Who are British cats: description of the breed, its features and varieties

The British Shorthair is one of the most popular cat breeds today. It occupies a leading place in popularity in its native country, and in Russia there is a representative of this genus in every second family.

In fact, this is a very old species of cat, the ancestors of the British appeared back in the 1st century AD. Let's take a closer look at this beautiful and ancient breed.

Here is a photo of a classic British Shorthair cat with blue color and bright orange eyes.

History of the British cat breed

And now it is not known exactly how British cats appeared. There is an assumption that back in the first century BC. The ancient Romans brought such cats to England. The density of the coat contributed to the fact that the animals were able to adapt in the shortest possible time to the conditions of a different climatic zone. For a long time, these cats hunted small rodents, demonstrating their excellent hunting qualities.

In the 16th century, breeders became interested in the bright appearance of British cats. In 1871, the British breed was represented at the first international cat exhibition, held in Great Britain, in London, by a blue British cat and became the winner there. During the same period, standard breed indicators began to be developed, and mass breeding of British cats began.

The beautiful appearance of British cats has attracted the attention of breeders

To achieve ideal standard indicators, especially beautiful British cats took part in the selection. in mating, giving the British a rounded, slightly flat muzzle. Participation in wars led to the decline of representatives of the British breed, and in order to preserve it, breeders began to breed the British with similar breeds of cats: Scottish, Chartreux, Burmese, Russian Blue.

The breed of British cats is among the breeds that have not experienced strict selection.

The year 1980 was marked for the breed of British cats by receiving the championship title. The development of standard British indicators was completed. It was the first breed in the UK, officially registered in 1980. The breed is recognized by the largest felinological organizations in the USA and Europe.

Buying a kitten

Despite its popularity, this breed is expensive, the minimum price for a kitten is 7 thousand, but if you want a purebred pet with a pedigree and everything included, then you will have to find about 60 thousand rubles. Yes, this is a lot of money, but with such a pet the doors of any exhibitions will be open for you.

This breed of cat is not suitable for every person, because not everyone can get along with such a self-sufficient animal. But, if you still decide, then pay attention to the white British cat, she will amaze you with her beauty.

Features of British breed cats

Typical features that characterize cats of this breed include: a large head, strong paws, a massive body with a large bone system.

British cats have a large head, massive paws and body

Appearance

The British cat is a medium-sized animal, with a benevolent look on its round face, plush dense fur, and a wide variety of colors. When comparing British cats and cats, the former look more massive. These animals are characterized by slow development, they reach maturity by 4 years. To distinguish an ordinary cat from a purebred animal, one should refer to systems of international criteria.

CFA System Standards

There are different felinological systems in the world with their own standards regarding the appearance of animals. In accordance with the standard indicators established by the CFA felinological system, animals of this breed belong to the type of cats that are strong, harmoniously developed, with a large chest. A characteristic feature of the breed is the squat appearance of the animals, which is given to it by short legs.

Representatives of the British breed are harmoniously developed

The standards of the American system, in addition to CFA, are followed by TICA. American breeders have the main requirement for the animal's physique; in addition to the American one, there is a European system of standards (WCF, FIFe, FARUS systems), which pays special attention to the color of cats. However, the general appearance of the British breed cats indicated above is the same for the standards of all systems.

Structural features

In more detail, the body parts that make up the structure of British cats can be described as follows:

• The animal's head is large and round, which is noticeable when looking at the cat from the front. It is quite large, set on a thick, short neck. The cat has a convex forehead. The cheeks are thick and dense, well defined. The nose is wide and of medium size. It is straight, with a slight depression on the bridge of the nose, noticeable in profile. The cat's nose, together with a straight chin, forms a vertical line.
• The muzzle is well developed, wide at the cheekbones, and ends with a massive chin.
• The ears are of medium size, set far apart from each other on the head and do not disturb its roundness. They are wider at the bottom and their tips are rounded.
• The eyes are large and round. They are located straight and wide on the muzzle. Well opened. Their color is influenced by the color of the cat's fur.
• The animal has a medium-sized body, it is stocky, squat, and proportional. Cats have a short straight back, a wide chest shape, and strong and heavy shoulders.
• The paws are thick, small in height, with a strong bone structure, rounded, strong pads on the paws. The cat's forelimbs are straight.
• The animal's tail is not very long. It is thick at the base and rounded at the end.
• Dimensions. At any age, animals of this breed have a compact build. They finally gain weight at about 3 years of age. It has been noticed that cats with a single color are larger than cats with different colors. For males of the breed, the weight ranges from 5 to 8 kg, for castrated ones it is about 12 kg. Females weigh from 3-4 kg, sterilized - up to 7 kg. The height of the animals at the withers reaches 33 cm.

