Compared to most shorthair breeds, British
Shorthairs are relatively calm cats when they mature.
They are easygoing in nature and talk infrequently. Very
affectionate, they become quite attached to the people
they own. British Shorthairs are easily trained and very
adaptable. They seem to get along well with all human
members of the household, regardless of age, but are
usually not fond of being carried. Pets of all kinds have
been kept with British Shorthairs, including dogs of
all sizes, rabbits, and birds. British Shorthairs are not
known for being acrobats and can tend to be clumsy at
times. No breed specific, health related problems plague
the British Shorthair.
These are sturdy, dense-coated, purring, teddy bear cats
with large round eyes. Another thing that draws people
to the British Shorthair is their size. Although they are
not huge like the Maine Coon, they are a medium to
large cat. They are a slow maturing breed and do not
reach their full size until three years of age. Mature
males avergae nine to seventeen pounds, and mature
females average seven to twelve pounds. Although most
people think of them as being blue cats, they come in
a number of colors and patterns. Not every blue cat
is a British Shorthair. It is still considered one of the
minority breeds in CFA.
Probably the oldest English breed of cat, the British
Shorthair can trace its ancestry back to the domestic
cats of Rome. This breed was first prized for its
physical strength and hunting ability. Today, the most
they usually hunt is for their own food bowls. British
Shorthairs may have started out as street cats in the
United Kingdom, but with plenty of hard work from
breeders all over the world, the British Shorthair has
become a force to be reckoned with on the CFA show
bench, having been recognized as a breed in May 1980.
They are now beautiful, much-loved cats internationally.
As mentioned previously, British Shorthairs have
no specific breed-related diseases. When choosing
a British Shorthair for your family, pricing usually
depends on type, applicable markings, and parentage.
Achievements which can be found in the pedigree
include CFA titles such as GC (Grand Champion),
GP (Grand Premier), NW (National Winner), BW
(Breed Winner), and RW (Regional Winner). There
is also the coveted award of DM (Distinguished
Merit), which means that a female has produced five
CFA Grand Champions/Premiers, and a male has
produces fifteen CFA Grand Champions/Premiers.
Usually breeders make kittens available between twelve
and sixteen weeks of age. The experts seem to agree that
kittens first start bonding with humans around the age
of twelve weeks. After twelve weeks, kittens have had
their basic inoculations, have been weaned, and have
had the time to become well-adjusted. Most breeders
require that they remain safely indoors and that they
be spayed/neutered. Due to the breeders’ diligence
in placing cats, rarely does a British Shorthair need
to be rescued from a shelter. CFA and most breeders
disapprove of declawing and tendonectomy surgery.
With proper care, these cats will live a long, healthy,
and joyful life and bring happiness to their family.
For more information, please send
inquiries to CFA at cfa@cfa.org.