History - Created in the nineteenth century, the British Shorthair became a very popular cat to own, that is until the mid twentieth century, when other unique breeds began to emerge. Not wanting this beautiful, historical cat to become extinct, a couple of dedicated cat lover's worked perilously to ensure its survival. It wasn't until the late twentieth century, that these wonderful cats were introduced in the United States, where cat fanciers became enthralled with their unusual personality and size.
Appearance - Offering many different selections of color, one color in particular was so in demand; it quickly became the only color recognized by cat associations for many years. British Blue was the name of the color of choice, but after World War II, this distinct color of British Shorthairs almost became nonexistent.
In order to preserve this gorgeous shade of blue, dedicated cat lover's bred the remaining blue shorthairs with Blue Persians. This created an increase in the gene pool and literally saved the specific shade from utter elimination. Additional colors from which to choose include orange eyed or blue eyed white, red or silver tabby, tortoiseshell, smoke, bi-colors, and point.
The British Shorthair has a roundish head and wide cheeks as well as a thick and relatively short tail. The British Shorthair, also known for its stockiness, is a large specimen of cat weighing in at a substantial nine to eighteen pounds.
British Shorthair Cat Behavior and Characteristics - It is not a cat that demands incessant attention and affection. This breed behavior is highly content to go about its day doing its own thing. The British Shorthair is not suitable for those who desire friendly felines as this breed is not as socially inclined. You are ale to easily satisfy the breed's emotional needs by keeping its food bowl filled and the cat can look after its own entertainment. No play time or cuddle time is required to keep this self-contained cat happy.
Since this breed does not demand much of an owner's time, it is the perfect addition to the family of someone who doesn't have a lot of time to spend at home.
British Shorthair Cat Health Problems - With the British Shorthair having so many ancestors contributing to the gene pool, this large breed is very healthy overall, with only one flaw that requires consideration.
The average blood type of a domestic cat is Type A Blood; however, the British Shorthair is known to possess the rare Type B Blood type. It is an issue of concern should an operation be needed one day. It is important to have your Shorthair tested by a veterinarian and if the blood type is rare, have the veterinarian make a note of it in its records to avoid any complications that could arise in the future.
It is easy to care for and groom your British Shorthair. With the texture of their coat being rough and thick, a once a week combing should be sufficient to remove loose hairs and particles of dirt.
If your short on time, but still want a cat, the unassuming, self contained personality of a British Shorthair is definitely worth looking in to. It's sure to be a perfect fit.
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Moses Wright likes to help fellow cat owners learn more about their cat breed whenever he is free. You can find more resources on cat illnesses symptoms, list of cat breed facts and information on his web site.
