Ī young British Blue male showing the copper eyes typical of cats with 'blue' furĪfter the war, in an attempt to maintain the breed standard, the GCCF decided to accept only third-generation Persian/British Shorthair crosses. The Blue Shorthair, outcrossings of the British with the Russian Blue were also common. As all cats with the blue colouration were then judged together as variants on a de facto single breed.

At the time, any long-haired cats produced were placed into the Persian breeding program. The genes thus introduced would eventually become the basis for the British Longhair. At least partially to alleviate this, British Shorthair breeders mixed Persians into their bloodlines. īy the 1900s with the advent of the newly imported Persian and other long-haired breeds, the British Shorthair had fallen out of favour, and breeding stock had become critically rare by World War I. The new British Shorthair was featured at the first-ever cat show, organised by Weir and held at the Crystal Palace in London in 1871, and enjoyed great initial popularity. Others suggest a group of breeders may have been involved. Some sources directly credit UK artist, and pioneering cat fancier, Harrison Weir with the initial concept of standardising the breed. Selective breeding of the best examples of the type began in the nineteenth century, with emphasis on developing the unusual blue-grey variant called the 'British Blue' or 'English type' (to distinguish it from the more fine-boned ' Russian type'). Īn early example of the 'English type' Blue Shorthair, from Frances Simpson's Book of the Cat, 1903 Based on artists' representations, the modern British Shorthair is unchanged from this initial type. Over the centuries, their naturally isolated descendants developed into distinctively large, robust cats with a short but very thick coat, to better withstand conditions on their native islands. These cats then interbred with the local European wildcat population. These cats were imported by the Romans who kept them to keep the camps clear of snakes, mice and insects. The origins of the British Shorthair most likely date back to the first century AD, making it one of the most ancient identifiable cat breeds in the world. The Cat Fanciers' Association profile reads: 'When gracelessness is observed, the British Shorthair is duly embarrassed, quickly recovering with a 'Cheshire cat smile'.' History The breed's good-natured appearance and relatively calm temperament make it a frequent media star, notably as the inspiration for John Tenniel's famous illustration of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. A quarter of all kittens registered with the GCCF each year are British Shorthairs, making the British the most popular pedigree cat in the UK. In modern times, it remains the most popular pedigreed breed in its native country, as registered by the UK's Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF). It is one of the most ancient cat breeds known. The breed has also been developed in a wide range of other colours and patterns, including tabby and colourpoint. The most familiar colour variant is the 'British Blue', with a solid grey-blue coat, pineapple eyes, and a medium-sized tail. Schedule at least two 15-minute play sessions daily, and more is always better.The British Shorthair is the pedigreed version of the traditional British domestic cat, with a distinctively stocky body, thick coat, and broad face. Some very calm cats might even need prodding and creative ideas to encourage them to get enough activity and exercise, which is vital for good physical health and mental well-being. Temperament will vary among individual cats, but some breeds are consistently less active than others.Įven calm cats need daily playtime or exercise, such as chasing after toys, climbing, scratching, and exploring. Calm cats might be long-haired or short-haired, with a hefty build or more moderate body type. Some mellow breeds are large while others are medium-sized. The calmest cat breeds vary in appearance and size. Here are nine calm cat breeds known for their chilled-out personalities. Where some cat breeds are filled with endless energy, others are known to be mellow and laid-back. Pedigreed cats come in a variety of shapes, sizes, coat lengths, and colors, and they also have different levels of energy.

Tortoiseshell cat plush