Fun British Shorthair Facts For Kids

The British Shorthair cat is the more pedigreed version of the traditional British domestic cat. One of the oldest cat breeds to exist on earth, British Shorthairs are believed to be the descendants of ancient Roman cats. According to The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, this cat has an interesting history. Roman and English invaders brought back these cats who were used for vermin control and became domesticated. According to the Cat Fanciers Association, they developed a round face with a dense coat of a variety of colors. A famous cat breeder named Harrison Weir developed the specific British Shorthair breed after crossing the traditional cat with different types of cats. After World War I, the British Shorthair cat as we know it today became popular as it was crossed with Persian cats and Russian blue. Its population decreased during World War II but it was recognized in the 1970s as one of the most popular cats in the world. These cats are most famous for their blueish gray color and are thus known as 'British Blue' too. Keep reading for more interesting facts about the British Shorthairs!

If you like this article about British Shorthair facts, also check out our other articles with fascinating facts about the European polecat and ringtail cat. 
 

What type of animal is a British Shorthair?

British Shorthairs are a type of cat.

What class of animal does a British Shorthair belong to?

A British Shorthair is a type of domestic cat which belongs to the Mammalia class of animal.

How many British Shorthairs are there in the world?

The exact population of British Shorthairs in the world has been difficult to record as they are domestic cats bred and sold by professional breeders to people who are interested to keep them as pets. However, their population is not seen to be in decline and has not caused any alarm yet as scientists do not think that they are in any immediate danger or risk of extinction.

Where does a British Shorthair live?

Cats of the British Shorthair cat breed can be found all around the world because they are sold to people who are interested to keep them as pets. However, they are predominantly found in European countries, especially in the United Kingdom and North America.

What is a British Shorthair's habitat?

British Shorthairs normally prefer a domestic environment and like to stay inside the house. Although they are not strictly indoor cats and can go outside for exercise, this breed mostly likes a domestic environment. This cat is not bothered by cold temperatures either.

Who do British Shorthairs live with?

British Shorthairs are extremely comfortable around human beings and pets of other kinds. They can easily live with a large family or with a single person. They can also live with other cats or pet dogs without causing any fuss.

How long does a British Shorthair live?

A British Shorthair's average lifespan is of 12-17 years.

How do they reproduce?

British Shorthairs have a similar reproduction process as other domestic cats. The cats start to mate once the male and the female cat go through their heat cycle. The pregnancy lasts for around 63-65 days. Following a gestation period of nine weeks, the female cat gives birth to the young offspring. The Shorthair British cat does not become physically mature till they are three to five years old.

What is their conservation status?

British Shorthairs are currently Not Listed under the categories made by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, it is a type of domestic cat and domestic cats are considered to be under the category of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

What do British Shorthairs look like?

The British Shorthair cat has a round head, chubby cheeks with large, round eyes, and a rounded body. Their bodies are medium to large-sized and are compact but powerful. They have chubby cheeks and a wide chest with strong legs which have rounded paws. Their tails are quite thick and have rounded tips. They also have a muscular neck, strong jaws, and a strong muzzle. Their coat has a thick, dense, and hard texture as it was originally meant for protecting them.

The British Shorthair cat's coat color or pattern can come in various colors including gray, blue, white, cream, tortoiseshell, brown, red, or white. The pattern of their coat varies between solid singular color, calico, tabby, tortoiseshell, smoked, or shaded.

How cute are they?

British Shorthairs are extremely cute! With their lovely round faces, chubby cheeks, and eyes that will melt your heart, these cats are very adorable and photogenic as they look like a teddy bear. The white British Shorthair is particularly famous on social media. Kittens of this breed are also known for their cuteness. Many people also like to pat their short, thick coats.

How do they communicate?

The British Shorthair breed of cat is very quiet and reserved. They do not make much sound but compensate for that through physical touch. Although they are not lap-cats, they still love to be near their owner and love to be touched. They are quite affectionate and will often give a rumbly purr when they want pats or some cuddling. They do meow and make other sounds but only on rare occasions.

How big is a British shorthair?

A British Shorthair is a not very large cat. The average height of the adult cat is 12-14 in (30-35 cm) and the average length of these cats is approximately 22-25 in (55-63 cm).

