British Shorthair Kittens

British Shorthair kittens are cute looking felines, developed by the interbreeding of Roman cats and the English wild cats. Later, the breed from this union was bred with the Persian Cat to enhance the look of the coat. British Shorthair kittens are usually heavy and are supposed to open their eyes in a week's time after they are born. They are loving animals and also very energetic.

British Shorthairs can be found in Britain, America, New Zealand and Australia, and are recognized by almost all major cat associations. Though the exact year when this breed was imported to America is not known, written evidence shows it to be in the 1900s. By the end of the Second World War, British Shorthairs had almost become extinct. However, some breeders started a breeding program due to which the Shorthairs bounced back into popularity.

Physical Appearance

A fully grown British Shorthair has a long and compact body, which often looks like a stuffed teddy bear. Its main feature is the thick and plush coat that adorns its beauty. This graceful animal has a round face, with a perfect and beautiful round eyes. The British Shorthair is usually known for its splendid blue color, but it is also found in various other colors like blue, red, cinnamon, chocolate, white, fawn, black, lilac and cream. These colors can appear in various patterns including, tabby, color print, smoke, tortoiseshell, shaded, bicolor, etc. This breed is said to have a permanent smile on its face. The eye color of the British Shorthair depends on the color of the body.

Nature and Temperament

British Shorthairs love to be around people, especially children and also in the company of other pets in the house. Although British Shorthair kittens like to run and jump around, when they grow up, they tend to laze around a lot, supervising the ongoing activities in the house, while lying in a very comfortable position. They do not need to be given too much attention, and are peace loving creatures. British Shorthairs do not like to be picked up, but love to sit beside the owner and be petted occasionally.

Training and Grooming

Training the British Shorthairs is interesting and a very easy task as they are calm and intelligent animals. Due to their short hair, they also do not need constant grooming. Their thick fur coat only needs to be brushed once in a while.

Health Care

British Shorthairs are very healthy and live for 14-20 years. As they are bred with utmost caution and care, not many of them are found with genetic disorders. However, British Shorthairs can be affected by diseases that normally affects all feline breeds. One major problem found in the British Shorthairs is obesity, especially during the adolescent period. Hence, one must take extra care while feeding it, as obesity in the cat can give rise to health problems and even an early death of the cat. To keep your British Shorthair in good health, it would be beneficial not to let it out of the house without any company.

The British Shorthairs, known to be the oldest English cat breed, are perfect family pets. People who are thinking of bringing home a British Shorthair kitten will surely find it to be a loyal and affectionate companion.