A playful and affectionate cat, the British Shorthair is loyal and will love everyone in its family. Find here more about the British Shorthair cat.
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BRITISH SHORTHAIR CAT BREED PROFILE SUMMARY
Country of Origin: Great Britain
Size: Medium to large. Males weight 12 to 18 pounds. Females weigh 9 to 15 pounds.
Coat: Short, plush, dense.
Color: Blue, white, black, red, cream, smoke, silver, and golden.
Grooming needs: Medium
Lifespan: 12-17 years.
Attention Needs: Moderate
Breed Characteristics
Playful
Friendly to other pets
Kid-friendly
Intelligent
Affectionate toward its owners.
BRITISH SHORTHAIR APPEARANCE
The British Shorthair is a medium cat with a solid and dignified bearing. The legs are robust, with round feet slightly shorter than the body. This cat has a large head with short hair.
The nose is straight, short, and broad.
The ears are medium, rounded, broad at the base, and widely spaced.
The large, wide, round eyes are of intense colors, in harmony with the mantle.
The tail is thick at the base and narrows on the tip.
The hair, which does not adhere to the body, is denser and silkier than an ordinary short-haired cat and has a very compact texture.
BRITISH SHORTHAIR TEMPERAMENT
The British Shorthair is a sweet and cuddly cat. She enjoys the affection of her owner, though she isn’t a lap cat.
They are playful cats with a cheerful nature but also like a quiet and peaceful life.
The British Shorthair gets along very well with other cats and dogs.
Because of her plump body and the hair that looks like a stuffed animal, the British Shorthair is gaining more acceptances.
HISTORY
The origins of the British Shorthair most likely date back to the first century AD; this is one of the most ancient identifiable cat breeds.
The Roman imported British Shorthairs and kept them to protect the fields of snakes, mice, and insects. These cats then interbred with the local European wildcat population. Over the centuries, their naturally isolated descendants developed into distinctively large, robust cats with a short but very thick coat.
This cat grew in popularity during the Victorian era.
After both World wars, the breed was nearly extinct. Thanks to cross-breeding, the cat was restoring.
HEALTH
The British Shorthair can suffer from this diseases:
Gingivitis
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hemophilia B.
Obesity is another concern, as this cat loves to eat and leads a relatively sedentary lifestyle.
Other potential health problems are:
Polycystic kidney disease
DIET
Food and drink: the higher the quality of your food, the healthier your cat will be.
You must have fresh, clean water available every day.
CARE AND GROOMING
It is enough to remove the dead hair to avoid swallowing when licking.
With special scissors, you can maintain its nails. If this is the first time, your vet can show you how to cut the nails.
You can also maintain its nails by providing a scraper.
CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT BRITISH SHORTHAIR CAT
The characters of Puss in Boots and The Cheshire Cat from Alice in wonderland are British Shorthair.