A moose is almost 10 times the size of British Shorthairs as it can grow up to 236 in (6 m) in length!

How fast can a British shorthair run?

The British Shorthair breed is not known for being active or fast runners. Like most domestic cats, these cats can reach a moderate speed of 20 mph (32.3 kph).

How much does a British shorthair weigh?

A British Shorthair cat weighs around 9-18 lb (4-8 kg) with the male cats weighing more than the female cats. Male British Shorthair cats usually weigh around 12–18 lb (5-8 kg) and the female cats weigh around 9-15 lb (4-6 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

A male cat is referred to as a tomcat in a breeding context. An unspayed female cat is known as a queen. A male cat can also be referred to as a gib if it is neutered.

What would you call a baby British shorthair?

A baby British Shorthair cat does not have a unique, separate name. However, a baby cat is referred to as a kitten. Therefore, a baby British Shorthair cat is referred to as a kitten following the usual terminology.

What do they eat?

Cat breeds like British Shorthair have a predominantly meat-based diet and they cannot live without a lot of meat and protein in their food. Owners of such pet cat breeds should ensure that their cat or kitten is fed high-quality cat food which is wet to maintain their energy level. Most veterinarians suggest a diet full of protein for these cats.

However, they also require proper exercise and have to be kept active without which they can become quite overweight.

Are they dangerous?

British Shorthair cats are not dangerous at all and they do not pose any threat to humans. However, it is important to keep British Shorthairs quite healthy as they suffer from multiple health issues. The cat's most common health issues include diabetes, digestive issues, ear infections, unsettled stomach, and even cancer. Although they are usually healthy, they can also be susceptible to other health issues like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hemophilia. These health problems are quite common in other cats as well so owners of British Shorthairs must ensure to check up on their pet repeatedly to ensure they are not suffering from any such health problems.

Would they make a good pet?

The British Shorthair cat would make a wonderful pet for any type of family - whether they have seniors, children, many members, or just one member. Due to their friendly personality, it is a great feline breed to adopt if someone is keeping the cat as their first pet.

Adequate cat care is important as British Shorthair cats are not normally smelly but they can develop a foul smell if they are suffering from health problems. It is usually found that problems in their cat food, badly grooming them, digestive problems or tooth and gum issues can make them smell more than they normally do. These cats also shed a lot during spring and fall so they need proper grooming during those times to keep their fur healthy.

Buying a British Shorthair kitten can be quite expensive as they cost approximately $1200-$2300. The prices of the kittens depend on the quality or age of the cat but kittens from a high-titled breeding line can cost as high as $1500-$3000.

Did you know...

The character Puss in Boots with a hilarious personality from the Shrek movie franchise is described as an orange British Shorthair.

It is widely suggested that the illustration of the Cheshire Cat in the famous novel 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll is based on the British Shorthair which originated in Britain. Apparently, the illustrator of the novel Sir John Tenniel based the features of the Cheshire Cat character after the features of a blue British Shorthair.

The British Longhair cat came into existence after a cross was made between two feline breeds - a Persian cat and a British Shorthair cat. The British Longhair is known for its long fur coat and the color of the coat mostly varies between gray or tabby.

What is the personality of a British shorthair cat?

The British Shorthair cat breed has many positive characteristics including being friendly and affectionate. The British Shorthair, which originated in Britain, is very easygoing and is not high maintenance at all. These cats love to play but do not demand attention all the time. They can also play well by themselves and will patiently wait for their owner to come home. This cat makes for a wonderful companion and can get very attached to its owners. Their characteristics are very calm and friendly as they get along well with other pets such as dogs.

Do British shorthair cats meow a lot?

The British Shorthair cat breed is not very vocal and is not known to meow frequently like other domestic cat breeds. They meow and purr and also make other noises but not very often.

Interestingly - this cat breed can make a very loud purring sound! From 2011-2014, the British Shorthair cat breed held the title of having the world's loudest purr among all breeds. In addition to that, in 2011, a British Shorthair cat named Smokey recorded the world's loudest purr! His purr measured up to 67.7 decibels which could be as noisy as the sound of a lawnmower.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our Abyssinian cat facts and Russian Blue facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable British Shorthair coloring pages.