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The British Shorthair is noted as having a playful, affectionate, and intelligent nature. With their signature rounded faces and plush coats, British Shorthairs are just as cute on the outside as they are on the inside. They are fiercely loyal to their families and love to spoil their owners with love and affection. Being one of the oldest domestic cat breeds, there is a lot to learn about these beautiful felines. So, whether you’re thinking about getting a British Shorthair or simply enjoy learning about cat breeds, this one is for you. Now without further ado, here are 10 fun facts about British Shorthairs.
10 Facts About British Shorthair Cats
1. British Shorthairs Come in a Wide Variety of Colors
A blue-grey coat is what comes to mind when most people think of British Shorthairs. But contrary to popular belief, the British Shorthair comes in a wide variety of colors. Other names for this breed are the British Shorthair Blue or The British Blue. So, it makes sense why many people think they only come in one color. But it turns out that grey is just one variation of the British Shorthair’s many coat color possibilities!
Although their traditional color is blue-grey, British Shorthairs can be white, black, grey, red, and the list goes on. This breed can also come in tortoiseshell and tabby patterns! While they’re most commonly one solid color, British Shorthairs can be just about any color or pattern.
2. They’re Believed to Have Descended From Ancient Rome
British Shorthairs are widely considered to be one of the oldest cat breeds in the world. Experts generally consider the British Shorthair to have descended from the cats of Ancient Rome. In fact, they’re believed to have been transported from Ancient Egypt to Rome. This means that the closest thing we may have to ancient domesticated cats is the British Shorthair we know and love today. So, how did they get from Rome to Great Britain, you may ask?
When the Romans invaded Great Britain in 43 C.E. (43 A.D.), the Romans took these cats with them to keep rodents away. After arriving in Great Britain, they interbred with local European wildcats and eventually developed to withstand conditions on the islands. British Shorthairs became beloved by many in England for their prominent hunting instincts and natural prey drive. They were often used by home and business owners for vermin control.
3. The British Shorthair Was Loved by the “Father of Cat Fancy”
Harrison Weir was a 19th-century artist and cat lover that particularly fancied British Shorthairs. He began breeding them out of love for their wonderful temperaments, exquisite personalities, and adorable characteristics. Weir was actually the first to set standards for specific cat breeds to be judged. This led to the “World’s First Cat Show” in 1871 at the London Crystal Palace. Thanks to Weir, British Shorthairs made their debut at this event, along with other breeds like the Persian and Siamese. One of Weir’s British Shorthairs even won the title of Best in Show!
In 1887, Weir founded the National Cat Club, and was its first President and show judge. Between that and his cat show history, he is known as the “Father of Cat Fancy.” Weir even wrote about his love for the British Shorthair in his book titled: Our Cats and All About Them (1889). He was somewhat biased toward his country’s native breed – and we don’t blame him! In the novel, he famously wrote, “my first love will always be for the shorthaired domestic cat.”
4. There Was a Time When They Nearly Went Extinct
In the early 20th century, long-haired breeds surpassed the British Shorthair as the chosen domesticated cats. As a result, the popularity of the British Shorthair was dwindling. In fact, it nearly led them to become extinct! To make matters worse, due to the first and second world wars, purposeful and intentional breeding for the breed became nonexistent. At that point, British Shorthairs suddenly faced the very real and possible reality of extinction.
To keep the breed alive, die-hard lovers of the British Shorthair began breeding them with Persians and other cat breeds to ensure their survival. The British Shorthair persevered and continues to live on today, thanks to their breeding in the early 19th century. We can’t imagine what we’d do without this darling breed!
5. They’re Prone to Being Chunky
With their rotund bodies and round faces, the British Shorthair is prone to being a little chunky. This can range anywhere from a “little chonk” to “oh lawd, he comin’!” But typically, full-grown male British Shorthairs weigh anywhere from 9 to 17 pounds, while females range from about 7 to 12 pounds.
While it’s not known why British Shorthairs are prone to tipping the scales, we do know that all overweight and obese cats are at a higher risk for health problems. This is why it’s important to feed your British Shorthair a healthy diet and provide quality exercise. Just remember that the ideal diet for one cat may not be best for another because all cats have different needs. Those needs also vary depending on their age and medical history. That’s why it’s important to ask your veterinarian which diet is best for your cat.
