British Shorthair

Lifespan: 15 - 20 years

Height:

Weight: 6 - 12 pounds

British Shorthair Traits

As its name implies, it originated in Great Britain, but earlier reports indicate they were descendents of domestic cats with wild native cats during the days of ancient Rome.
In 1871, a 14-year-old British Shorthair captured Best in Show at the first formal cat show held at the Crystal Palace in London.
First arrived in the United States at the turn of the 20^th Century.
The breed's popularity waned during World War I, but has steadily regained is appeal ever since.
Accepted by both the Cat Fanciers Association and The International Cat Association. Achieved championship status by the CFA in 1980.

Affectionate in a dignified manner.
Love to leap on laps, but tend to leave because their thick coats combined with your body heat makes them get overheated
Smart, loyal and a bit reserved.
Exhibits quiet confidence.
Not noted for its speed or agility, but delights people with its comical nature.
Well-behaved and easy going, ideally suited for apartment living.
Best suited for indoor living. Supervise them when outdoors because their docile nature makes them ill-suited against fights from raccoons, coyotes or other predators.

Trademark color is blue with a tinge of gray but also comes in more than 30 different colors and patterns.
The coat breaks over the body's contours, often described as crisp or cracking.
Muscular, well portioned in medium to large frames.
Round is the key word to describe this breed as it sports round faces, eyes and ears.
Thick necks, broad chests, medium-sized legs and rounded paws with a tail thick at the base.
Takes up to five years to reach physical maturity.

Thick, plush coat feels surprisingly velvet to the touch.
Run a comb through its coat at least weekly to keep it mat-free and looking healthy.
Fares best when you use basic metal or curry combs.
Be sure to brush the coat especially during seasonal shedding times.

Not prone to any diet-related medical condition.
Due to its size and relative moderate activity level, measure food portions to prevent this breed from becoming overweight.

Author Lewis Carroll immortalized the British Shorthair's "Cheshire-cat like smile" in his classic, Alice in Wonderland.
Reported to have more fur per square inch than any other cat breed.