British Shorthair

The biggest breed of shorthair cats

British shorthair is the biggest cat of the shorthaired type. After World War II the breed began to die out. Crossbreeding with Persian cats not only strengthened the population of these cats but also influenced the appearance of modern British shorthair cats.

iconCountry of origin: Great Britain
iconPersonality: Intelligent, Sociable, Even-tempered, Attached,
iconCoat: Shorthair
iconColour: Blue, Lilac, Cream, Red, Chocolate, Black, White
iconCharacteristics: Thick, plush fur, Round head and eyes
iconLife expectancy: from 14 to 20 years

British shorthair kittens

British shorthair cats are considered a rather problem-free breed - they quickly get accustomed to new situations, do great in contact with children and get along well with other animals. They are also quite intelligent cats - British shorthair kittens can master a plethora of tricks. Kittens tend to respond best to positive reinforcement training, so better have a stash of treats handy to motivate and reward your kitten with. Tuna Recipe and Kycklingfile can be a great reward for correctly performed tricks or good behaviour around the house. Remember that a healthy and well-balanced diet is a key factor in your kitten’s healthy growth and development. Before your kitten turns 1 year old feed him a special kitten formula rich in all the necessary nutrients.

British shorthair nutrition

Just like with any other large breed of domesticated cats, British shorthair cats reach their full maturity around 3 years of age. The longer maturing process does not mean that they should be fed a kitten diet for an extended period of time. Whenever a British shorthair cat turns 1 year old you should switch the diet to adult cat food. Feeding a formula developed specifically for your cat’s age is an important factor to keep your cat in the best physical shape possible. Cats of this breed can experience some joint issues and are somewhat predisposed to obesity. A diet rich in glucosamine will support the joint condition of your cat and the addition of l-carnitine can prevent your cat from becoming overweight.

Recommended for British Shorthair cats:

Exclusive Kattunge | Balanced dry food for kittens & mother cats

Exclusive Kattunge is recommended for kittens from weaning to 12 months with high content of animal protein and fat to support healthy growth. Also suitable for pregnant and nursing cats.
growth_plus
energy_plus
Protein: 34%
Fat content: 21%
Check it out

Opus Lynx | Complete, grain free nutrition for adult cats

Opus Lynx is a grain and gluten free recipe inspired by the diet of wild Lynx, rich in protein and fat, low in carbohydrates.
grain_free
gluten_free
Protein: 40.0% (90% animal protein of total protein content)
Fat content: 20.0%
Check it out

Detailed description of British shorthair

British shorthair is among one of the biggest domesticated cat breeds. It’s a bulky looking cat with fur resembling plush or velvet.

Origin 

It is believed that the ancestors of modern British shorthair cats came to Great Britain with Roman legions. At first, they were kept mainly as working cats for the killing of rodents. The breed gained its notoriety during a show in the Crystal Palace in the year 1871. The winner of the show, a silvery British shorthair cat belonging to a judge Harrison Weir has been pronounced the national cat of Great Britain. Back then the appearance of british cats was different from today’s breed standard - cats were big with large heads, round eyes and gentle but luscious coats. With the beginning of the 20th century, longhaired cats became a trend and British shorthair cat population began to dwindle. To save the breed from extinction British shorthair cats have been crossbreed with Persian cats.

Appearance

Today’s appearance of British shorthair cats is quite a bit different from the breed’s progenitors. Modern-day British shorthair cats are more massive and bulky. Bigger head, wider cheeks and the shape of the nose cats of this breed owe to Persian cats with which they were crossbred with after World War II. British shorthair cats have round and big eyes, usually coloured dark orange, copper, blue or green. British shorthair cats are commonly seen with each eye in a different colour. British cats have strongly built bodies, short but bulky legs, thick and not too long tails with visibly rounded tips and small ears set wide apart on their round heads. Their famous blue coat British cats got from Chartreux cats.

Behaviour

British shorthair cats are sociable, friendly and can get attached to their humans in no time. Cats of this breed are very intelligent and calm cats that like their playtime in moderation. Despite their placid nature and great response to almost any touch (which makes them great companions for children), British shorthair cats do not like to be carried around. British shorthairs are not too fond of climbing, they will be more than happy to lounge around on the floor or the couch.

Requirements

British shorthair cats are not the biggest fans of climbing, so they do not need tall cat trees. They need moderate physical activity throughout the day. British shorthair cats are rather big in size, so they do need their litterbox, cat bed or scratching posts to be a bit bigger and more sturdy.

Daily care

British shorthair cats do require daily brushing to help remove the dead hair. Apart from regular brushing, they need only the standard care treatments, such as trimming of the nails and cleaning of the ears.

dr Anna Plummervet and blogger

Perfect products for a British Shorthair cat

£17.50

Activity Toy, 1 pc | Feather wand toy for cats

Teases your cat's natural hunting instincts

£2.00

Exclusive Kattunge, 2kg - Husse Natural Complete Kitten Delicious Dry Cat Food High Chicken Meat Content

High content of tasty & high-quality animal protein for a healthy growth

£15.50

Tip

Laxolja, 300 ml | Premium salmon oil that supports healthy skin & shiny coat

Tasty meal topper & a perfect energy source

£16.95

Did your pet have some special need or condition not typical for the breed?

Please take our short quiz and find out what we suggest for you pet.

Husse happy pets!

 

Frankie

Frankie is a 16-year-old cat who was earlier this year diagnosed with Kidney issues. When tasked with looking for suitable food for his condition we discovered Husse's Exclusive Urinary. Frankie has happily been eating Husse since and is still extremely healthy at his old age!

Olly

Olly is a thirteen-year-old Bichon Frise, Who has been on Husse for the last 6 years. Being a white-haired pink-skinned dog he is prone to skin issues however ever since using Husse laxolja salmon oil and Ocean care mini salmon dog food he has been In perfect condition with no skin problems arising. Thank you Husse for taking care of my boy!

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Husse - Swedish food for dogs, cats and horses

Husse is a Swedish producer of food for dogs, cats and horses with over 30 years of experience on the market. Husse's main goal is to promote a healthy lifestyle for animals. All Husse feeds, treats and supplements are made only from the highest quality, carefully selected ingredients. All products are manufactured according to traditional Scandinavian recipes, and the production lines are under constant veterinary control. Apart from the quality of Husse products, it also means the quality of the service. Husse distributors are thoroughly trained in animal nutrition and will be happy to help you choose the right diet for your dog, cat or horse. Husse products are not available in a traditional sales network - we deliver them straight from the factory to the customer, so we can offer the highest quality products at competitive prices. Husse food can always be ordered with door-to-door delivery. 

Everything you need for your pet in one place

In Husse's offer you will find everything your pet may need. Our dry food for dogs and cats is a great foundation of their diet - dry food is properly balanced diets tailored to the needs of dogs and cats of various sizes and at various stages of life, i.e. puppies and kittens, adult and senior dogs and cats. Do you have a dog or cat with special nutritional needs? We took care of the special needs of animals with a sensitive digestive system and food allergies, after sterilization or castration, and pets with a tendency to overweight. Are you looking for toys for dogs and cats? Husse toys are made of the highest quality materials, they are durable and will provide your pet with hours of entertainment. You can diversify the healthy and natural diet of your dog, cat or horse with tasty delicacies. Treats for dogs, cats and horses are a tasty addition to their diet and a great reward during training and training. Do you need grooming products for your pet? Get shampoos, care cosmetics, oils and lotions with which you will take care of the beautiful and healthy appearance of your dog, cat or horse.