THE BRITISH SHORTHAIR CAT, the Brit - is a short and cobby breed with massive bone. Because it is a mediun to large breed, it grows slowly. It does not become fully developed until the age of 3-4 years, or it may even take longer.

The head should be broad and round. Mostly the fertile males get the so called cheek pouches, which are a characteristic of the breed. The chin should be well developed and the muzzle short and braod. The ears should be small and rounded at the top and set wide apart. The eyes should be round and moderatly big. The tail should be short and rather thick with a rounded tip. The coat should be short and dense with plenty of undercoat. The colour of the eyes is mostly copper, but in certain colour varieties they should be blue or green.

The BSH can have many coat colours and patterns. Solid (i. e. black, white, blue, cream, lilac, chocolate), piebald in three different amounts of white (bicolour, harlekin and van), colourpoint (i.e. pointed like the Siamese and Birma), silver, patterned (spotted, mackarel/striped or classic tabby/blotched). Females can also be tortoise or tortie alt. calico - for example black-tortie, blue tortie/blue cream, lilac tortie -.

As a kitten the BSH may be quite lively, but not the kind swinging in the curtains or climbing book shelves. As a grown-up it is good tempered and rather calm. An easily groomed cat with a friendly and affectionate temperament. It is today without doubt the most popular pure bred shorthair cat in Sweden.

In the picture above my "Tekla" IP & EC Diadora's Cream Juicy-Fruit, cream, at 1 year of age.
Read more about her under "My British Shorthairs")

Updated: 04-04-03