British Shorthairs are very affectionate, quietly following you from room to room until they can settle contentedly
by your side. Gifted with lasting patience and confidence, Brits are especially good with children and other types
of pets. A moderately active cat, they are not destructive as a breed, adapting well to any size household. British
are very easy going and are affectionate to numerous people in the circle they consider family, and less friendly
(somewhat distant) with the visitors. It has become a favorite of animal trainers because of its nature and
intelligence, and in recent years these cats have appeared in Hollywood films and television commercials (A British
Shorthair silver tabby is the face of Whiskas and a British Blue is the face of Sheba cat food).
Are they all gray?
No, though the majority of the British Shorthairs bred are gray. Gray is what we call blue, and is the “classic” color
of the breed. We only breed this kind, but we recently acquired a lilac female.
What other colors do British Shorthairs come in?
Nearly all colors found in the domestic cat world. All tabby colors (striped), all solids, calicos (torties) and
bi-colors (white, in company of another color). In England and other countries it is possible to even find pointed
ones (as Siamese or Himalayans).
Do they all have copper eyes?
No. Any silver colored British must have green to hazel. The shaded silver and shaded golden colors have green eyes.
Solid whites can have blue eyes, gold eyes or odd eyes. The pointeds have blue eyes. However, all other colors must
have gold to copper eyes.
How big do British Shorthairs get?
At maturity, a typical British male will be about 12 to 18 pounds, with the females somewhat smaller. They are about
1.5 times larger than females and have fuller jowls. It does take this breed a long time to mature. Both sexes will
continue to fill out and thicken up until 4 years of age.
Do the females or the males make better pets?
Each sex has its own set of characteristics. Males tend to be more happy, and are less picky about who they receive
attention from. Females are very loyal to a smaller number of people and are a bit more serious.
Can they live in an apartment and stay alone for hours?
Cats, in general and speaking of no breed in particular, are animals easy to adequate to whatever space they
have available. As they don't need much space to exercise, they are happy just being able to jump on a chair, play
with a little ball, or even better if they have a scratching post with platforms to rest on and keep an eye on the
rest of the house.
Regarding loneliness they are also very adaptable to it, as their nature is purely independent.
Despite that, they will demand their share of love the minute their "owner" goes thru the main door.
Do British Shorthairs like to sit on your lap?
No, not too much. Some of this may be breed personality. Some may be that with their dense coat, they get over-heated
sitting on us warm humans. A coaxed British Shorthair will make itself comfortable for a while; a forced British
Shorthair will flat out refuse.
Do British Shorthairs like to be hugged and carried like a baby?
No. A British likes to be around you and by you. They will follow you, watch you and basically supervise all aspects
of life in their house. They simply do not like to be "controlled". Being a larger heavy cat, they feel very
uncomfortable off the ground, especially with their legs on the air.
How active are British Shorthairs?
British have an expected kitten activity level up until they are about a year old. They start to slow down after a year.
By the age of 4 to 6 yrs. they became sedentary.
Do British Shorthairs meow a lot?
No, British Shorthairs rarely meow. They are a very quiet, unless something happens.
Since British Shorthairs are so big and sturdy, are they safe outside?
No. There is no domestic cat able to fight the ones that live in the wild. Keeping your British Shorthair inside will
also limit its exposure to fleas and intestinal parasites.
Do they live long?
Yes. As most cats kept inside, as pets and with proper veterinary attention, they can reach 14 to 20 years of age.
Is this the cat I saw in the movie “Pet Sematary”?
Yes. Also, you may have seen British in Stuart Little (Smokey, the “mafia” cat), Cats & Dogs (Dimitri, the one with
a Russian accent), Darkman (a grey cat, how keeps company to the troubled main character), and children’s stories
like Alice in Wonderland (writer chose the breed as the model for the Cheshire cat) and Puss in boots.
