Physical Characteristics

One of the largest breeds of domestic cat, the British Shorthair is chunky and substantial. They are often described as "cobby"

The head is round and large, with full cheeks, a short, broad, straight nose and a strong, deep chin. The ears are small, broad at the base, rounded at the tip and set so as to blend with the round contour of the head. The eyes are large and round. The British Shorthair cat has a dense, plush, crisp coat. Their bodies are large but compact and muscular. The legs are short and strong with round paws. The tail is thick, of medium length and rounded at the tip.

Males are larger than the females. The size difference between them is more easily noticed compared to other breeds. A males' average weight is between 5-10 kilograms, while a female will weigh up to 5–7 kg. Male cats develop prominent cheek jowls. The typical lifespan of this breed is 14 years.

Temperament

British Shorthairs are an easygoing, even tempered breed, who take well to being kept as indoor-only cats. Although they enjoy play and the company of their owner, they are not terribly demanding of attention. The breed is not particularly vocal. They will meow to communicate with their owner when it is necessary and appropriate, but they are not as 'talkative' as many other breeds. British Shorthairs are an intelligent breed. They do like to know what is going on and so may follow their owner, to observe and supervise daily activities.

The breed is the perfect choice for people who work, as they are more than happy to laze around the house while their owner is out. They are not destructive and do not need the company of other animals. That being said, they do enjoy having another British Shorthair or a cat with similar temperament around. Dogs can also become firm friends with a British Shorthair, providing they are of an equally easy-going nature.

At Bimbleweb, we make sure that all of our kittens are well handled and so most of them do enjoy a cuddle. However, all cats are individuals and there is always the occasional exception, that would rather keep their paws firmly on the ground.

Varieties

British Shorthair cats come in a great variety of colours and coat patterns. There are Selfs, Bi Colour, Tortoiseshell, Tortoiseshell and White, Tabbies, Spotties, Colourpointed, Smokes and Tipped. Below are details of the coat pattern varieties we breed at Bimbleweb.

Self - One solid colour.

Bicolour - One of the Self colours combined with patches of white.

Tortoiseshell - Affectionately known as the Tortie, this cat has a mingled coat. The base colour can be Black or Chocolate, which is mingled with Cream and Red. There are also Blue Torties ( Blue Creams) and Lilac Torties, which are mingled only with cream.

Tortoiseshell and White - Tortie and Whites are not mingled but have clearly defined patches of colour. They can be Black/Red/White, Chocolate/Red/White, Blue/Cream/White or Lilac/Cream/White.

Grooming

British Shorthair grooming is minimal. As the coat is short, it will not matt and so brushing is not normally necessary. However, brushing during seasonal shedding, may help prevent your cat developing hairballs. Claws should be clipped regularly and a scratching post provided. Using dry food in his/her diet will eliminate the need for tooth brushing. Ears will need to be checked on a regular basis to ensure they are clean and free from infection or mites. Should a problem present, it can be easily treated if spotted early.

Diet

The British Shorthair is a large cat, requiring approximately 70 Kcals per kg bodyweight per day of food. British Shorthairs can be prone to obesity, especially when neutered, so care should be taken not to overfeed.