If you are looking for a quiet undemanding cat, look no further than British Shorthairs. They are often referred to as ‘teddy bears’ for their round face and cheeks, big round eyes and rounded body. Today, the British Shorthair is the most popular cat in the United Kingdom.
There is a chance you have encountered a British Shorthair at some point in your life with or without you knowing it. He is the cat behind the famous Cheshire grin in Alice in Wonderland and he is the character Puss in Boots from the Shrek franchise. If anything, it shows how lovable and charming British Shorthairs can be not just in the UK, but all over the world.
Origin
The most popular pedigreed breed in the UK, the origin of the British Shorthair dates back to the first century AD. When Romans invaded Great Britain, they brought Egyptian domestic cats that interbred with local European wildcats. Over time, the breed naturally isolated and developed into a large and robust cat that could adapt to the cool environment of the island.
The British Shorthair is thought to have originated in the 1870s with selective breeding to produce a blue/gree variant of the cat. By 1871, the British Shorthair was presented to the public for the first time at the Crystal Palace in London, the very first cat show. By the 1890, the breed lost its charm for many and by the end of Wold War II, British Shorthairs were interbred with Persian cats, Russian Blues and sometimes the Burmese cat to help save the breed because they were drastically declining in number.
The British Shorthair was officially recognized by the The Cat Fanciers' Association in May 1980. The breed remains fairly rare in the United States.
Personality
British Shorthairs are mellow and dignified. These are qualities that made them suitable companions for many people around the world. They tolerate being left alone and make perfect companions for working singles.
British Shorthairs are even-tempered, independent and undemanding in general. They are low-energy cats that have a quiet voice. They don’t like to be carried or held in laps and prefer to sit on the floor instead. They are not overly affectionate, but are friendly and get along with people. Once bonded, they like to be around them and may even follow their owners from room to room.
A British Shorthair loves the attention he receives from children. They get along with well-behaved children who treat them with respect and are forgiving of clumsy toddlers as well.
British Shorthairs tolerate dogs and pets in general just as well. It’s always good practice to introduce them to other pets, including cats, at first.
Health
British Shorthairs may manifest varying incidences of health problems that are genetic in nature. Examples of these are:
- Polycystic kidney disease: Persian cats are known to have polycystic kidney disease and as British Shorthairs were crossed with Persians, there is a chance that British Shorthairs may be predisposed to polycystic kidney disease. This is, cysts form on the kidneys which leads to gradual degeneration of the kidney and eventually their failure. The condition can be spot using an ultrasound or a gene test. Breeders sometimes resort to breeding from cats that have tested negative. Currently, there is no cure, as cysts cannot be removed, but there are drugs that can manage the condition and slow its progression to kidney failure.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: is a form of heart disease where the heart muscle thickens and its ability to pump enough blood is compromised. That can lead to blood clots, strokes and eventually heart failure. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be spot early on using ECG, x-ray and ultrasound. The condition is manageable through medication which can delay its progression.
- Gingivitis
