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British Shorthair

British Shorthair

The British Shorthair is affectionate without being clingy and enjoys curling up beside you rather than being a lap cat. The Brit is a healthy, hardy feline that matures slowly in three to five years. Playful, alert and intelligent, this cat loves children. Though reserved with strangers, this breed quickly warms up when love is given in return. The British Shorthair is compact, well-balanced and powerful, with a short, dense, plush coat.

DID YOU KNOW? The oldest English cat breed, the British Shorthair traces its ancestry to the domestic cat of Rome. Originally a working cat used to control rodents, the breed eventually was appreciated for its beauty, strength and loyal companionship.

The need-to-know
  • Highly active and inquisitive cat
  • Sociable and dependent cat
  • Somehow talkative cat
  • Average build cat breed
  • Requires grooming once a week
  • Outdoor cat
  • Great family cat

Pet Card

  • Living Considerations: Good for multi-pet households, not hypoallergenic 
  • Size: Medium to large, with males weighing 5.5 to 8.5 kilograms and females weighing 4 to 6.5 kilograms
  • Coat: Short, plush, dense
  • Temperament: Affectionate, easygoing, calm
  • Grooming: Weekly
  • Shedding: Yes
  • Vocalisation: Talks infrequently, but is a loud purrer

Personality

Some consider British Shorthair cats as the 'gentle giants' of the cat world. They are loving and affectionate with people and other animals. British Shorthair cats do not continuously demand human attention and are quieter than their Oriental counterparts, nor do they have the curious nature that gets many Oriental cat breeds into trouble!

History and Origins

Country of Origin: Britain

The British Shorthair cat is, by far, the most popular pedigree breed of cat in the UK. Although there are only written records for the British Shorthair cat that date back to the beginning of the century, the breed has been in existence for hundreds of years. They were exported in large numbers to the New World where they were very popular. The variety of colours and coat patterns available today have come about from the selective breeding of the best street cats during the nineteenth century and continuing careful breeding plans to the present day.

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