oldest English breed of cat, traces its ancestry back to the domestic cat of Rome.
The breed was developed in Europe from non-pedigree cats.
Later they were crossbred with Persian Cats to improve the thickness of their coat.
The breed was defined in the nineteenth century and British Shorthairs were shown at the 1871 Crystal Palace cat show.
The popularity of the breed had declined by the 1940s, but since the end of the Second World War breeding programs have intensified and the breed’s popularity is high once again.
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History of the British Shorthairs
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The Romans brought with them a large number of cats when they invaded what is now the United Kingdom.
These cats accompanied the conquerors and were used to help protect food supplies from rodents.
This was the origin of the early British Shorthair cat.
For hundreds of years, these cats lived an almost feral life until they were welcomed into the homes of upper and middle class families in England.
Thus grew its popularity as a pet in the United Kingdom.
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General Characteristics of British Shorthair
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The British Shorthair is known for their compact, round, and robust body and a wide and forceful chest.
Their fur is short, dense, and plush.
Their eyes are large and round with a well-saturated eye color.
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Their nose is short, wide, and straight.
Their ears are small and rounded at the tips, and their legs are short and strong.
The tail of the British Shorthair is usually thick and of medium length, and can have horizontal stripes like that of a raccoon.
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Breed description
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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.
They have round heads with full, chubby cheeks and a body that is rounded and sturdy.
British Shorthairs are large and muscular, and are described as having a cobby build.
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The breed has a broad chest, shoulders and hips with short legs, round paws and a plush but not fluffy tail.
These are the characteristics listed in most governing bodies breeds standards to which show cats must conform.
The males of this breed are larger than the females, and the size difference between them is more easily noticed compared to other breeds.
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As with many breeds the adult males may also develop prominent cheek jowls that distinguish them from their female counterparts.
The typical lifespan of this breed is 14 to 20 years. Males’ average weight is 5-10 kilograms, whereas a female would weigh up to 5-7.
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personality
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The Cheshire Cat was undoubtedly a British Shorthair.
These smiling cats enjoy attention, are normally quiet, but occasionally have bursts of crazed activity before changing back into your affectionate, dignified friend.
They get along with children and cat-friendly dogs. British Shorthairs are calm and undemanding.
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Males are big, easy lugs with a happy-go-lucky nature but a natural air of command.
Females are more serious. Both want only to be with their people, not necessarily in a lap or being carried around, but next to them or in the same room with them.
When you’re not home, they are satisfied to entertain themselves until you return.
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This is not a very active cat. You won’t find him on top of the refrigerator but instead solidly on the floor.
He is smart and will enjoy having toys to play with, especially if they are interactive.
He might be laidback, but the British Shorthair is smart.
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Challenge his brain and keep him interested in life by teaching him tricks and providing him with puzzle toys that will reward him with kibble or treats when he learns how to manipulate them.
Always choose a kitten from a breeder who raises litters in the home and handles them from an early age. Meet at least one and ideally both of the parents to ensure that they have nice temperaments.
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health
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All cats have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit diseases.
Any breeder who claims that her breed has no health or genetic problems is either lying or is not knowledgeable about the breed.
Run, don’t walk, from any breeder who does not offer a health guarantee on kittens, who tells you that the breed is 100 percent healthy and has no known problems, or who tells you that her kittens are isolated from the main part of the household for health reasons.
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The British Shorthair is generally healthy, but he’s prone to hypertophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hemophilia B, a hereditary bleeding disorder.
A DNA test has been developed that allows breeders to identify hemophilia B carriers or affected cats.
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common form of heart disease in cats.
It causes thickening (hypertrophy) of the heart muscle. An echocardiogram can confirm whether a cat has HCM.
Avoid breeders who claim to have HCM-free lines. No one can guarantee that their cats will never develop HCM.
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British Shorthairs that will be bred should be screened for HCM, and cats identified with HCM should be removed from breeding programs.
Do not buy a kitten whose parents have not been tested for this disease.
Do not buy from a breeder who does not provide a written health guarantee.
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Remember that after you’ve taken a new kitten into your home, you have the power to protect him from one of the most common health problems: obesity.
Keeping a British Shorthair at an appropriate weight is one of the easiest ways to protect his overall health.
Make the most of your preventive abilities to help ensure a healthier cat for life.
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Varieties
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British Shorthairs come in many colours.
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 in the breed, however there are now a large variety of other colour and pattern variations accepted by most feline governing bodies and associations.
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These include the colours black, blue, white, red, cream, chocolate, lilac, cinnamon and fawn.
They can be bred in “self” or “solid” which is all the one colour as well as the colourpoint, tabby, shaded and bicolour patterns.
All colours and patterns also come in the tortoiseshell pattern which is a combination of red and cream with other colours.
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Of these colours chocolate and it’s dilute version lilac are relatively new.
A lilac British Shorthair is described as having a pink-grey coat.
Even newer are British Shorthair cats in cinnamon and its dilute form fawn.
British are also bred in a shaded (tipped) coat pattern, in both the silver and the golden form.
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Temperament
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British Shorthair’s are an easygoing breed of cats.
They have a stable character and take well to being kept as indoor only cats.
This is ideal for apartment living.
It also keeps them safe from harm that might befall them outside.
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They are not terribly demanding of attention, although they will let you know if they feel like playing and enjoy mouse type or stick style toys.
They are not hyperactive or “in your face cats” preferring to sit next to you or near you rather than on you.
They will tend to supervise household activities either watching from a comfy perch or laying on the floor nearby.
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British Shorthairs are wonderful cats for people who work as they are very happy just to laze around the house while you are out.
They don’t get destructive or need other animals for company.
They do enjoy having another British Shorthair or a cat with a similar temperament around though.
They like attention and enjoy being petted.
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They are not a very vocal breed but will meow to communicate with their owners.
For example when they are hungry and you are preparing their food they will meow at you.
They may also meow at their favourite toy as they play with it.
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British Shorthair cats have a tendency to follow people from room to room as they want to be with you and see what is going on.
Some do not mind being cuddled but most prefer to keep four paws on the ground and have you pat them rather than pick them up.
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.
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British Shorthair owners have reported that their cats have spontaneously started to play fetch with toys like dogs do showing how quickly their cats can learn small tricks.
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.
They can be prone to obesity when desexed or kept indoors.
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