Cat breeds
British Shorthair
The plush, round-faced charmer
Sturdy, round-faced and famously plush, the British Shorthair is one of the oldest recognised British breeds. The blue-grey coat with copper eyes is the classic look, though the breed comes in many colours. They are easy-going and quietly dignified — delighted by your company, rather less keen on being picked up and carried around.
Written with reference to The International Cat Association (TICA). British Shorthair on TICA
History
Britain's oldest natural breed, descended from cats the Romans are thought to have brought to the island. It was standardised in the late 1800s by Harrison Weir, who organised the first modern cat show, and came close to disappearing during the Second World War.
Personality
Easy-going and quietly dignified. British Shorthairs are companionable without being clingy: delighted to be in your company, rather less keen on being picked up and carried around. They are slow to mature, often taking three years to fill out.
Did you know?
The breed is widely credited as the model for the Cheshire Cat in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland — that wide, round-cheeked face is doing the grinning.
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