Features of wool

According to the standard, British cats have rather dense, short hair. The coat should be uniform in density and length, with a thick undercoat, elastic to the touch, and not too soft. The British coat should be shiny.

The British fur coat is thick and shiny.

British color

According to the standard, British cats have dozens of different colors. Solid colors are not necessary at all. Even with a solid color, deviations in the uniformity of coloring of the fibers are possible, expressed in the manifestation of different tints, haze, and shadedness. Among the colors allowed by the standard are:

• Plain. Among them: Blue. This is a common classic color. With it, the cat's fur and skin are blue, the undercoat is lighter than the main color. The lighter the color, the more valuable the cats are. In adult blue cats, the eyes become a rich amber color.
• Black color is less common, since by the age of one year the color of the coat can turn from black to brown. This is due to heredity.
• Lilac. It is a complex combination of tones, which includes blue, pink and gray shades.
• Chocolate. Wool of this color looks like fur on a mouton fur coat.
• The red, ginger color is the result of crossing British cats with exotic Persian cats and other breeds with reddish shades of fur.
• Cream. This solid color comes in a predominantly pale cream tone.
• White. There is a risk in getting healthy offspring from white British cats, since the kittens may be born deaf.

Photo gallery: different colors of British cats:

Beautiful British black cat. Blue color is classic for the British.

The color of British cats is lilac

A chocolate cat looks like a teddy bear

The red color of the British cat resembles the sun

Elegant cream colored kitten

White Brittany is beautiful but rare

The shaded silver color of the cat casts silver

Tortoiseshell color occurs in females

British bicolor cat Particolor British breed cat

Lilac harlequin cat

Color of the British Van cat breed

The smoky color shimmers and silvers when the cat moves. Tabby-colored cat with a marbled pattern.

The Siamese pattern is a prime example of the color point color.

Golden shaded cat

The British have some shortcomings. These include:

• too long fluffy coat;
• various birth defects;
• elongated body shape;
• fuzzy jaw lines;
• colors with various inclusions of other colors.

The animal may not meet the standards and will be disqualified. This is possible when:

• the eye color does not match the main color of the animal;
• there are flaws on the tail;
• spots in the armpit or groin;
• disturbances in color, pigmentation of paw pads, nose;
• the number of toes on the paws does not correspond to the norm;
• malocclusion;
• obvious signs of illness.

Health, life expectancy

The British are representatives of an aboriginal breed, and therefore they have no hereditary diseases or congenital pathologies. These animals have good immunity and do not get sick if properly cared for. At 5 months, their eyes may become watery, but usually severe lacrimation goes away on its own, without the use of medications.

British cats have good health

Prolonged exposure of a British cat to drafts can cause it to develop a cold. If such an animal is not fed properly and its teeth are not brushed, this can cause gingivitis and the appearance of tartar.

In rare cases, Britons are susceptible to the following diseases:

• hemophilia (chronic bleeding, severe disease due to decreased blood clotting);
• nail fungus;
• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Character, habits of the animal

British cats have an independent character. Its negative feature is its independent decision-making, which often does not correspond to the opinion of its owner. Outwardly, the Briton is indifferent to affection, he does not ask to be held, does not suck up, and behaves rather reservedly with his owner. However, during separation from him, the cat misses its owner and waits for his return. But the pet communicates with its owner depending on its mood: it will not be possible to pet it by force.

Despite the outward seriousness of the British, they are called the most life-loving and positive animals. It has been noticed that cats of the British breed, thanks to their very plump cheeks and protruding tongue, are able to smile, and this sets them apart from other felines.

