The British shorthair has an ancient history behind it. It is believed, in fact, that this cat is a descendant of the felines brought to England by the Roman invaders and subsequently crossbred with the local wild cats.

Legend has it that the ancestor of the British shorthair did not live in Great Britain, but in Egypt, and was the favourite cat of an Egyptian general and his beautiful wife. When the man fell from grace and, to escape the pharaoh's wrath, decided to try his luck outside Egypt, the animal followed him and was invoked as a bringer of good fortune. The general stopped first in Portugal and then continued to the British Isles, settling in Scotland.

The cat showed that it took greatly to its new home, mated with cats living in the wild, and from these unions the first specimens of British shorthair were born.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, an enthusiast — Harrison Weir — decided to select the breed in its blue variety and presented it for the first time at the feline exhibition of 1871. The British blues — as they came to be known — were for a long time confused and crossbred with French Chartreux.

For a certain period, British shorthairs were also crossbred with Persian cats to make their body softer and their head more rounded. The round cheeks and the folds around the mouth that mimic a smile are indeed reminiscent of the famous Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.

Countless breeds have the British shorthair as their ancestor — a cat of amiable character that has given rise to bloodlines across much of the world.

Physical characteristics of the British shorthair

The British shorthair is an imposing cat, with an extremely thick coat that makes it look all the more striking and which in English is described as crisp. The eyes are large, round and very expressive, and can come in many colour varieties: copper, yellow-gold, green and blue. The head is round and full, with chubby cheeks (especially in males). The body is stocky, characterised by a broad chest, sturdy shoulders and flanks, and short legs, with round paws and a well-furred tail that ends in a rounded tip. The female is much smaller than the male and is recognisable at first glance by her more graceful and delicate build.

The character of the British shorthair

This is a breed with a stable temperament, which makes these cats very well suited to apartment life. They do not demand a great deal of attention, so even if their owner has to be away for a few hours, the British shorthair will not suffer from loneliness, as it has a very strong inclination for play, which it happily engages in on its own.

That said, these are not hyperactive cats. Far from it! "British shorthairs are calm and can sleep for many hours a day, preferring to stay close to their owners in the quiet comfort of a bed or a sofa," explains veterinarian Cinzia Cortelezzi.

The breed has become one of the favourites among trainers for its intelligence, and in recent years several specimens have appeared in films and television commercials. The British shorthair learns quickly and seems capable of picking up small tricks or games spontaneously.

Read also:

• Siberian cat, characteristics of the noble feline that comes from Siberia
• The Norwegian forest cat, a sociable cat that comes from the north
• The Siamese, everything you need to know about the cat that behaves like a dog
• Russian blue, everything about the aristocratic cat that loves the company of its own kind
• Canadian sphynx, the hairless cat that is conquering the world

Health and daily care

A hardy and robust cat, the British shorthair is not prone to any particular health problems. It tolerates low temperatures and excessive heat well, does not suffer from genetic or hereditary conditions, and generally lives happily into old age. "Care should be taken, however, not to let this imposing-looking cat put on weight. A tailored diet, perhaps chosen with the help of your vet, can be ideal for keeping the British shorthair in excellent shape and ensuring it a long and happy life," adds the veterinarian.

As far as daily care is concerned, a periodic brush can certainly do no harm to this cat with its thick and luxuriant coat. It would be a good idea, however, to get it used from an early age to being handled and groomed, so as to avoid any difficulties when it comes to using a brush and comb. And since the British shorthair is an affectionate cat by nature, it can only be something it will enjoy.