Here comes Sheba, the Queen of cats and aristocracy itself, to tell you all the secrets of this cat breed:
đ Meeeeeow! Purr-purrr-purrrr! Hello, all my subjects! Iâm Sheba, the Queen of cats. I demand that my treats be served right now! Just kidding! Some say I look like the Cheshire Cat, and I appear and disappear whenever I hear the sound a bag of treats makes. Praise me, cherish me and Iâll reward you with affection, loyalty, and my companionship.
đ Sheba, The British Shorthair Cat
The British Shorthair is a very good choice for your first cat. Shebaâs proof.
Temperament & Personality
With its aristocratic appearance, The British Shorthair is a friendly, relaxed, and calm cat. It enjoys being around humans and can adapt easily to new environments and people.
Although its even temper is sometimes mistaken for clumsiness, this cat has all the qualities that make it great for first-time cat owners or elderly people.
Physical Characteristics
The British Shorthairâs unique appearance is due to its fuzzy, short fur, which makes it resemble a teddy bear.
It is a medium to large cat, with a round head, big eyes, and medium-sized ears. Females weigh approximately 8-12 pounds (3.6-5.4 kg), while males are larger, weighing 11-18 pounds (5-8.2 kg).
Full body maturity is reached in most Brits around the age of 3 years, though in some, this happens around the age of 5 years.
The British Shorthair is a muscular and compact cat. The short legs, with rounded paws, complete the teddy bear look.
The short, dense coat, comes in many colors such as black, white, blue, red, smoke and chinchilla patterns, silver, lilac, tortoiseshell, tabby, gold, cream, and many other combinations of these colors.
Most Brits have copper or gold-colored eyes, while the pure white British Shorthairs have blue eyes.
Compatibility with Kids & Other Pets
A properly socialized British Shorthaired kitten can become a kidâs best friend adult cat. The Brit is patient and tolerant toward the childrenâs restlessness and constant eagerness to play with it.
If bothered by the young ones, it will rather retreat, than become aggressive.
However, if the cat is already a family member and the child is born afterward, the feline may display signs of jealousy and even behavioral changes. It may even develop separation anxiety and destructive habits.
Things might get even worse if the cat is ignored and it can no longer roam free around the entire house like it used to. Peeing around the household may be the first sign that somethingâs wrong.
British Shorthaired Kittens
A healthy 3-month-old British Shorthair male kitten weighs 4â6 pounds (1.8â2.7 kg) and a female 3â4 pounds (1.4â1.8 kg).
These fluff balls suit well a first-time cat parent. They adapt fast to their new environment and are sweet, gentle, playful, and affectionate. They are active fuzzballs and demand constant care, affection, and proper training.
They get bored easily, so youâll always have to find new ways to keep them busy and entertained. However, their playfulness tends to fade while heading to adulthood.
These kittens must learn from a young age about boundaries, otherwise, they may end up as spoiled adult cats. For example, they have to learn from a young age that brushing and claw trimming are mandatory.
Brit kittens are fast learners and will do well with proper socialization. They must be exposed to new people and places, the veterinarianâs practice, and even other animals, to achieve well-behaved adult cats.
These kittens need specially designed cat food. In this type of food, the kibble shape is adapted to this kittenâs unique jaw shape. A Brit kitten needs a daily protein intake of around 38%, together with 20% fat, to support rapid growth and bone health.
If you are considering buying a Brit kitten, always look for a certified breeder, which respects breeding programs and can provide papers for its litter. A renowned and certified breeder will always sell healthy, vaccinated, and microchipped kittens.
Traits, Training & Social Skills
The Brit is smart and easy to train. Its placid personality along with positive reinforcement makes this feline very trainable. By playing games involving treats, the Brit may learn to perform tricks and basic commands, such as âsitâ, or âstayâ.
A properly socialized British Shorthair is a master of social skills. It loves making new friends, and may even treat houseguests as family members.
Playtime & Activities
The British Shorthair cat enjoys short exercise and play sessions, alternating with resting and cuddling periods. This cat doesnât need too much exercise, but attention is required with neutered cats, which are more prone to gaining weight. These cats need more physical activity to stay in shape.
Chasing games that mimic its natural prey drive keep it mentally engaged and fit, at the same time.
A cat tree, specially designed for big cats, with hanging toys and sleeping boxes will be appreciated and will keep the Brit engaged and content.
Grooming Needs
The Brit requires little grooming, but more than hairless cats. Brushing should be done twice a week regularly and daily in springtime when shedding is more intense.
A wired brush or de-shedding tool that removes dead hair should do the trick. Brushing your catâs coat is a good moment to inspect it for any sign of discomfort or skin lesions.
You may consider a DIY cat grooming arch, which will be helpful when your schedule is crowded.
Only cats with skin allergies need bathing, and only use veterinary-recommended shampoos when you do it.
Ear cleaning must be done every three months, using specially designed ear cleansers.
Claw trimming must be done at least twice a month, to prevent the cat from damaging furniture or carpets. This operation can be done at home, using a nail clipper or a special tool.
Lifespan, Health Issues & Nutrition
The British Shorthair cat has a lifespan of 12 to 20 years if properly cared for.
