British Shorthair Breed Standard

GENERAL: the British Shorthair is compact, well-balanced and powerful, showing good depth of body, a full broad chest, short to medium strong legs, rounded paws, tail thick at base with a rounded tip. The head is round with good width between the ears, round cheeks, firm chin, medium ears, large round and wellopened eyes, and a medium broad nose. The coat is short and very dense. Females are less massive in all respects with males having larger jowls. This breed takes a full 3-5 years to reach full maturity and development. Individuals should convey an overall impression of balance and proportion in which no feature is exaggerated to foster weakness or extremes.

HEAD: round and massive. Round face with round underlying bone structure well set on a short thick neck. The forehead should be rounded with a slight flat plane on the top of the head. The forehead should not slope.

NOSE: medium, broad. In profile there is a gentle dip.

CHIN: firm, well-developed in line with the nose and upper lip.

MUZZLE: distinctive, well-developed, with a definite stop beyond large, round whisker pads.

EARS: ear set is important. Medium in size, broad at the base, rounded at the tips. Set far apart, fitting into (without distorting) the rounded contour of the head.

EYES: large, round, well opened. Set wide apart and level.

BODY: medium to large, well knit and powerful. Level back and a deep broad chest.

LEGS: short to medium, well-boned and strong. In proportion to the body. Forelegs are straight.

PAWS: round and firm. Toes: five in front and four behind.

TAIL: medium length in proportion to the body, thicker at base, tapering slightly to a rounded tip.

COAT: short, very dense, well bodied, firm to the touch, with a crisp texture. Not double coated or woolly.

COLOR: for cats with special markings: 5 points for coat color and 10 points for markings. Shadow tabby markings in solid color, smoke, shaded, shaded golden, bi-color, or calico kittens are not a fault.

PENALIZE: definite nose stop. Overlong or light undercoat. Soft coat. Rangy body. Weak chin.*

DISQUALIFY: incorrect eye color, green rims in adults. Tail defects. Long or fluffy coat. Incorrect number of toes. Locket or button. Improper color or pigment in nose leather and/or paw pads in part or total. Any evidence of illness or poor health. Any evidence of wryness of jaw, poor dentition (arrangement of teeth), or malocclusion. Evidence of hybridization resulting in cinnamon or fawn, the Himalayan pattern or these combinations with white.*

*The previously listed penalties and disqualifications apply to all British Shorthair cats. Additional penalties and disqualifications are listed under colors.

BRITISH SHORTHAIR COLORS

WHITE: pure white, untipped with yellow. Eye color: deep sapphire blue, gold, or copper. Odd-eyed whites shall have one deep sapphire blue and one gold eye with equal color depth. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.

BLACK: jet black to roots, no rusty tinge, no white hair anywhere. Nose leather: black. Paw pads: black or brown. Eye color: gold or copper with no trace of green.

BLUE: light to medium blue, lighter shade preferred, very level in color. Sound medium shade more acceptable than an unsound lighter shade. No tabby markings or white anywhere. Nose leather and paw pads: Blue. Eye color: gold or copper.

RED: deep, brilliant red, level in color, sound to the roots. No white anywhere. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red. Eye color: gold or copper. Disqualify: heavy tabby markings.

CREAM: rich cream, lighter shades preferred, level in color, sound to the roots. Tabby markings are acceptable for cats under five years old. No white anywhere. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. Eye color: gold or copper. Penalize: heavy tabby markings.

SMOKE, SHADED AND CHINCHILLA PATTERNS: genetically non-agouti tabby varieties of British Shorthair where the color is restricted to the ends of the hair in both silver and non-silver (golden) colors.

SMOKE PATTERN: white or pale silver undercoat, deeply tipped with solid, tortoiseshell or blue-cream color. Cat in repose appears to be of the specified color. In motion the undercoat is clearly apparent, showing maximum contrast. Nose leather and paw pads: to correspond with the coat color. Eye Color: gold or copper.

SMOKE COLORS: Black Smoke, Blue Smoke, Red Smoke, Cream Smoke, Tortoiseshell Smoke, Blue-Cream Smoke.