British cat smiling

British people cohabiting with other animals and people

Cats of this breed are characterized by sociability and friendliness. They treat all family members who love them well. In the house they get along peacefully with other animals that do not show intrusiveness towards them. The British love children. However, they do not tolerate familiarity. Their independence of character and low maintenance make these cats ideal companions for people who spend a lot of time at work. Representatives of the British breed are often called “cats for businessmen.”

The British are not known for their aggressiveness. They avoid open conflicts and simply withdraw when quarrels are brewing. The intelligence inherent in these animals does not allow them to bite and scratch when communicating with household members. British cats perceive guests rather coolly and try to move away.

The British reserve does not interfere with their playfulness. During the game, they do not misbehave or cause damage to interior items. Cats meow quietly and rarely. They can communicate with their owner by making louder sounds.

From the experience of communicating with a British, gray long-haired cat called Epifan, who is 5 years old; we can conclude that this cat, as a true representative of the British breed, is quite friendly, inquisitive, and sociable. He adores his owner, misses her and rejoices at her return. Passionately loves to play. He doesn’t like to sit in his owner’s arms and sits next to him. The cat likes to be at the dacha and explore the territory of the dacha.

Features of temperament, habits

As a rule, the character of British cats is very independent, but good-natured. Such pets will not obsessively demand affection, but will not tolerate rough treatment. This does not mean that the British are unfriendly, rather the opposite: they are endlessly loyal to their owners. Moreover, animals become equally attached to all family members, without choosing a single owner, which often happens with representatives of other breeds.

An aristocratic and intelligent British cat breed, whose character was determined by the connection with the ancient Egyptian royal animals, has a restrained disposition, charming charm and graceful habits.

They are widely known to be generally non-aggressive, making them ideal for families with small children.

Such pets are active, but not excessively: they cannot be called hyperactive. Sometimes they need personal space, a secluded place that they choose on their own.

They notice that the British straight-eared cat does not welcome being held. She will show her affection and affection by lying down not far from her owner or by diligently rubbing herself against his legs. Such pets easily get along with each other, cats of other breeds, and dogs. They do not suffer from lack of attention, which is suitable for busy people who are at home only in the evenings. In the absence of the owner, the British cat will calmly spend the day alone.

It is worth knowing a little more about the behavior of British breed cats: they are very smart animals that do not require long explanations of the rules of behavior. Even a small kitten will quickly learn to find a tray, scratching post and his own toys, ignoring things that should not be taken. With age, the pet learns to recognize the owner's tone, by which it accurately determines what should be done and what should not be done.

Types of British cats

Representatives of this breed may differ in appearance. Depending on this, several varieties are distinguished.

British fold cat

You can often find references to British fold cats. However, not a single felinological organization has a description of such a breed. The British Fold cat does not exist. This phrase combines two breeds: the British Shorthair with standard ears and the Scottish Fold. Kittens with folded ears (fold ears) are obtained only from cats of the Scottish breed; kittens born also belong to this breed.

Fold cats are not of the British breed, but only of the Scottish breed

British Longhair

This type of British cat breed was the result of crossing the British and Persians. This type of British cat is recognized as a separate breed and is admitted to exhibitions by the International Cat Organization (TICA) and the World Cat Federation (WCF). These cats have straight, medium-length fur, as well as fluffy “pants” and a “collar”.

The British Longhair is similar to its shorthair variety, but its fluffy “pants” and “collar” give it away

Such animals with any coat color are allowed to participate in exhibitions, with the exception of snow-white mixed with color point.

British Shorthair

This type of coat is considered the breed standard. In its density and tenderness it is comparable to bear fur. The coat of the British Smooth-haired is thin, similar to plush wool. The hairs have the same length, averaging 2.4 mm.

British Shorthair cats have fur that resembles a bear's skin.

Deviations in the structure of the coat can be an obstacle to the participation of such cats in various exhibitions.

