British Shorthair Cat and Kitten Information

The British Shorthair has very plush, dense coat, a sturdy, rounded body, a substantial tail and round, copper color eyes. As with most cat species, males are larger than females. The coat color may be any pattern or color including an array of solid colors, but blue is the most popular.

A special and enduring feature of this cat is the perpetual smile which is caused by round whisker pads. British Shorthair Cats can be expected to live between nine and fifteen years.

Health

Cats who reside in the house should generally visit the veterinarian yearly, unless health problems are evident. Cats who enjoy the outdoors may need to see the vet as many as four times a year. When you take your cat to the vet, be sure to bring along a fresh stool sample so the vet can do a fecal exam to check for internal parasites such as tapeworm, round worm, whip worms and hook worms. The vet will also check for external parasites such as fleas, ticks and ear mites.

Any vet check should include a dental examination and a cleaning if necessary. Cats who are eight years of age or older are considered geriatric and additional blood and urine tests may be necessary to screen for any health problems. At about six months of age, the kitten should also be examined for sexual maturity and decisions about birth control should be made.

History of the British Shorthair Cat

The ancestor of all domestic cats is the African Wildcat, the genus Felis Lybica. This genus is comprised of smaller cats. Cats are thought to have been domesticated with the advent of farming and the storage of grain. The grain attracted rats and other vermin women's coats which naturally attracted wild cats. As time evolved, certain of these cats were domesticated for the mutual benefit of both cat and man. The African Wildcat has certain features which is obvious in the housecat of today.

The British Shorthair can be traced back to the time of ancient Rome. Although fairly uncommon in the United States, the Cat Fanciers Association began to recognize this breed in 1980.

Special Considerations

The British Shorthair cat is becoming more popular
Make good hunters
Easy to groom coat
Once known as the British Blue

Some of the terms used to describe the British Shorthair Cat include intelligent, easy going, even-tempered, alert, affectionate, independent, quiet, patient and confident.

British Shorthair Cat Registries

Southern British Shorthair Club
Cat Fanciers Association CFA
International Cat Association TICA
The Traditional Cat Association, Inc TCA
Canadian Cat Association CCA
The Australian Cat Federation Inc
The American Association of Cat Enthusiasts AACE
American Cat Fanciers Association ACFA
Cat Fanciers Association CFF
United Feline Organization UFO
Cats United International

British Shorthair Cat Kittens

Kittens are generally available and the price depends upon bloodlines color and markings. Unlike puppies, kittens should not be separated from their mother until twelve to sixteen weeks of age. Some very important developmental stages occur during this period including emotional, mental and health. Curtailing this development may lead to any number of medical and behavioral problems.

Kittens that are separated from their mother at too young an age often fail to gain weight fast enough, have immune system problems because they have not had enough mothers milk. The may also develop eating and eliminating problems, and can have problems socializing with other cats and with people.

Every cat and kitten is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your cat or kitten. This information is meant as a good faith