Everything you need to know about British Shorthair Cats

British Shorthairs have a long history. It’s thought that the Romans first brought domestic cats to Britain from Egypt, to help control the rodent population. These domestic cats then bred with the native European Wildcat population.

Their wild ancestors gave the British Shorthair their stocky build and hunting instinct. But the domestic cat side of their family meant they were still happy to be around humans. And so, the first British domestic cats were born.

Things stayed that way for nearly two thousand years. It wasn’t until the 1800s that cat fanciers began “refining” the breed, selectively breeding for certain temperaments and traits. And that’s how the British Shorthair came to be.

The British Shorthair is a pretty big cat. They have a strong, stocky body, with thick legs. Although they look rounded, these cats are powerful with plenty of muscle hidden under that thick fur.

One of their most recognisable traits is their round faces and sweet expression. It gives them the appearance of an inquisitive teddy bear! They’re also famous for their “Cheshire cat smile”. (They were the inspiration for the Cheshire Cat, after all!)

Although British Blues (a colour variation of the British Shorthair) are famous for their amber eyes, this breed’s eyes can come in a few colours. Their eyes range from amber to green, gold, and copper depending on their coat colour. Meanwhile, their noses can be either black or a shade of pink or red.

Without a doubt the most famous colour of British Shorthair is blue. These gorgeous grey cats are known simply as “British Blues”, but they aren’t a distinct breed. They’re simply a colour variation of the British Shorthair.

British Shorthairs come in a wide variety of colours. Including:

British Shorthairs don’t just come in solid colours though. All of those colours can come in different patterns, like bi-colour, seal point, shaded, tabby, and tortoiseshell. So as you can see, there are dozens of potential colour variations your cat could be!

British Shorthairs are known to have a calm and friendly temperament and are very easygoing cats. 

They aren’t too fond of being picked up and hugged. But, they are patient and will usually tolerate a bit of physical affection. However, British Shorthairs much prefer low-key affection. They’ll stay close to their owners, lying at their feet or next to them on the sofa. They even enjoy a little light petting when they’re in the mood. 

British Shorthairs are still very loyal pets. These cats have a tendency to follow their favourite human around the house to stay close to them. And although they’re usually quiet, your British Shorthair might “chat” with you from time to time, and they have a surprisingly soft, low voice.

Although most people tend to think about exercising dogs more than cats, our feline friends need plenty of exercise and enrichment too.

According to veterinarian Dr Louisa Lane, we should be encouraging our cats to go outside. “they thoroughly enjoy plenty of time outside. We should be encouraging cats to be outside if possible to reduce stress.”

Dr Sarah Ellis, head of cat advocacy at International Cat Care, would agree. As she explained in our podcast, “By the very nature of what cats are and the behaviours that they perform. The exploration, the patrolling, the hunting or predation behaviours, the territorial marking. They are designed to be in a complex outdoor environment.”

Being outside helps to reduce stress for your cat, and gives them the opportunity to exercise and to exhibit normal feline behaviours.

Of course, not every cat can go outside safely. For example if they’re blind or deaf. But you can provide them safe access the outside world with a catio, and ensure they receive plenty of enrichment and exercise inside the house.

A few 5 minute play sessions throughout the day will be plenty of exercise for your British Shorthair. British Shorthairs are known to be excellent at entertaining themselves, often taking toys to play with alone. They might invite you to join in by bringing a toy over to you, so try to take a few minutes to share some quality time playing together. Here are some ideas on how to help exercise an indoor cat.

Like most cats, the British Shorthair is very good at grooming itself. However, there are a few things you should be doing regularly to help keep your cat clean and healthy.

You should try to brush your cat at least once a week with a slicker brush or a comb. This helps to remove any dead fur, which reduces shedding and keeps their coat plush and healthy.

One thing you probably won’t need to do is wash them. You should only bathe a cat if they really need it. Perhaps if they’ve had diarrhoea, or are very visibly caked in mud. It’s always best to avoid bathing a cat unless it’s absolutely necessary. Because cats generally dislike water and find being bathed stressful.

Ideally, you should brush your cat’s teeth regularly to prevent dental disease. You should also aim to trim their claws every few weeks.

Protect your cat from tooth to tail with comprehensive cat insurance, so your British Shorthair can always have the care they need to keep that Cheshire Cat smile!