Breed Information
Top Quality British Shorthair Kittens
BRITISH SHORTHAIR
One of the oldest recognized cat breeds, the British Shorthair, or the British Blue cat, is generous, dynamic, and as attention-loving as a cat can be. If you’re in the vicinity of a British Blue cat, be sure that they’ll do anything in their power to grab your attention and get some much-appreciated affection from you.
BRITISH BLUE CAT APPEARANCE
The British Shorthair is a medium to large sized, compact, chunky cat, known for their attractive features and thick, plush fur.
Short coupled and robust, the British Shorthair is instantly recognisable by their rounded face and large round eyes, giving this cat an adorable expression and bags of character.
BRITISH BLUE CAT PERSONALITY
Affectionate, playful, and loyal, the British Shorthair is a very companionable cat with family and close friends, although like many cats they may take a little time to warm up to strangers. A relatively quiet cat, and surprisingly gregarious, the British Shorthair gets on well in multi-cat households and will befriend other household pets too, particularly cat-friendly dogs
HISTORY AND ORIGINS
Likely to be the first selectively bred cat breed, despite its name, the British Shorthair traces its roots back to Rome, and the cats brought here with the Romans, as mousers, ratters, and probably sneaky stowaways! Cats brought by Roman invaders would have had to be tough, clever, weather-proof, and hardy, to survive the journey and to breed with the native wildcats! Once on British soil, they made themselves at home and eventually began to be selectively bred for their rounded and appealing appearance, and affectionate nature. First recorded as the British Shorthair in 1870, the breed has been popular ever since.
Enrichment and Specific Needs
The British Shorthair does need company and this is a very human-oriented breed. They like their people, and they like to spend plenty of time with them.
Not quite so curious and active as some, the British Shorthair can be a bit of a couch-potato, so it is wise to encourage some exercise in the form of food dispensing toys, and chasing games. Cat trees can be used cleverly and by hiding little piles of food on each level rather than feeding from a bowl, you can encourage your British Shorthair to move around to ‘hunt’ for food — as they do have a tendency to put on weight.
Nutrition and Feeding
Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle, and overall health, so it’s not surprising that a growing, energetic British Blue kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in their diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain ‘ideal body condition‘ in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes.
Grooming Scottish Fold Cats
Although a shorthaired cat, the British Shorthair has a very dense coat, so a comb through once a week will help get rid of dead hair, and will serve as a good check over for any parasites or injuries. By doing a quick groom regularly, you’ll be able to spot if a cat is unwell, one of the first signs is often a greasy coat where a cat is unable to reach, or not feeling well enough to make the usual effort.
As with all cats, regular vaccination and parasite control is recommended and this should be discussed with your vet, as well as an annual veterinary cat health check.
Suitability for Family Life
Friendly, loyal, and people loving, the British Shorthair is ideal for child-free homes and homes with older children, however they are not particularly forgiving of very small children who haven’t yet learned to respect a cat. Their wide-eyed, round-faced appearance is often mistaken by very young children as being that of a toy or doll, so caution should be exercised.