Video: British Shorthair cat breed

British chinchilla

British cats have recently developed a variety called the British chinchilla. Chinchilla is not the name of the breed, but a type of coat color of British cats. This is an artificially bred variety of British cats that has an original exotic color, reminiscent of the fur of rodents of the same name. This color is considered one of the most valuable and rare.

British silver chinchilla, owner of a rare color

British chinchillas have 3 types:

• with a golden color, when the color of each hair turns from black to light brown or peach;
• with a silver color, the color of the hairs changes from white to black, the coat seems to be covered with a light black veil;
• with a silver shaded color, in which the color is darker because there is a higher percentage of black hairs in the coat; Animals with this color often have black stripes on their tails.

Among these chinchillas there are short-haired and long-haired. All of them have thick hair and a dense layer of undercoat, but the color of short-haired chinchillas is more clearly expressed. In long-haired ones, it is more tender and softer.

British cats are often called British Straights because their ears are set straight on their heads. They should not be confused with Scottish straight kittens (straights), which appear in Scottish Fold litters along with babies with curled ears.

Straight-eared kittens also appear in Scottish Fold litters, but they are not British, but Scottish

Character

Generally the British are very friendly. It is impossible to force a cat of this breed to let out its claws, and if he doesn’t like something, he simply leaves, showing his disdain for the offender. It also reminds us of another striking feature - restraint.

Willfulness often manifests itself in his character. If you want to waste time, then try to force the cat to do something he doesn't want. But at the same time, the British are smart and are able to learn even the most complex commands.

Despite all the apparent indifference, these cats love their owners, and often meet them from work and lie next to them during rest. Another thing is that because of their waywardness they do not show their love so vigorously.

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All these features make Britons ideal pets for a business person, especially since these cats are self-sufficient and can easily tolerate several days of loneliness, so you can calmly go about your business without worrying about the cat.

Contents and features of caring for British cats

The British breed of cats does not require special care, so keeping them is not associated with any difficulties. Caring for your pet is as follows:

• Combing the coat with a massage slicker brush, this should be done twice a week. With this procedure, dead hair is removed and a kind of massage is performed.
• Short-haired cats can be washed 1-2 times a year or as needed. Long-haired pets require water treatments more often.
• After 2 weeks, an adult cat should have its claws trimmed to ½ of their length.
• Remove natural discharge from the eyes daily using a cotton pad, moving from the outer corner of the eyes to the inner corner.
• The cat's ears must be examined every two weeks, and accumulated wax must be removed with a cotton swab or disk moistened with a hygienic solution.
• Every day you need to examine the animal’s oral cavity in order to promptly detect tartar or other pathologies. To prevent them, a kitten should be taught to brush its teeth from a young age.
• Balanced and proper nutrition. It has a great influence on the health and appearance of British cats. The food should contain all the nutrients, vitamins and microelements the cat needs. The diet may include ready-made balanced feeds or natural products. The cat’s nutrition depends on the age of the animal, its state of health, and preferences.

Caring for a cat requires regular trimming of its claws.

To maintain normal cat health, he will need annual preventive examinations at a veterinary clinic and timely vaccination.

The eyes of a British shorthair cat

large, round, wide open, wide set. The eyes often have a flirtatious outer corner, playfully narrowed and directed towards the ears. The color saturation can also be very different, so don’t get upset right away - some lines have eyes that “thrive” for a very long time. Almost before the open class, and sometimes only after a year, that very necessary “orange” color appears, which they love to talk about. Green eyes in British chinchillas rarely become saturated before the age of one and a half years. It is very rare to see blue, sapphire eyes of color-point colors at any age. Of course, this is due to the fact that solid colors are often attracted to color point breeding.

Features of mating and breeding

Breeding British breed kittens should be done by someone with experience. The peculiarity of mating is that the blood of the male and female must be of the same type - A (in most cats) or B, which is typical for a small percentage of pets, otherwise a conflict between different types of blood in the parents will lead to the birth of non-viable offspring. To avoid this, breeders conduct special testing on cats before they reach puberty.

In the UK, puberty occurs when they are 7–9 months old. However, the most favorable period for the first mating with a cat occurs between 10 and 18 months, when the cat’s body is strong enough to endure childbirth without harm to health.

