As the name suggests, the breed is of British origin. The popularity of these unusually beautiful cats has stepped far beyond the United Kingdom. Languid and serious British women, in particular, feel confident in the top ten most popular cat breeds. Well, and in their own country (and we didn’t doubt it at all) they even topped the rating of the popularity of cat breeds. If you are thinking about buying a kitten – “British”, then our article is just for you!

Popularity is a heavy burden

By and large, all the “tops” and “ratings” are nothing more than a temptation for the inexperienced public. After all, no one considered how many people chose as the pets of the most ordinary “noblemen”, the beloved murziks, badgers and muroks. Surely the breed “yard ordinary” would have occupied a first place that was completely unattainable for competitors at all times. And all over the world.

Have you heard of the British Longhair breed?

But there is such a breed in the world, and in the UK it is very famous and revered. The breeds are interconnected by close family ties, share personality traits and temperament. Their main difference is the type of coat. Of course, with a long-haired cat there is much more trouble!

How much is a thoroughbred kitten?

Unfortunately, we have to return to the topic of the heavy burden of popularity. Alas, there are quite a few kittens “under the British” on the market, who in fact have nothing to do with them. In the UK, for a truly purebred kitten they will ask from 526 to 720 dollars. It is not possible to indicate the correct price: there are a lot of offers, and the range of prices, especially in the regions, is very large (approx. Transl.). We advise you to be careful if the kitten is offered at a frankly dumping price.

The most popular and most sought after color

– solid gray-blue (the so-called British blue). It is with this steel-gray color that cats are most recognizable.

British Shorthair is arguably one of the oldest cat breeds in the world.

According to researchers, the history of modern “British” dates back to the 1st century AD, when the first Roman legionaries landed on the British Isles. Along with the legions came cats (most likely, domesticated Egyptian cats). Subsequently, they interbreed with local populations of wild European cats. So a new breed was born, its first features took shape.

As a rule, the “British” are calm and friendly.

“As a rule” – because, according to a well-known saying, it cannot do without exceptions. But in general, pets are kind, calm and affectionate with their owners. Cats are well suited for both home and outdoor (“mixed”) content.

Of course, you know the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland

It is believed that the creation of the image of a smiling cat, Dr. Lewis Carroll, the author of the work, was inspired specifically by British cats.

British Shorthair cats are media persons.

They often flash on television, become heroes of commercials, act in films, etc. Perhaps the point is in their attractive “photogenic” appearance, non-malignant character and outstanding stress resistance.

Cats have inherited health problems.

The most commonly diagnosed ailments are heart disease (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) and polycystic kidney disease. That is why we recommend purchasing kittens from responsible breeders or in nurseries that have long and fruitfully worked with this breed. Some fellow authors include “British” in the list of long-lived breeds, but the statistics of English veterinary clinics are not so optimistic. According to veterinarians, the average life expectancy of cats of this breed is 11.8 years.

We recommend the breed as the first pet cat.

“British” are considered one of the least difficult to maintain cat breeds. Therefore, if you like this breed, the candidacy is definitely worth considering. At the same time, we draw the attention of potential buyers that the purchase of any pet should not be spontaneous. With any breed you like, you need to get to know each other more closely, find out its strengths and weaknesses, look at “live” cats, communicate with their owners, learn and analyze different opinions. And only then make a purchasing decision.