British Shorthair

The British Shorthair is a breed of shorthaired cat developed in England. Originating from selected indigenous cats at the end of the Nineteenth century, they were the first breed to be selectively bred in order to exhibit specific coat colors and markings.

British Shorthairs have a very dense, soft coat, and large round copper eyes. The body is large, rounded and well formed, the males weighing in at about 14 lb (6 kg). These cats can be any color, but 'blue' (a light bluish gray) is common enough to have a name of its own - the 'British Blue'.

The cat has a seemingly perpetual smile on its face; Lewis Carroll chose the British Shorthair as the model for his Cheshire cat in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

They are an even-tempered breed, not given to cuddling but preferring to sit beside their owner, yet they are affectionate in their own way.

British Shorthairs were crossbred with Persians to create the Exotic cat. Other similar breeds include the American Shorthair and European Shorthair.

Books about British Shorthair Cats