How often do British cats go into heat, its duration

You can tell that a cat is in heat by her behavior. She becomes affectionate with male representatives, arches her back, and meows loudly. The interval between estrus in cats varies, on average it ranges from 15 to 20 days; estrus lasts 7–9 days. During estrus it is recommended:

• Do not give medications that can suppress the cat's heat. This can result in hormonal imbalance and the formation of tumors.
• Wait out the cat's first two heats, and on the third, take her to the groom, preferably the next day after the start of the heat.
• For the first mating, find a cat with experience so that he can cope. if the cat shows obstinacy.
• You should not mate cats and cats that do not have experience in this matter, otherwise you may need the help of the owners, which will take more time.

A young cat needs to choose a cat with experience who understands why she was placed with a cat. Mating should be carried out with a cat whose coat color matches the color of the cat's coat. There is no need, for example, to mate a purple cat and a black cat. Otherwise, the kittens may turn out to be multi-colored. This fact will not affect their health, but animals with a single color are more often suitable for exhibitions and sales.

British male and female cats must fit together

For a cat to become pregnant, 2 days of mating are enough. In order for a cat to give birth to healthy offspring, the cat should not be mated more than 3 times a year.

You can know that a cat is pregnant if she has not gone into heat after 3 weeks. Otherwise, she is again taken to the cat for mating.

How to choose the right British breed pet, prices, where to buy

You should not buy a British breed kitten on the street or market. For this purpose, it is better to prefer a good certified nursery. You should choose a kitten when it is 1.5 months old to look at its color, breed, and development.

When choosing a kitten, pay attention to the following points:

• his grooming;
• activity, curiosity, playfulness;
• the kitten must be healthy and well-fed;
• The baby should not hiss or show aggression.

It’s great if when choosing a kitten you can also see its parents; they should be well-groomed, healthy, and have good natural characteristics. The origin of a purebred kitten must be confirmed by its pedigree.

The health of a kitten can be determined by the following indicators:

• clear, shiny eyes; minor discharge is allowed;
• cold and wet nose;
• clean mucous membranes;
• clean ears without black spots;
• there are no creases on the tail, its surface is smooth from beginning to end;
• wool without wounds, red spots, bald spots;
• straight teeth.

When buying a kitten of the British breed, you should know how it differs from the very similar baby of the Scottish breed.

Table: external differences between kittens of the British and Scottish breeds

From the litter you need to choose the most well-fed and fat kitten. Its cost will be influenced by the gender, age, pedigree, and color of the animal. On average, the price ranges from 2.5 to 10 thousand rubles. If you buy a kitten from titled parents in a nursery, the price can be significantly higher, up to 30 thousand rubles.

The plumpest kitten is chosen from a cat's litter

Can the British have fold ears?

A big misconception is the fact that the British Fold cat, whose price is even higher than the “ordinary” British cat, even exists. Indeed, the British gray cat and the Scottish straight cat are very similar, but they are representatives of completely different breeds.

The British are stocky, the Scots have a more graceful body. The tail of the latter is longer, the neck is more distinct. The shape of the ears determines the division of Scottish cats into two main varieties: straight-eared (straight) and fold-eared (fold). Most often confused are British Shorthairs and Scottish Straights. Therefore, you should remember: British Folds do not exist in nature!

Reviews about the breed

My Brit is already five years old. I always wanted a purebred cat, and my friends suggested a British one. I immediately liked him when, at only one and a half months old, he already scratched me at our first meeting. It was love at first sight. Now he is already big and his character, of course, is very capricious. He loves attention, but is autonomous. It can often attack bare legs on the sly. Vengeful if he believes that he has been offended or his rights have been infringed, but he can also be affectionate. Sometimes he even tumbles and purrs. But this doesn’t happen to him very often. There is only one person who recognizes the owner, and in our family this is the mother. In general, not very whimsical. But the beauty is unimaginable. No one can pass by without being touched. Pros: handsome, smart, no complaints. Disadvantages: wayward character.