SHADED SILVER PATTERN: color is restricted to the ends of the hairs in the form of tipping (about 1/3 of the hair length) and the undercoat is white or pale silver. The coat on the back, flanks, head, ears and tail should be tipped with color. The tipping is to be evenly distributed and it is the even distribution rather than the degree of tipping which is of paramount importance. Heavily tipped cats should not be penalized as long as the tipping is even and free from tabby markings; in fact they are preferable. The legs should show tipping which will decrease towards the paws but which should be as even as possible. The chin, stomach, chest and under tail should be as pale as possible. The tipping may be of any recognized solid, tortoiseshell or blue-cream color.

CHINCHILLA SILVER PATTERN: color is restricted to the ends of the hairs in the form of tipping (about 1/8 of the hair length); the undercoat is white or pale silver. Coat on back, flanks, head and tail sufficiently tipped to give the characteristic sparkling appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded with tipping. In general, the chinchilla cat appears much lighter than the shaded. The tipping may be of any recognized solid, tortoiseshell or blue-cream color.

SHADED SILVER AND CHINCHILLA SILVER COLORS

SILVER (Black Silver): the undercoat is pure white; back, flanks, head, ears and tail tipped with black. Eye and nose rims: outlined in black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black. Eye Color: green or blue-green.

BLUE SILVER: the undercoat is pure white; back, flanks, head, ears and tail tipped with blue. Eye and nose rims: outlined in blue-grey. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: blue. Eye Color: gold or copper.

CREAM SILVER (Cream Cameo): the undercoat is pure white; back, flanks, head, ears and tail tipped with cream. Eye and nose rims: outlined in pink. Nose leather: pink. Paw Pads: pink. Eye Color: gold or copper.

RED SILVER (Cameo): the undercoat is pure white; back, flanks, head, ears and tail tipped with red. Eye and nose rims: outlined in pink. Nose leather: pink. Paw pads: pink. Eye Color: gold or copper.

TORTOISESHELL SILVER: the undercoat is pure white; back, flanks, head, ears and tail tipped with black and red (light and dark shades) harmoniously distributed in tortoiseshell pattern. Eye and nose rims: outlined in black, pink, or patched with both. Nose leather: black, pink, or patched with both. Paw pads: black, pink, or patched with both. Eye Color: gold or copper.

BLUE-CREAM SILVER: the undercoat is pure white; back, flanks, head, ears and tail tipped with blue-grey and cream (light and dark shades) harmoniously distributed in tortoiseshell pattern. Eye and nose rims: outlined in blue-grey, pink or patched with both. Nose leather: blue-grey, pink or patched with both. Paw pads: blue-grey, pink or patched with both. Eye Color: gold or copper.

SHADED GOLDEN PATTERN: color is restricted to the ends of the hairs in the form of tipping (about 1/3 of the hair length) and the undercoat is a rich warm cream color, with a mantle of tipping. The coat on the back, flanks, head, ears and tail should be tipped with color. The tipping should be evenly distributed and it is the even distribution rather than the degree of tipping which is of paramount importance. The legs should show tipping which will decrease towards the paws but should be as even as possible. The chin, stomach, chest and under tail is a pale warm color ranging from ivory to apricot. Disqualify: any evidence of the Corin gene as evidenced by white/off-white toes and/or white/off-white on the chest and neck.

CHINCHILLA GOLDEN PATTERN: color is restricted to the ends of the hairs in the form of tipping (about 1/8 of the hair length) and the undercoat is a rich warm cream color. Coat on back, flank, head, ears and tail should be tipped with color. The legs and end of tail may be shaded with tipping. The chin, stomach, chest and under tail is a pale warm color ranging from ivory to apricot. In general, the chinchilla cat appears much lighter than the shaded. Disqualify: Any evidence of the Corin gene as evidenced by white/off-white toes and/or white/off-white on the chest and neck.

SHADED GOLDEN AND CHINCHILLA GOLDEN COLORS

GOLDEN (Black): the undercoat is ivory to neutral beige; back, flanks, head, ears and tail tipped with black. Eye and nose rims: outlined in black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black. Eye Color: green or blue-green.

BLUE GOLDEN: the undercoat is ivory to neutral beige; back, flanks, head, ears and tail tipped with blue. Eye and nose rims: outlined in blue-grey. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: blue. Eye Color: gold or copper.

