The British shorthair is possibly the oldest cat breed in Great Britain. The most agreed-upon theory of this breed’s development is that British shorthairs started out as shorthaired street cats, but breeders refined and standardized the cats until they resembled the British shorthair we know and love today.
Other name, British blue.
The British Shorthair is known for both its looks and its typically easygoing and fun-loving personality. The appealing chunkiness of its face and body and its plush, thick fur match its sturdy temperament.
Many solid and patterned colors, including white, black, blue, red, cream, smoke, silver, golden, cameo, tabby, tortoiseshell, calico, and bicolor.
Varies depending on coat color and pattern, but may be blue, gold, copper, green, blue-green, hazel or odd-eyed (eyes of two different colors).
Life Expectancy: 12 to 16 years.
Personality: Affectionate, easy-going, and calm.
Weight: About 7 to 17 pounds, with males slightly larger.
Length: About 22 to 25 inches.
As the breed name suggests, the British shorthair has a short coat that needs only minimal grooming. Brush your British shorthair once a week using a soft slicker brush*. Brush more frequently during periods of seasonal shedding to remove loose hair before it ends up all over the house.
Trim the nails every other week and check inside the ears weekly. If you see a little debris in the ears, use a pet-ear cleaner and cotton balls to clean the ears using a cotton ball (never use a cotton swab). If your British shorthair’s ears look red or excessively dirty, make an appointment to see your veterinarian.
Feed your adult British shorthair measured meals twice a day (three times a day for young kittens). Don’t free feed (leave food out all day). It’s best to keep them at a lean, healthy weight in order to prevent weight-related health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease, which can affect any cat but may be compounded by excess weight. The best that you have to do? Talk to your veterinarian or the breeder you worked with for advice about the best food for your cat.
*Check the available grooming brushes from our store in the link below:
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