General Description

The British Shorthair is the pedigreed version of the traditional British domestic cat, with a distinctively stocky body, dense coat, and broad face.   The British Shorthair is known to be the inspiration for the Cheshire Cat in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland”.  Prized for their soft, plush coats and rounded bodies, British shorthairs could almost be mistaken for living teddy bears.  

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This beautiful breed comes in a wide variety of colours and patterns, but the traditional British shorthair is wrapped in blue fur. This breed is a medium-to-large-sized cat has few health problems.  At Brindie British Shorthair, I breed solid Black and Blue and Black and Blue bicolour babies.  

British shorthairs don't need to be fussed over to look good. Their short, soft, dense coat only requires weekly brushing to remove dead hair and skin cells. But for the most part, they do a good job keeping themselves clean and tidy.

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Personality

British Shorthairs are intelligent, sociable, affectionate and without a temperamental side.  Additionally, they are sweet, laid back, and are loyal companions.  They also have a friendly yet no-nonsense attitude.  British shorthairs make ideal family cats and enjoy being with their owners but they prefer to keep their feet on the ground and may not be comfortable when carried around.  They are tolerant of children and dogs, making them excellent family cats.

 

As all cats, the British requires a companion (dog or cat) if their owners are at work during the day.  They're active without being boisterous, they're affectionate and they're smart but don't feel the need to show off by figuring out how to open your refrigerator. British shorthair cats are easy going and will treat everyone in the family (including dogs and other cats) like a good friend, especially if socialized as kittens.  This happy breed loves a good romp as much as a night stretched out in front of the television. They thrive on attention, but also value personal space. 

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Characteristics

A playful, affectionate cat, the British Shorthair is fiercely loyal and a good companion for single people.   British Shorthair cats are strong and independent, they will handle short-term (1-3 days) loneliness better than other breeds.  They are easy to train and easy to groom.  These gorgeous cats only require a quick brushing once a week to keep their coat free of loose hair and dirt. British shorthairs are a large cat breed, with males potentially tipping the scales at 7 kilos.   Like most cats, British shorthairs aren't too fussy about where they live, as long as they have loving owners who take the time to interact with them.  British shorthairs are a happy medium between playful and just wanting to snooze in the sun all day. This means they are always up for a game of chase, but you won't have to worry about him getting into trouble while you're at work (especially if you give him plenty of toys for entertainment).​

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The British Shorthair History

British shorthair cats are an ancient breed, and are believed to be the direct descendants of the cats brought to England by the invading Romans.  They were used for vermin control and quickly spread throughout the country as street and farm cats.  Soon, their calm and confident personalities prompted people to welcome them into their homes (and onto their laps). Over the years they developed round faces with short, thick coats of all colours.  In the late 1800s, a determined cat breeder named Harrison Weir began developing the British shorthair officially by crossing different individual felines. At the first organized cat show, held at London's Crystal Palace in 1871, a blue tabby British shorthair owned by Weir won Best in Show.  After World War I, the British shorthair we know today was finessed by adding Persian, Russian blue, French Chartreux, and domestic shorthair cats into the mix. Eventually, in the 1970s, the British shorthair was given formal recognition around the globe.

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