TORTOISESHELL AND BLUE-CREAM GOLDEN: the undercoat is ivory to neutral beige; back, flanks, head, ears and tail tipped with the appropriate base color (Black and Red; or Blue-Cream) mottled or patched with areas of red, shades of red or cream. Eye and nose rims: outlined in base color, pink, or patched with both. Nose leather: appropriate to base color and/or pink. Paw pads: appropriate to base color and/or pink. Eye Color: gold or copper

CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and broad. Legs evenly barred with bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail evenly ringed. Several unbroken necklaces on neck and upper chest, the more the better. Frown marks on forehead form an intricate letter “M.” Unbroken line runs back from outer corner of eye. Swirls on cheeks. Vertical lines over back of head extend to shoulder markings which are in the shape of a butterfly with both upper and lower wings distinctly outlined and marked with dots inside outline. Back markings consist of a vertical line down the spine from butterfly to tail with a vertical stripe paralleling it on each side, the three stripes well separated by stripes of the ground color. Large solid blotch on each side to be encircled by one or more unbroken rings. Side markings should be the same on both sides. Double vertical rows of buttons on chest and stomach. Penalize: brindling. Disqualify: white anywhere.

MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and all narrow pencillings. Legs evenly barred with narrow bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail barred. Necklaces on neck and chest distinct, like so many chains. Head barred with an “M” on the forehead. Unbroken lines running back from the eyes. Lines running down the head to meet the shoulders. Spine lines run together to form a narrow saddle. Narrow pencillings run around body. Penalize: brindling. Mackerel pencillings not in evidence on both sides of the cat. Disqualify: white anywhere.

SPOTTED TABBY PATTERN: good, clear spotting is essential. The spots can be round, oblong, or rosette-shaped. Any of these are of equal merit but the spots, however shaped or placed, shall be distinct. Head: as classic tabby. Body and Legs: good, clear spotting essential. Tail: spots or broken rings desirable. Color: silver with black spots, brown with black spots, red with deep rich red spots. Any other recognized ground color acceptable with appropriate spotting. Eye color: as for classic tabby. Penalize: solid spine color line, brindling, markings not distinct and separate or spotting not in evidence on both sides of the cat. Disqualify: white anywhere.

SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color, including lips and chin, pale clear silver. Markings dense black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black. Eye color: green or hazel.

SILVER PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color pale, clear silver. Markings dense black, with patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both body and extremities. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black and/or brick red. Eye color: brilliant gold, green or hazel.

SILVER PATCHED TABBY AND WHITE (classic, mackerel, spotted): same as for silver patched tabby with the addition of white. Blaze desirable. Nose leather: brick red and/or pink. Paw pads: black, brick red and/or pink. Eye color: brilliant gold, green, hazel or odd-eye.

RED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color red, including lips and chin. Markings deep, rich red. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red. Eye color: gold or copper.

BROWN TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color brilliant coppery brown. Markings dense black. Lips and chin of same shade as the rings around the eyes. Back of leg black from paw to heel. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black or brown. Eye color: gold or copper.

BROWN PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color brilliant coppery brown. Markings of dense black. Patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both body and extremities. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black and/or brick red. Eye color: gold or copper.

BROWN PATCHED TABBY AND WHITE (classic, mackerel, spotted): same as for brown patched tabby with the addition of white. Blaze desirable. Nose leather: brick red and/or pink. Paw pads: black, brick red and/or pink. Eye color: gold to copper or odd-eye.

BLUE TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory. Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: rose. Eye color: gold or copper.

BLUE PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color pale bluish ivory. Markings of very deep blue affording good contrast with ground color. Patches or softly intermingled areas of cream on both body and extremities. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole. Nose leather: old rose or pink. Paw pads: rose and/or pink. Eye color: gold or copper.

BLUE PATCHED TABBY AND WHITE (classic, mackerel, spotted): same as for blue patched tabby with the addition of white. Blaze desirable. Nose leather: old rose and/or pink. Paw pads: rose and/or pink. Eye color: gold to copper or odd-eye.

CREAM TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color, including lips and chin, very pale cream. Markings of buff or cream sufficiently darker than the ground color to afford good contrast, but remaining within the dilute color range. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. Eye color: gold or copper.

TABBY AND WHITE (classic, mackerel, spotted): red tabby, cream tabby, blue tabby, silver tabby, brown tabby with white. Where the tabby pattern is expressed the pattern should conform to the already established tabby pattern requirements, with allowances for the expression of white. As a preferred minimum, there should be some white on the feet, legs, undersides, chest and muzzle. Less white then this should be penalized proportionately. Symmetry of those markings, no matter the amount of color vs. white, is desired. White blaze desirable. Nose leather, paw pads, eye color: to conform to the already established tabby color requirements; nose leather and paw pads may also be pink, eye color may also be odd-eye.

