British Shorthair Cats
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The British Shorthair is the largest of the shorthaired breed. They are alert with a superb expression, stocky, muscular and powerful cats, with short strong legs, broad chest and large head. They have a lovely short compact coat. They are quiet and even tempered, with few health problems. Their impressive look resembling a teddy bear we all rememner from our childhood makes them one of the most desirable breeds. The typical British Shorthair is arguably the quintessential domestic cat. It is not a feline that will entertain with the acrobatics of a Siamese, nor is it an ornament. It is not the quickest of cat breeds; nonetheless, its powerful frame gives it excellent short distance sprinting powers - especially when it hears a tin of cat food being opened!
Unlike that of many breeds, the origin of the British Shorthair is not lost in legends and myths. Its ancestral stock traces directly back to the domestic cats taken from Egypt to Europe. The Romans, in particular, greatly valued the cat's abilities to safeguard corn and other foods from rodents. Tha fact that some emperors, such as Augustus (63BC-14AD), were cat lovers no doubt enhanced their status and ensured their onward popularity. As the conquering Roman legions marched through Europe, cats were taken in their wake to protect the homes and military food stores from rodents. It is not known exactly when the cat arrived in Britain. The most likely time would be after the second century AD, by which time the Roman colonisation in Britain was well established.
In the centuries that followed its introduction to Europe, the only influence exerted on the shorthaired cat was that of nature. On farms, in villages and in large cities, the cat went about its business of keeping rodents in check just as it had done in the land of the Pharaohs. Most of the cats lived a semi-feral existence, just as many do to this day. But a few became the pampered pets of people ranging from the lowliest of peasants to those of great wealth and power.
Over the centuries, the fortunes of the basic type from which the British Shorthair was to develop were not always favourable. During Mediaeval times, cats throughout Europe were ruthlessly persecuted as being familiars of witches. However, things slowly improved after the 17th century, by which time more enlightened view of them began to prevail. The first British cat show was held in 1871 at the Crystal Palace in London, at which time the British Blue was the only colour available. It proved to be so successful that at at times it was impossible due to the number of visitors packed into the hall. The British now come in a variety of a colours as diverse as: white, black, blue, red, cream, chocolate, lilac, tortoiseshell, or blue-cream. Patterned cats include the tortie, tabby, spotted, colourpointed and tipped. Eye colour varies from gold - copper in the selfs (one coloured coat), hazel in the silver tabby and spotted, blue in the colourpointed and British whites have orange or blue or both (odd eyed).
British Shorthairs make ideal family pets, little grooming is needed (a good weekly brush is sufficient). They are intelligent and loyal, and as they mature very slowly, they enjoy playing well past their kittening stage. They also look good for many years and are generally long lived. They seem to fit into any normal household environment. Given enough items to keep them amused, they can quite happily live indoors. With the British, you do get back what you put in, since given plenty of love and affection they will re-pay you many times over. The British do enjoy company, even though they are quite independent. They can sit on the other side of the room for a few hours having one of their "thinking about things" times.
STANDARD OF THE BRITISH SHORTHAIR
Body
The British Shorthair cat is compact, well balanced and powerful, showing good depth of the body, a full broad chest, short legs, rounded paws, tail thick at the base with a rounded tip. The body should be equally massive across the shoulders and the rump. Legs are short and powerful, reflecting underlying heavy bone structure. Paws round with toes carried close.Males are normally larger than females.
Head
The head is round with a good width between the small ears, round cheeks, firm chin, large round and well opened eyes and a short broad nose. The forehead is gently rounded. A slight indentation, called a nose break, is seen where the forehead meets the nose. This should be neither too deep nor too shallow. The nose itself should be short, broad and straight. In profile, a rounded forehead should lead to a short straight nose with a nose break. The ears should be small and rounded at the tips, set far apart, fitting into (without distorting) the rounded contour of the head. The eyes should be large, round and well-opened. Set wide apart with no tendency to Oriental shape.The head sits on a short powerful neck.
Coat
The coat is short and dense. It should be crisp (meaning firm without being coarse). A soft, overlong and fluffy coat ia undesirable and a remnant of past crossings with other breeds.
Colours
At this time, the British Shorthair is available in six recogniyed self colours, plus white, in its three-colour forms. These can be variably applied to certain of the coat patterns. When other colours, such as caramel, apricot, fawn and cinamon become established in the breed, the potential colour/pattern combinations will be mind-boggling, even more so if new patterns are added, which is likely.
To see British Shorthairs in different colours, wisit, the page BRI in colours
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Bibliography: F. M. Rowley "British Shorthair Cat"