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British Shorthair

By Franny Syufy, About.com

British Shorthair cat

Maximus, a pedigreed blue British Shorthair cat, shown at 8 months.

Carmen Carr, used with permission

The British Shorthair is considered the oldest English breed, and in fact was the only cat to be shown as pedigreed at the first cat shows. The "Brit" is an ideal pet, affectionate "velcro kitties" who will settle near you at every opportunity. Although moderately active, they adapt to any size household, and are particularly good with children and other pets. Truly a perfect family cat.

Breed Brief:

Size: Medium, with a compact build, powerful and well-balanced.
Colors: The British Shorthair coat, which is short and dense, comes in all colors of the rainbow, although you'll see a preponderance of blue, so much so that the cat was often called the "British Blue" in the early days. The blue British Shorthair can be differentiated from the Russian Blue by its gold or copper eyes.

Extra: The British Shorthair is loved for its "Cheshire Cat" smile, which is not unexpected, in that Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat was originally a tabby British Shorthair.
Photo Credits:

Maximus
A pedigreed blue British Shorthair, shown at eight months old, owned by Carmen Carr. Photo used with permission.

More Breed Information :

  • Information from FBRL (Fanciers' Breeder Referral List), a great source of information on all approved breeds of cats.
  • The British Shorthair, and article by Dana L. Jacobs written for CFA.
  • British Shorthair FAQ, written by Erin Vosburg for CatFanciers.
  • More profile and history information on British Shorthair cats, assembled by your Guide.
  • Breeders :

    Listing of British Shortnair breeders, assembled by your Guide. This list is for convenience of the viewer, and is not intended to be an endorsement of the breeders and catteries contained herein.

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