It is worth considering all the arguments for having a British cat, because there are practically no arguments against, unless dogs are closer to your heart.
The origins of the British breed are in Ancient Rome
Of course, everyone chooses an animal for themselves in accordance with their temperament and aesthetic preferences, which is why British cats are also good because they have a wide range of colors and shades not only of fur, but also of eyes. This makes it possible to choose exactly the color scheme that will constantly evoke only positive emotions in you.
Some people think little about what role color plays in our lives, but every person at the subconscious level has a firm belief about which colors he likes and which he doesn’t. Considering the dim industrial landscapes that surround you, it would be nice to imagine yourself looking at the sunlight every day, carried in your eyes by a bright fiery ginger cat or a calico cat with golden shining eyes. For lovers of fog and gloom, British Shorthairs will be able to offer a gray or black version of a plush cat, whose eyes will resemble coals in a fireplace late in the evening.
British Shorthair cats: history of origin
The origins of the British breed are in Ancient Rome, where there once lived a domestic cat, from which the modern British descended. It appeared in Great Britain during the Roman Empire, and today it is one of the least changed oldest English breeds.
The British Shorthair is famous for its excellent health, strong muscular hunting body, thick short hair and calm character, which it continues to maintain since ancient times. It is precisely the fact that the breed has changed little over the millennia that can explain the lack of health problems among its representatives.
The character and behavior of the British
The British Shorthair has a gentle, calm disposition and is very attached to its home. She represses the expression of her emotions to such an extent that she may seem cold, but her true feelings are simply not shown clearly. In fact, her attachment to her owner or mistress is so deep that a British cat can become a person’s best friend and show this quality precisely at the moment when people most need support.
The British Shorthair is renowned for its excellent health
The plush cat, as he is now called by fans of his unusually pleasant-to-touch fur, has a far from plush character.
Health
The British Shorthair breed has enviable health. With proper care, these beauties rarely get sick.
However, there are typical problems that cat owners have to face:
- Obesity . Its causes are unbalanced nutrition or overfeeding. A sedentary lifestyle also leads to excess weight.
- Tartar . The best prevention of this disease is dry food. The cat must be taught to brush its teeth. Bad breath and bleeding gums are a signal to contact a veterinarian. Otherwise, the cat may lose its teeth.
- Fungal infection of claws . A timely visit to a doctor and teaching the cat to use a scratching post can help prevent it. Renewing claws is a good prevention of fungus.
- Eye diseases . This could be a symptom of an allergy, the result of mechanical damage, or some other illness. You need to see a doctor immediately.
- Hair loss . It often indicates diseases of the internal organs, so a visit to the doctor is mandatory. The sooner you come for a consultation, the more timely the treatment will be.
- Diarrhea . An upset stomach is most often a consequence of food poisoning. The appearance of blood in the stool is a serious symptom. A qualified veterinarian can help; self-medication is unacceptable.
- Parasites . These include helminthic infestations, fleas or ticks. Regular administration of anthelmintic drugs to the animal helps against helminths. The use of special collars and drops helps against fleas.
A condition specific to the British is a hereditary disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. If detected early, the disease is curable, but the affected animal is not used for breeding to reduce the risk of sick offspring.
Most of the diseases common to British cats can be avoided if you feed and care for your pet properly.
British Shorthair cat: description of the breed
Each breed has its own standards that breeders use when breeding cats, and judges, thanks to existing requirements, can evaluate the quality of purebred animals in the rings during exhibitions. The British Shorthair is no exception and is subject to evaluation according to the following criteria:
The head should be round, with a wide skull and regular shape. A separate requirement is the presence of jowls - wide, full cheeks. A strong and even chin, a straight small nose, a thick short neck complete the overall picture.
The ears should be small, with rounded ends, wide at the base and low set, and the eyes should be large, round, widely set, orange in color, but green, or turquoise, and blue eye colors are allowed in some colors.
The plush cat, as he is now called by fans of his unusually pleasant-to-touch fur, has a far from plush character.
The body should be dense and well developed, from medium to large in size, with a voluminous and broad chest, the legs should be very muscular, short and strong, with good proportions, and the paws should be large, strong and rounded, the color of the pads on the paws should match the color wool
Russian nurseries
On a professional basis, they are engaged in breeding British breeds of the prototype of the fabulous Cheshire cat in nurseries in several regions:
- Village Zeleny, Moscow region “SunRay”
- Moscow "Wonder Plush"
- Moscow "Miracle Cats"
- Vladivostok "Galeksy"
- Krasnodar “Steppe Stars *RUS”
- Ekaterinburg "Silver Shine"
Gallery: British cat (25 photos)
British vs Scots
The British plush kitten should in no case be confused with the Scottish one. Britons are massive, large animals with short legs and a thick tail. The Scottish kitten will grow up to be thinner-legged, its tail will be longer, and its cheeks will be much smaller. The British Shorthair is a purebred, naturally healthy, moderately aggressive cat breed that has retained all its hunting skills, and the shorthaired plush Scots are the product of the genetic efforts of lovers of a soft and fluffy bundle of warmth in their arms.
