British Shorthair: Diet and Description of the Breed
The British Shorthair is a noble cat from Great Britain. It is one of the most famous pedigree cats and has been bred for more than 100 years.
The British Shorthair is characterized by its plush coat as well as its soft and amicale character.
History of the British Shorthair
The British Shorthair is one of the oldest purebred cats at all. The first specimens were exhibited in London already in 1871. Due to the two world wars, the population decreased strongly in the meantime, so that some breeders crossed in other cat breeds like Persian and Carthusian cats.
As British Shorthair and Carthusian, respectively Chartreux, became more and more similar through crossbreeding, the breed standards were combined by the FiFé in 1970. In the following years all cats with blue coats were called Carthusian and cats with other colours were called British Shorthair.
As breeders protested against this division, it was reversed in 1977, so that the British Shorthair is again listed as an independent breed since then. Since the 1980s there is also a distinction between the British and the European Shorthair.
Today the British Shorthair enjoys great popularity among cat lovers in many countries.
Look of the British Shorthair
The British Shorthair is a medium sized to large cat. Males can reach a weight of up to eight kilos, while females usually weigh a maximum of six kilos.
The body of the British Shorthair is short and stocky, giving it a strikingly muscular stature. The large, round head as well as the pronounced chin, the broad nose and the wide apart standing ears also contribute to the typical appearance of the British Shorthair.
The eyes are usually golden. Depending on the colour of the coat British Shorthairs can also have blue, copper or green eyes.
British Shorthair colours and coat texture
The coat of the British Shorthair is short, dense and fluffy. It consists of a dense undercoat and fine top coat with a non-slip texture. The British Shorthair is bred in many different colours.
According to the breed standard the coat may be either solid or multicoloured. In total the British Shorthair is bred in more than 50 recognized colour varieties.
Among the typical colours of the British Shorthair are
- Blue
- White
- Black
- Red
- Cream
- Fawn
- Lilac
- Chocolate
- Cinnamon
Sometimes the different colours of the British Shorthair are even associated with different character traits. For example, cream coloured animals are considered to be particularly cuddly, while red specimens are said to be very affectionate and blue British Shorthairs are said to be rather reserved.
British Shorthair character
The British Shorthairs are calm and balanced. They have a very close relationship with their owners and like to spend time with them.
The British Shorthair is an excellent family cat and is very patient with children. It normally gets along very well with other animals living in the household.
Keeping and care of the British Shorthair
The British Shorthair cat is suitable for keeping indoors without any problems. As long as it gets enough attention, it proves to be astonishingly frugal with regard to its keeping.
To prevent undesirable behaviour such as marking, it is however important to keep the British Shorthair regularly occupied and to provide her with grooming boards or other exciting cat toys.
The British Shorthair has quite a strong coat compared to other cat breeds. Daily brushing is advisable especially during shedding.
Unlike most cats the British Shorthair is not afraid of water. Nevertheless, regular bathing should be avoided for the benefit of skin and coat health.
British Shorthair diseases
If you decide to buy a British Shorthair, you should definitely look for a serious breeder. Inbreeding is sometimes a quite common problem, which can promote the development of various cat diseases.
Affected cats then tend to a weakened immune system and a resulting susceptibility to disease. In addition, British Shorthair cats can genetically cause PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) and sudden heart death.
Apart from this, the heavy build of the British Shorthair can occasionally lead to the cats developing arthrosis and other joint diseases.
The life expectancy of the British Shorthair
The life expectancy of British Shorthair is on average 12 to 15 years.
The right food for the British Shorthair
In general the British Shorthair is not too picky about their diet. It’s important that you pay attention to portion sizes, because the British Shorthair has a tendency for obesity.
I Love My Cat offers you high-quality food for your British Shorthair. Our grain-free wet and dry food for cats are characterised by natural ingredients and a high proportion of animal proteins.
You can be sure that your British Shorthair will tolerate your food well and will be optimally supplied with all necessary nutrients.
In addition, the following food supplements and care products from our range may be useful:
- Shiimun Skin as a digestible nutrient supplier for skin and coat health
- Kidney power powder as natural support for the kidneys of the British Shorthair
- Joint & Bone Capsules to counteract problems with the joint
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