THE BRITISH SHORTHAIR AND THE BRITISH LONGHAIR

A ROUND AND SOFT CAT ...

FROM YESTERDAY TO TODAY :

When in 1871 in London, a blue tabby British Shorthair cat won the very first cat show, it was not so much the work of the breeders that was rewarded as the work of Mother Nature: she had fashioned a cat perfectly adapted to the harsh climate from the British Isles thanks to its woolly and almost waterproof fur.
World War I nearly sounded the death knell for this magnificent breed. The famine which struck the men also affected their cats which were almost all decimated and it was necessary to introduce cats without pedigree to reconstitute the race. This addition had the effect of refining the British.
The breeders resorted to Persian to "round" their cats, which introduced at the same time the gene "long hair". For a long time, these long-haired British were hidden but they are now recognized under the name of British Longhair.

HIS LOOK :

The British are medium to large sized cats with a rounded build. His big round head is lit by two large eyes, also round and very expressive. The ears are rather small and well spaced.
The neckline is chunky and short. The body, semi-cobby, is powerful and muscular with broad, rounded shoulders and hips. The legs are strong and firm, the tail rather short and rounded at the end.
In the British Shorthair, the coat is short, dense and erect, with a significant undercoat. Sometimes the hairs split open like the strands of a woolen carpet.
In the British Longhair, the mid-length fur has the texture of mohair. It is more provided on the collar and the back of the legs. The introduction of Persian to the British favored the emergence of the then very popular blue. Today, all colors are recognized.

HIS COMPANY

The character of the British plays a large part in the success he meets today. Calm and composed, always present without being intrusive, it offers a soothing alternative to those who are stressed by modern life and who can recharge their batteries in its contact. Her small voice contrasts with her big teddy bear physique.
It requires moderate grooming except during the moulting period when its double coat requires vigorous brushing.

TO SUM UP :

Purebred cat, cat of appearance, beware of counterfeiting!
Today, the use of the term "pedigree cat" for a cat without pedigree, is considered a deception by the courts.