The short-haired plush Scottish cat is completely devoid of aggression at the genetic level, she does not know how to hunt and is unlikely to survive if she gets lost on the streets of the city. Scottish cats are distinguished by their affectionateness, sociability, even tenderness; they get along with everyone equally well and are simply ideal for a family with noisy and loud children, where a true Briton would not be very comfortable. Therefore, there is no need to take him into such a family.
Place in the cat's horoscope
The fiery red, smooth-haired Briton is a handsome, smart, aristocrat, whose noble origin does not raise any doubts in anyone - he is the king and ruler of all the other cats in the house and the people around him.
Experts attribute the British breed to the astrological sign of the zodiac Leo. This is confirmed by the extraordinary charisma that British cats possess, as well as the fact that they are much larger than other felines and fearlessly rush into battle at the slightest suspicion of an insult to their greatness, although they are magnanimous and noble by nature.
You cannot say about such a cat that he is fat and lazy, because he is regal and majestic, and illuminates your home, honoring it with his presence. All the more valuable and touching are the manifestations of love and friendship a charismatic animal can bestow on a person.
Balanced feeding
The owner needs to strictly monitor the diet, because these pets are prone to gaining excess weight. An adult cat needs premium food 2 times a day, no more.
If you feed your animal homemade food, it is preferable to give low-fat beef in small pieces, boiled boneless sea fish, chicken, cereals, vegetables, cat grass, and sometimes kefir.
It is better to consult a veterinarian regarding an individual vitamin-mineral complex.
Purchasing a kitten
It is best to purchase a kitten not at the poultry market, although this option seems at first glance the simplest, but at a professional nursery, where the breeder deliberately plans the mating in order to obtain the desired result in the form of healthy, beautiful and full-fledged cats. And you need to take the baby into your home no earlier than he is 2.5, or better yet 3 months, when he is already vaccinated, eats well and is trained to the tray.
By the way, a healthy animal does not have problems with the tray, nor do they have health problems. The British are even called a breed for businessmen. Not only because they easily survive the absence of their owner in the house, and not only because they decorate it like no other, but also because their care is minimal and comes down to feeding with high-quality food, rare brushing of their magnificent coat and cheerful games with their a redheaded Brit when you have the time.
Love your cat, respect his independence, and he will respond to you with loyalty and love, protect your home and become a healer not only of physical ailments, but also of mental wounds.
Features of care
As we said above, the British are unpretentious cats. They do not require special care either in eating or grooming.
Their maintenance is simple and will not bring much trouble.
Combing
The plush fur of the British is a pleasure to care for.
Cats need to be brushed infrequently, twice a week is enough.
This must be done with a furminator or a massage brush with steel bristles, movements should be made in the direction and against the growth of the hair.
And the rest of the days you can just run your wet palms over the fur and collect all the excess.
This type of wet cleaning should be done as often as possible so that the wool does not remain on the carpets and furniture.
It is worth bathing as needed (2-4 times a year), with special products from the pet store.
If you want to learn more about how to properly wash a cat, we recommend that you read the following article:
British cats use a special technique for washing themselves
Content
When keeping British cats, you only need to take into account that they need secluded places and some other points.
They love their privacy, preferring not to be disturbed during their alone time.
Equip several “climbing areas” with a perch for them, think about having a house and dense boxes in secluded places - believe me, your “plushies” will appreciate it.
The British are excellent hunters, they are happy to walk on the grass and chase something alive.
Give them walks in the fresh air, and don’t forget to wear a tick and flea collar .
When arranging a toilet for a cat , you should take into account that he loves to rummage, so buy a tray with high sides or a toilet house.
Apparently the kind look of the British cat allows the butterfly to feel calm sitting on his nose
Otherwise, the maintenance of the British is no different from the standards: take care of the claws (take care of the scratching post ), look after the ears and eyes, feed properly, not forgetting about clean drinking and give love.
Nutrition
The question of what to feed a British cat cannot be answered unequivocally, since it all depends on your choice ( natural or dry food ).
It is important not to overfeed the cat, because no matter how much you give them, they will eat everything, because they are real gluttons by nature.
Meals should be regular and balanced. When it comes to dry food, give preference to more expensive options, taking into account the characteristics of your pet.
If a British cat sees meat on the table, he will definitely check how fresh it is.
Speaking about natural nutrition, I would like to note that we are not talking about human food.
It is important to understand that the animal has its own characteristics of the digestive system, and it should not be given sweet, salty, fried or spicy foods.
Improper nutrition entails various disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs of the animal.
Natural food for a British cat is: lean meat (boiled or scalded) and offal, cereals, vegetables, eggs, low-fat fermented milk products and water (fresh, clean).
The British cat needs to be fed 2-3 times a day.