Gathrayed

https://otzyv.expert/britashku-svoego-ochen-lyublyu-1978791

My cat, my sweetie, is a British Longhair breed, with an interesting color according to the passport: shaded black silver. What can you say about character? Of course, the British are capricious, they are very, very sociable, constantly meowing and meowing something, just when they are bored, you come home and he starts talking. He eats with gusto, but in moderation, loves to go for walks when he has the opportunity to go out into nature and take him with him. He understands perfectly, but sometimes tries to show that he is the boss of the house, without being impudent; after all, we have equal rights. The older he gets, the more affectionate he becomes; he doesn’t particularly like to be held, but sometimes he allows it. Fears. True, every noise, but I don’t think it depends on the breed. The cat is long-haired, constant grooming, but sometimes at least for a show! It’s so nice when he’s waiting from work! Advantages: sociable, affectionate, understanding, loyal. Disadvantages: none.

Gated

https://otzyv.expert/britanchik-1969821

Three years ago I was given a small, fluffy ball for my birthday! To be honest, I was a little shocked; I had never had a pet before! but when we got to know him better, and it was him, I was crazy about him! He and I immediately became friends! we named him Stuart! The cat, of course, has a character, can be offended, can also conquer on the sly, prefers one owner! But the sweetness of this handsome man is off the charts, everyone is crazy about him! loves kids, the baby is capricious, he’s already nearby! Of course, appropriate care and food are necessary, he prefers to sleep exclusively with me, although his soft basket is standing next to him! Pros: pros on all sides! I love him very much! Disadvantages: not possible.

Behingleride

https://otzyv.expert/myagkiy-i-pushistiy-2046998

Wonderful kitten! ADVANTAGES: Kind, smart, very clean animals. DISADVANTAGES: Not at all tame, allows himself to be petted, but does not sit on hands. The other day my son and I went to buy a kitten. We were thinking about buying a Scottish Fold, but after looking at the kittens, we finally chose a British one. There were many colors, we liked the blue one. Bought for 6 thousand, with documents, pedigree, everything as it should be. They brought me home, and for the first day I hardly ate. But when we got used to it, we decided that we hadn’t spent our money in vain. The kitten turned out to be very smart, he knows that he needs to go to the potty, and does not throw food out of the bowl. Very clean! We were very surprised when we started bathing and the cat started jumping into the bath! If he can’t open the door, he meows and asks to be opened for him. Not picky about food. In general, buy it, you won’t regret it! The kittens are wonderful!

supernatural000

https://otzovik.com/review_3912.html

This cat is a real treasure! ADVANTAGES: Calm, affectionate, intelligent, clean, plush coat that does not require special care DISADVANTAGES: does not like to be held. There is a universal favorite in our family - a blue British shorthair cat - Vikusya. We bought her at a Moscow nursery. We followed her by train. She has an excellent pedigree and excellent breed characteristics. She is only two years old. The first advantage that pleasantly surprised me was extreme cleanliness. She always goes to the toilet in a specially designated place. There are no problems with this at all! Vikusya is very smart and loves to talk to us. When you tell her something, she looks into your eyes and responds with an intermittent meow. From the outside it looks very funny! The cat is calm, affectionate, and loves to sleep. Therefore, it is ideal for those people who are at work from morning to evening. The cat will not be bored, she will definitely keep herself busy with something. In the summer he likes to sleep on his back, with his legs spread wide in different directions. If Vikusya wants to eat, she will never scream and ask for a tasty morsel. He sits next to him and watches. Unpretentious in food. Eating dry food reminds me. When she is in high spirits, she jumps high in place and runs away. So funny! She doesn't like to be held in our arms, but she is always nearby and follows us everywhere. She wants to be aware of all the events happening in her domain! What does our favorite look like? Our favorite's head is round, with well-developed cheeks. The nose is short, wide and straight, the ears are small, and the eyes are like two huge amber balls. Her paws are thick and strong, her tail is like a carrot. A real beauty! The fur is dense, with a thick undercoat, which creates a plush effect. I love petting her! The coat does not require special care, but it is advisable to comb it once a week. I really want to visit a cat show with my pet! In conclusion, I want to say that these “teddy bears” create comfort in any home! I recommend!

Kristino4ka

https://otzovik.com/review_59095.html