6. It’s Believed the British Shorthair Inspired the ‘Cheshire Cat’
Published in 1865, Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland is a cult classic in the world of literature. The Cheshire Cat is one of many creatures that Alice encounters on her journey in Wonderland. This anthropomorphic cat rose to stardom for his mystical, charming, and witty nature. Today, he remains a beloved character by so many.
Although Carroll’s inspiration for the Cheshire Cat is debated, some historians believe that it was inspired by the British Shorthair. If you take a moment to examine the famous character, it makes sense. Most notably, the Cheshire Cat’s huge grin is similar to that of a British Shorthair. Also, as mentioned earlier, this breed is prone to being heavy. And it just so happens that the Chesire cat is a little bit chunky too!
7. A British Shorthair Was the Face of a Popular Meme
In the earlier days of the internet, a British Shorthair was the face of a popular meme called “I Can Has Cheezburger?” This adorable meme went viral very quickly. So, how did it start? Well, in 2007, a Hawaiian blogger named Eric Nakagawa uploaded a photo of a happy British Shorthair, and captioned it: “I Can Has Cheezburger?” Then the rest was history! It’s also considered to be one of the earliest memes.
The original meme sold for a whopping $2 million USD. So basically, if you want to quit your day job, try to come up with the “purrfect” meme. Yes, pun intended. But jokes aside, this meme inspired the Cheezburger network, which is a social humor website. Today, people still fondly remember the meme thanks to the British Shorthair’s darling face! From time to time, you’ll still see it circulating online.
8. A British Shorthair Once Held the Title for World’s Loudest Purr
It’s no secret that British Shorthairs are incredibly vocal, loving, and affectionate cats. In 2011, a tortoiseshell British Shorthair by the name of Smokey won the world’s title for the Loudest Purr. It recorded a whopping 67.7 decibels. Smokey was known to be particularly vocal, so I guess that makes him especially deserving of this title!
In 2014, Smokey sadly passed away from kidney failure. Today, his loud purrs live on in the Guinness Book of World Records. In 2015, another cat by the name of Merlin won the record with a 67.8-decibel purr. Smokey’s loud purr can be found here on Youtube, which we’ll link in the description box below.
9. They’ve Been Subject to Several Strange News Stories
Given that the British Shorthair is an incredibly popular breed, it’s not surprising that they’ve made the news several times! In fact, British Shorthairs have made the front page for several strange international news stories, particularly in Russia and Eastern Europe.
In 2015 a British Shorthair named Maggie was kidnapped by an Eastern European gang. The gang demanded a ransom of about $6,700 USD (£5000 Pounds) to return her home safely. Maggie’s family paid the ransom money. The gang returned her safely to her family in a public park. In Russia, a British Shorthair named Dusya rose to fame for her appearance in photoshoots and TV productions. She made about $2,700 USD (£2,000 Pounds), which is more than what most Russians make in a year!
10. They are Nicknamed ‘Teddy Bear’ Cats
Between their plush coats, chunky bodies, and round faces, British Shorthairs have often been described as feline teddy bears – and it’s no wonder why! For this reason, British Shorthairs are nicknamed Teddy Bear Cats. But this nickname applies to a British Shorthair’s personality as much as its appearance.
This is because British Shorthairs are known for having wonderful temperaments. They make wonderful family cats and are usually great with other animals. They’re often described as active, affectionate, loving, and reserved. These cats love playtime while retaining their independence. So, with their easygoing and friendly natures, this breed can easily be a snuggle buddy, just like a teddy bear!
Final Thoughts
With all the wonderful facts about British Shorthairs, it’s no wonder they have such an interesting history and so many devoted owners. Today, they continue to be a popular and adored breed, and we can see why!
DISCLAIMER: This article is made for entertainment purposes only. This is NOT medical advice. Use the information presented in this article at your own risk. ALWAYS seek medical advice from licensed veterinarians.
References
https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-breeds/british-shorthair
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/77881/9-proper-facts-about-british-shorthairs
https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/cat-breeds/british-shorthair
https://basepaws.com/blogs/news/british-shorthair-cat-breed
https://harrisonweir.com/cat-shows/
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/loudest-purr-by-a-domestic-cat
Disclaimer: The Purring Journal is not in the medical field. This post is made for entertainment purposes only. Use the information presented in this article at your own risk. Always seek medical advice from licensed veterinarians.