VAN TABBY AND WHITE: white cat with colored portions confined to the extremities; head, tail, and legs. The colored portions conform to the currently established classic, mackerel, spotted and patched tabby color definitions. One or two small colored patches on body allowable. Nose leather, paw pads, and eye color: to conform to the already established tabby color requirements; nose leather and paw pads may also be pink, eye color my also be odd-eye.

TORTOISESHELL: black and rich red to be softly mingled, not patched. Nose leather and paw pads: pink and/or black. Eye color: gold or copper. Penalize: tabby markings in the black, unbroken color on paws. Large solid patches of color. Disqualify: white anywhere.

CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of black and red. Patches to be clear and defined. As a preferred minimum, the cat should have white feet, legs, undersides, chest and muzzle. White blaze desirable. Some evidence of tabby markings are allowed in the red patches. Nose leather and paw pads: pink and/or black. Eye color: gold to copper or odd-eye. Penalize: brindling.

DILUTE CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue and cream. Patches to be clear and defined. As a preferred minimum, the cat should have white feet, legs, undersides, chest and muzzle. White blaze desirable. Some evidence of tabby markings are allowed in the cream patches. Nose leather and paw pads: blue and/or pink. Eye color: gold to copper or odd-eye. Penalize brindling.

VAN CALICO: white cat with unbrindled patches of black and red confined to the extremities; head, tail, and legs. One or two small colored patches on body allowable. Eye color: gold to copper or odd-eye.

VAN DILUTE CALICO: white cat with unbrindled patches of blue and cream confined to the extremities; head, tail, and legs. One or two small colored patches on body allowable. Eye color: gold to copper or odd-eye.

BLUE-CREAM: blue and cream to be softly mingled, not patched. Nose leather and paw pads: blue and/or pink. Eye color: gold or copper. Penalize: tabby markings in the blue, unbroken color on paws. Large solid patches of color. Disqualify: white anywhere.

BI-COLOR: black and white, blue and white, red and white, or cream and white. As a preferred minimum, the cat should have some white on the feet, legs, undersides, chest and muzzle. Less white then this should be penalized proportionately. Symmetry of those markings, no matter the amount of color vs. white, is desired. White blaze desirable. Eye color: gold to copper or odd-eye. Penalize: brindling or tabby markings. Nose leather and paw pads: to conform to the already established solid requirements; nose leather and paw pads may also be pink.

VAN BI-COLOR: black and white, blue and white, red and white, and cream and white. White cat with color confined to the extremities: head, tail, and legs. One or two small colored patches on body allowable. Eye color: gold to copper or odd-eye. Nose leather and paw pads: to conform to the already established solid requirements; nose leather and paw pads may also be pink.

OBSHC (Other British Shorthair Colors): Smoke, Shaded and Chinchilla patterns and colors as described in the standard.

AOV: Colors and patterns listed in the AOV Color Class.

AOV COLOR DESCRIPTIONS

Solid Colors: Chocolate and Lilac in the accepted British Shorthair patterns.

CHOCOLATE: rich, warm chocolate-brown, sound from roots to tip of fur. Nose leather: brown. Paw pads: cinnamon-pink. Eye color: gold or copper.

LILAC: rich, warm lavender with a pinkish tone, sound and even throughout. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender-pink. Eye color: gold or copper.

PartiColor: Chocolate Tortoiseshell, Lilac-Cream.

Smoke/Shaded: Chocolate Smoke, Lilac Smoke, Chocolate Tortoiseshell Smoke, Lilac-Cream Smoke, Shaded Chocolate, Shaded Lilac, Chinchilla Chocolate, Chinchilla Lilac, Shaded Chocolate Tortoiseshell, Shaded Lilac-Cream, Chinchilla Chocolate Tortoiseshell, Chinchilla Lilac-Cream.

Tabby: Chocolate Tabby, Chocolate Patched Tabby, Lilac Tabby, Lilac Patched Tabby.

Calico & Bi-Color: Chocolate and White, Chocolate Tabby and White, Chocolate Patched Tabby and White, Lilac and White, Lilac Tabby and White, Lilac Patched Tabby and White, Chocolate Calico, Lilac Calico