Here we explain everything about the british shorthair.
Origin of the british shorthair cat
The British shorthair cat is considered One of the oldest feline breeds Some theories suggest that it was the Roman invaders who tried to invade Great Britain in the first century BC. C. who carried the direct ancestors of the race from Egypt. These felines were crossed with the native cats, giving way to cats with a robust constitution and a dense coat.
According to different standards, it can be considered that the morphology of this breed has changed minimally over the years. However, around 1914 and 1918, according to TICA (The International Cat Association), this breed was crossed with Persian cats to obtain the long-haired variety: the British longhair
Initially the British shorthair cat, also known as the " blue shorthair " consisted of two different types: the stocky round-headed cat and the elongated triangular-headed cat. Both were crossed before finally separating into two different breeds: British Shorthair and Russian Blue.
The advent of World War II greatly affected the breed, reducing breeding and losing much of the feline population belonging to this breed. Therefore, once the war ended, breeders used Russian Blue, Persian and other cats to resume breeding. In 1970 the British shorthair cat or British shorthair cat had achieved the same recognition as its closest relative, the American shorthair in the GFA and TICA, both feline breed organizations.
British shorthair physical characteristics
The British Shorthair is a Compact, powerful and balanced cat It has a deep body, a broad chest and short legs of medium size. The tail is thick at the base with a rounded tip. The head is round, showing a certain width between both ears. The cheeks are round, large and open.
Another characteristic of the British shorthair is that females are slightly less coarse than males, who have a larger chin. These details can be seen when the cat reaches sexual maturity and full development, around 3 or 5 years of age.
British shorthair colors
The British Shorthair cat's coat is short, very dense, close-fitting and firm to the touch, with a shiny appearance. Contrary to what it may seem, this breed does not have a double coat or internal fleece. The British shorthair colors are:
- White: Pure white, with hints of yellow. The eyes in this color can be deep sapphire, blue, gold or copper and the nose and pads are pink.
- Black: Complete black, from the roots, without white fur. The eyes of this fur can be golden or copper and the nose and pads are black.
- Blue: is the most characteristic and popular color of the race. It can be light or medium blue, without markings of other colors. The eyes will be gold or copper.
- Red: deep red, without white markings. The eyes will be gold or copper.
- Cream: always in light tones, the eyes will be gold or copper.
- Smoked: different shades of gray are accepted.
British Shorthair Cat Character
The British shorthair stands out for being a sociable, affectionate and friendly cat It is a feline that especially appreciates love and affection provided by their owners, as usually very attached, loyal and devoted. In addition, the British Shorthair cat loves to transmit a cheerful and spontaneous character, so we will enjoy a "puppy" cat even in its adult stage.
They tend to be calm, quiet and inconspicuous, so they tend to fit in perfectly with other cats, dogs and even pets of small size, as long as they are properly socialized as a puppy. He also gets along well with children, due to his affable and fun nature, although it is likely that halfway through the game he will retire to rest peacefully in his soft bed.
British shorthair cat care
The British shorthair or British shorthair cat is a breed that does not require excessive care. However, following our advice will help you keep him happy, cared for and with an enviable coat:
- Facial cleansing: it is important that we regularly (and whenever necessary) clean with the help of a moist chlorhexidine gauze diluted, serum and even with chamomile, the tear ducts and the remains of dirt that may remain in the feline's mouth. From 8 - 10 years old is when we will begin to observe a greater accumulation of dirt.
- Mouthcleaning: As with humans, the permanent dentition of cats is not replaceable, so it is important take care of her as she deserves. It will be indicated to start cleaning his teeth from his puppy stage to get him used correctly and to allow us to carry out this ritual. We can do it between 2 and 5 times a week.
- Headset cleaning: The ears are an area of the body that tends to accumulate a lot of dirt. Although in principle it is not necessary to clean the ear, it would be advisable to pass a gauze from time to time to be able to detect the presence of mites, if any.
- Nail trimming: cats don't need us to trim their claws, they file them themselves on the scratcher we have provided. However, some cats, either due to old age or due to illness, can stop doing it. It is important to know how to cut a cat's nails correctly so as not to hurt it.
- Bathroom: Just like trimming nails, cats don't need to be bathed, they clean themselves. We should only do it in the case of suffering from a parasitic infestation or being really dirty.
- Brushing: to maintain a beautiful coat, free of dirt and dead hair, it is essential to brush your cat regularly. We can do it between 2 and 3 times a week.
Don't forget that for your British Shorthair to be happy he will need some basic items in his home, such as a comfortable and soft bed to sleep, assorted toys and accessories to play, feline residences, scratching posts and a nest.
About feeding, it will be essential to look for a complete and quality food. We recommend not leaving food ad libitum, that is, always available, since we can lose control of the quantities and be promoting obesity without realizing it. The best option is to offer the recommended daily amount in your bowl once a day.
British Shorthair Cat Education
Learning feline language, hygiene habits, sharpening nails or the natural behavior of the species, is something learned by puppies from their mother, which is why it is so important to know when to separate the kittens from their mother. From 2 weeks of life and up to 2 months, the cat must stay with its mother and siblings, in order to learn everything it will need to know in its adult stage.
In addition, during this period the socialization of the cat is carried out, a process in which the little one must get used to the presence of other cats, animals, people and environments, is essential to prevent fears or behavioral problems in their adult stage.
How to socialize a puppy cat? Discover the answer in this other article that we recommend, here.
British shorthair cat he alth
As with virtually all breeds, the British Shorthair cat is susceptible to certain hereditary diseases. Here are the most common:
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
It is important to visit the vet every 6 or 12 months to avoid and prevent certain diseases. It will also be necessary to strictly follow the vaccination schedule and internal and external deworming.
Where to adopt a British shorthair cat?
Before adopting an animal, in this case a cat, it should be noted that the most important thing when starting the process of adopting a British shorthair cat, regardless of whether it is male or female, is it is the fact of giving the animal a new home full of care and affection. We can get carried away by some features of the felines that we like more or less, but in the end the important thing is to make the new member of the family feel as comfortable as possible.
If you are considering adopting a British shorthair cat, you should know that the best option is to visit an animal or protective association that can offer you a cat with the same or similar characteristics.
Curiosities
- In 1871 the British shorthair cat competed for the first time at The Crystal Palace where it broke popularity records, surpassing the Persian cat.
- During World War I and II the British Shorthair cat almost became extinct. For this reason, the Persian cat was included in the breeding lines, which gave way to a more robust British Shorthair cat, with more rounded shapes, intense eye color, etc.
- The "Cheshire" cat from Alice in Wonderland is inspired by a British shorthair cat.
