(ORDO NEWS) — For those who want to get a British Shorthair cat, it is very important to know two things: they cannot be lop-eared – this is a sign of the Scottish breed. Secondly, today the British have a lot of colors, except for the classic blue.
History of the breed
British cats came to England from the Roman Empire. The first officially recognized representative of the breed was a white cat (London, 1889).
During World War II, the “British” were practically destroyed, and breeders restored the breed anew. Accordingly, modern animals differ from cats of the same breed of the late 19th century, because both Persians and Cartesian blue cats were attracted to recreate it.
For a long time in this breed there were practically no color options, except for the classic blue. Currently, felinologists have deduced more than a hundred options.
They are very diverse: solid (blue-gray, chocolate, white, black), smoky (chinchillas, cameo), tabby (all types), bicolors (combination of the main color with white), there is even a Siamese color.
Personally, your “Cheshire cat”
British cats are distinguished by a large but compact physique. They are squat and stocky, with all their appearance reminiscent of cute teddy bears. The head is round, large eyes are widely spaced, the nose is wide, slightly flattened, the ears are small, the cheeks are round.
The famous Cheshire cat from the fairy tale “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll is a typical representative of the British breed. One of the versions of the appearance of such a fairy-tale character says that the author wrote off his cat from the “British”.
The coat of British cats is dense, two-layered: a short plush undercoat and longer guard hairs. According to its length, British Shorthair and British Longhair are distinguished. Nothing else makes them different.
What is typical
British shorthair and longhair cats are peaceful and affectionate. They are independent, patient and calm, and get along well with children and animals. Playful but not hyperactive.
They are not very tame, usually prefer to sit next to a person, rather than climb on his lap all the time. They don’t like it when they try to force them to squeeze. In general, these are real aristocrats among domestic cats, the famous “British restraint” is about them.
Separately and once again it is worth noting: often people want to buy a British fold cat and do not even suspect that in fact such a breed does not exist. There is a Scottish fold, and British cats are only long-haired or short-haired with the most ordinary cute ears.
Mini Questionnaire
- Live: 11-16 years. According to the latest data: with good, and most importantly, proper care, representatives of this breed live an average of two decades.
- Weigh: from 3-12 kg.
- Price: “for a sofa” from 20,000 rubles / for an exhibition from 50,000 rubles and more.
British health
Shavers, in comparison with other breeds of cats, do not have so many health problems. With proper maintenance and nutrition of the cat, problems are minimized. Perhaps the only “weak point” of these cats can be called the genitourinary system.
They have urolithiasis (UCD). This disease is associated with metabolic disorders in the body. It is accompanied by the formation and deposition of urinary stones in the renal pelvis, bladder and urethra. KSD is a consequence of metabolic disorders and depends on the structure of the initial diet of sick cats.
Pregnancy and childbirth
Pregnancy “British mom” lasts 58-70 days. An average of 63 days, its duration, like all cats, is affected by the number of kittens. The more, the earlier the birth will come.
“Shavers” have toxicosis: the cat is sick, her appetite is reduced. It is advisable to show the pet to the veterinarian 2-3 weeks after mating. The first ultrasound can be done as early as day 25 of pregnancy to see if the fetal kittens are healthy.
It is interesting:
- Short-haired cats do not have eyelashes, and the size of their eyes is so large that they do not stand out proportionally against the background of the whole body.
- The British sleep 14-16 hours a day. And that shouldn’t scare you.
- Hunters by nature. Now they are kept as an ordinary pet, but they used to be kept to fight rodents.
- Often the British breed is called “cats for businessmen.” They calmly endure loneliness and know what to do with themselves in the absence of their owners.
- British tabby cat is the face of a well-known cat food brand. She was stroked and held in her arms by Eva Longoria herself.
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