Street
Kids to Show Cats :
These cats were originally found in the
alleys of 19th century British Cities. A man called Harrison Weir
loved the British street cat so much that he selected some of the
hardiest and strongest, bred them and almost single-handedly created
the British Shorthair.
The British Shorthair became an officially
acknowledged breed by 1889 and went on to become one of the most
popular breeds in cat shows at that time and still are today.
General Appearance:
The British cat is medium to large in size,
well balanced and powerful, showing good depth of body, a full broad
chest, strong short legs, rounded paws, tail thick at base with
rounded tip. The head is round with good width between small ears,
round cheeks, firm chin, large round, well opened eyes and a short
broad nose. The coat is short and dense.
Temperament:
Placid, not demanding, tolerant, docile and
respectful. They are not vocal cats and in fact are very quiet and can
cope with being alone without fretting. They are not inclined to
wander. They love children and get along extremely well with dogs.
Other details:
British Shorthairs are the ideal choice as a
house cat. The average life span of these cats is 15-18 years,
although many live past that age. They are a very hardy cat. British
Shorthairs can be bred in over 30 different colours, although some
colours are not readily available.
Despite its origin as a vagabond of no fixed
address (or perhaps because of it) the British Shorthair now very much
gravitate towards the comforts of home and hearth. Here it greatly
enjoys snoozing and lounging around the house - and even when outdoors
doesn't usually wander far from home. Having "fallen on its feet",
this cool, calm and collected cat nowadays quietly embraces family
life, while making a decorative, dignified and much loved member of
the household. Home sweet home, in fact is just up its alley.
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