Characteristics of British Shorthair

A very important part of the British Shorthair is temperament. It should be a calm, quiet and a bit lazy cat. This is not a cat that usually turns up in the curtains though young cats like to race through the living room in 80 km per hour if it feel like it. An adult British Shorthair is not what one normally associates with speed and elegance. It may actually seem a bit clumsy and dull. But do not be fooled, it is also a very strong and muscular cat. It uses not only the forces unnecessary and would like to think before doing something. If it plans to reach the top of a rack it is there, but usually through a table or a chair instead of taking the road straight up. Although a British Shorthair has a quiet manner, it is still playful, even into old age, but the game is rarely violent.

British Shorthair is a cat that is purring highly and easily. Just speaking to the cat, the "engine" will start. Otherwise, it is generally a quiet cat with a surprisingly frail voice in relation to their size and relative to other Shorthair cats.
British Shorthair is a loving cat that relate easily to people, but it is not an intrusive cat. It shows his affection in a quiet and somewhat reserved manner and is up to the sofa back behind your head or next to you rather than lying in your lap. Nevertheless, it is usually close by, no matter what you do.Whether it sits on a little distance and look at your efforts and then help such as dishwashing or gardening.
If one is sick you can be sure of a solidarity and fond friend lying next to you and will comfort and keep you company. If you have however been sitting for a long time with the newspaper, a good book or in front of your computer without having to concentrate on your delicious British Shorthair, it will come and put his large behind just in the middle on top of newspaper, book or keypad, painting and look at you and make you note that now it is time to scratch it behind the ears. Any British Shorthair loves attention and admiration of its people, but is usually not very interested in strangers. They are sociable and good-natured and usually goes well with the house any other cats and animals. They thrive even with children as long as the game does not become too violent.

The British are distinctly obedient above the sound of a can opener or the rustle of the bag with dried fodder. Can the cat walk freely in and out it goes usually not longer than that it can hear the tempting sounds. Since it is large and robust suitable it well as house and garden cat. It is however not very good at climbing trees and it can sometimes seem like it is suffering from a bit afraid of heights. Many British Shorthair are therefore not particularly fond of being carried around, and it likes best to have all four feet safely planted on the ground. Britains is a great "flat cat" that does not require the very large space to exercise and it is rare that disturbs the neighbors, even though I have actually heard of them living in housing cooperatives and gets up from his neighbor because the cat like stamping on the floor! !.

All in all, one can say that the British Shorthair is a more active race than longhair breeds, but not rushing around and active as the young Shorthair breeds. It is just as soft, indulgent and peaceful in mind that it is in appearance.

Origin:

British Shorthair is the largest and most powerful of our British Shorthair. It originated in the British short-haired backyard treasure that is said to have inhabited Britain since the Romans occupied the island kingdom. Evidence indicates that people valued large, robust and hardworking cats to keep mice and rats away food storage.

Already at the first cat exhibition, which took place in London in 1871, participated blue Shorthairs among the luxurious longhairy cats and the West's first siams. The blue coat was rare, and many were fascinated by the fact that a cat could be both beautiful and races at the same time that it was useful in gardens and backyards. It was the blue variant that was most popular from the start, but at the end of the 1800s, there were still many classes in shorthair cats. In addition to the blue was tabby variations and white spots popular. Today there are 125 different colors of British Shorthairs.

After the war, several Shorthair cats exported from the UK to among other things, Europe and the British lines ended up eventually in the Nordic countries. Initially differed not between the British, European and chatreux (French Shorthair cat). First, in 1982 adopted FIFe a whole new reason stands for British Shorthairs that required a powerful cat with shorter limbs and tail than europe. This standard was more in line with GCCFs standard.

In Norway, it exhibited some Shorthair cats of the 1950s. These were mainly tabbyvariations, especially silvertabby, and was found and bred up in Norway. In the 70's was more cats imported from Sweden and used in Europe / Briton breeding. There were also imported and American Shorthair cats were brought in from the United Kingdom. There are also crossing into some Persian to produce the sharp round type and new color variations.

How should a British Shorthair look like:

British Shorthair is said that is a large and powerful short hair cat. It should be heavy and compact, with short powerful legs. From the side it should be as high as long, and the overall impression is a large, round, hard and soft cat - a real teddybear! Bone stem should be strong and the cat should be muscular. It should not be bold, but like some well-padded.

The head is large and round with small rounded ears that set far apart. Adult males often have large cheek pouches (especially if they are in breeding). His eyes are wide open and the ball round. Eye color should be intense and shiny with a color from yellow / orange to deep copper in most color variations, but some silver varieties will have green eyes and the mask-colored cats will have blue eyes. White cats can have orange, blue or oddeyed (one eye of each color).

The coat of British Shorthair should be very thick, short, crispy and protruding so that it is plush-like. This can be difficult to achieve with some color variations among because there have been crossings with Persian. The breed is found in most color variations longhairs (Persian and exotic) but tabbyvariations with white, and silver varieties with white. The resulting left with: One color: black, blue, chocolate, purple, red, cream and those in the turtle varieties and white.
Tabbyvariation: all the full colors of tabby, spotted and brindle
White Spot: all in full color bi-color, harlequin and van
Silver and golden varieties and mask variations.

Sources:
Lisbeth Falling: British Shorthair - aristocrat among cat breeds
Lotte Borch and Helle Schulz: The British - Race Description

© Britt Marie Rasdal