Purebred cats have only a few health issues, the most common being hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, meaning the heart muscle enlarges uncontrollably, leading to heart failure; hemophilia B, meaning the cat lacks a protein that aids in blood clotting; polycystic kidney disease, caused by a faulty gene, which leads to the development of renal cysts and renal failure; and the âFeline Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndromeâ or FALPS, an autoimmune disease that leads to kitten underdevelopment and lymph node enlargement, followed by death.
Another condition this cat breed may develop is hip dysplasia, a genetic disease that leads to lameness, pain, and difficulty walking.
Over time, in our practice, we observed many British Shorthaired cats with skin allergies and other conditions, such as eosinophilic granuloma.
Nutrition is important to this cat. Because it is not a very active cat, it is prone to obesity. Adult cats require a daily protein intake of 30-35% and 17-20% fats, divided into two meals. The cat food should be made only from quality ingredients.
The daily food intake is always written on the package and should not be exceeded.
Vocalizations & Body Language
The British Shorthair cat isnât vocal. A hungry, bothered or angry Brit may meow or chirp while window-hunting birds.
The Brit has a cat-like manner of showing its intentions using body language.
A high tail means the cat is relaxed, curious, or both. On the contrary, a fluffy tail with an arched back means it is angry, anxious, or scared.
Its ears are also a good indicator of its state of mind: high ears that move in every direction mean a curious, maybe anxious, or stressed cat, while lowered ears can be a sign of aggression or threat.
Cost of Ownership
Owning a British Shorthair cat can be expensive at the beginning. Depending on bloodline and color, a purebred kitten costs between $700-$3000. These offspring usually come fully vaccinated, dewormed, and microchipped. Microchipping alone can cost around $70.
Some breeders perform random genetic testing on their litter, which adds around $150-$200 more over the final price.
To set up a new home for your kitten, you will need a cat bed, accessories such as cat bells and a cat collar, and toys. These cost around $250-$400 more. The British monthly diet and treats cost around $30-$80.
If your cat will have outdoor access, another monthly cost will be for parasite control, around $25-$30.
Regular vet check-ups can cost around $250, plus annual vaccines, another $100-$150. Genetic testing for FALPS, polycystic kidney, and hemophilia B, if not provided by the breeder, can cost around $250.
A one-time cost is represented by neutering or spaying, which can add around $200-$250 to your bill.
Adoption & Rescue Options
Adopting a British Shorthair from a rescue group, a foster home or a shelter can be rewarding and help a cat find the home of its dreams. In the USA, each state has its own organization.
They require filing an adoption request, and they try to find the best match between an owner and a British Shorthair. They also offer support throughout the adoption process, and the cats they put up for adoption are usually adult cats, but neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped.
Try visiting your local shelter, in the search for a British Shorthair or a mixed breed. These cats are abandoned, abused, or mistreated. No matter where the cat comes from, it is in desperate need of a home.
Interesting Facts & Quirks
The British Shorthair is the most popular cat in the United Kingdom, since 2001. It is considered the oldest cat breed in the UK, as well.
Before becoming popular, British Shorthair cats were stray cats. They were domesticated after people started noticing and prizing their hunting abilities. Their initial use was as mousers in barns and houses.
Male British Shorthairs are considerably larger and heavier than females.
In 2016, one cat from this particular breed recorded the loudest purr. While most cats purr at around 25 decibels, Smokey the British Shorthair purred as loud as a vacuum cleaner: 67.7 decibels.
Most British Shorthairs avoid cuddling because their thick coat can overheat them.
British Shorthair Names
If you prefer a fancy name for your Brit, you may feel inspired by its origins. If you have a male British Shorthair, names like Chester, Harold, Maxwell, Albert, Charles, or Arthur will stand up to its character. Names suitable for female Brits are Charlotte, Ophelia, Elizabeth, Christine, or Margaret.
If you prefer not-so-precious names, try Charlie, Max, Eddie, Artie or Dodge. You might like Pebbles, Tabby, Lulu, Gina, or Daisy for a female.
Whatever name you choose for your cat, make sure it will fit both a kitten and an adult.
British Shorthair History & Origin
The British Shorthairâs origin is uncertain. There are two theories: one says that Brits originated from domestic cats of the Roman Empire and got to the Britain Isles when invaded by Rome.
The other one refers to France as the birthplace of this feline. The Monks from La Grande Chartreuse monastery raised a distinguished cat breed, the British Shorthairâs ancestors, as wine cellar mousers.
At some point, the French sailors used these cats as rat catchers aboard ships which then brought them to Britain. The British people loved their calm character and rat-catching skills and started breeding them for farms and warehouses.
An attempt to develop the unusual blue-grey color, called âBritish Blueâ led to selective breeding, in the 19th century. During WWI, when the breeding stock was almost extinct, Persians were mixed into their bloodlines, and the British Longhair cat breed was created. It wasnât uncommon to find crossings between the British and the Russian Blue. These were called Blue Shorthair. Altogether, these mixed breeds were the origins of the actual British Shorthair.
After WWI, to purify the breed and maintain its standard, the GCCF accepted only third-generation crossed kittens. But, by the beginning of WWII, the breeding stock started to decrease again, so Persians and Russian Blues were reintroduced into the mix to preserve this breed.
The breed was officially recognized in the late 1970âs.
