Submitted by: Moses Chia(1,788) Log in to become a member of Moses Chia's Fan Club!
To many, the British Shorthair is a the epitome of a lazy feline, one who loves to relax. This misrepresentation owes itself to the plump body of the British Shorthair. In actual fact, the British Shorthair is actually a cat that was common in farms and is acknowledged for its skill in trapping and hunting mice and other small rodents.
History - Bred in the nineteenth century, the British Shorthair was a favorite in many households until distinct breeds began popping up in the mide twentieth century. Not wanting this beautiful, historical cat to become extinct, a couple of dedicated cat lover's worked perilously to ensure its survival. It wasn't until the late twentieth century, that these wonderful cats were introduced in the United States, where cat fanciers became enthralled with their unusual personality and size.
Appearance - There are a variety of colors and one shade was so popular; it was the only shade and color credited by cat associations for years to come. British Blue was the name of the color of choice, but after World War II, this distinct color of British Shorthairs almost became nonexistent.
Enthusiasts of this breed, wanted to preserve conserve the unique blue hue, bred the remaining blue shorthairs with Blue Persians. This created an increase in the gene pool and literally saved the specific shade from utter elimination. There are different colors to choose from which consist of white, bi-colors, smoke, totoiseshell, point colors with orange or blue eyes.
The British Shorthair has a roundish head and wide cheeks as well as a thick and relatively short tail. The British Shorthair, also known for its stockiness, is a large specimen of cat weighing in at a substantial nine to eighteen pounds.
British Shorthair Cat Behavior and Characteristics - It is not a cat that demands incessant attention and affection. This breed behavior is highly content to go about its day doing its own thing. The British Shorthair is not suitable for those who desire friendly felines as this breed is not as socially inclined. This breed is truly happy when the food bowl is filled and his activities are his to control. There is little need to cuddle or entertain this breed in order to keep them content.
Since this breed does not demand much of an owner's time, it is the perfect addition to the family of someone who doesn't have a lot of time to spend at home.
British Shorthair Cat Health Problems - With a long ancestry and lineage, the gene pool diversity of the breed is generally healthy, although there is a problem one should take note of.
Type A Blood is the common blood type of domestic cats; however, the British Shorthair is known to possess the rare Type B Blood type. It is an issue of concern should an operation be needed one day. You should have your local vet check you British Shorthair's blood type to ascertain if it is a rare blood type, to decrease the chances of confusion late on.
It is easy to care for and groom your British Shorthair. With the texture of their coat being rough and thick, a once a week combing should be sufficient to remove loose hairs and particles of dirt.
If your short on time, but still want a cat, the unassuming, self contained personality of a British Shorthair is definitely worth looking in to. It's sure to be a perfect fit.
--------
Moses Wright likes to help fellow cat owners learn more about their cat breed whenever he is free. You can find more resources on cat illnesses symptoms, list of cat breed facts and information on his web site.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
