10 Reasons Why the British Shorthair is the Perfect Cat For You

With so many breeds to choose from, narrowing down to the perfect choice for your new furry companion can be overwhelming at first glance. As one of the most iconic and distinguished breeds out there, here are a handful (or two handfuls) of reasons why the British Shorthair is the far superior choice.

1. Temperament

While cats regardless of breed generally tend to be somewhat aloof and occasionally affectionate (of course on their own terms), you’ll find the British Shorthair to present both of these qualities in their own special way. While they may not be total lap cats, they will enjoy sitting nearby and enjoying a movie night or relaxed afternoon reading session, even hanging out on the kitchen floor while you cook. “Look, but don’t touch” may be the name of the game on their grouchy days (which can happen every so often) and they aren’t afraid to shoot a glare your way when they’re displeased. However, you can count on a generally happy, laid back companion for the most part.

2. Attitude

The “British” portion of the Shorthair’s personality certainly shines through with a quiet dignity, as they enjoy presiding over the happenings of the household. There is, at the same time, a goofy, lovable side to them as well–though they don’t want you thinking they’re at all predictable in that way. Our own British Shorthair is classified as a “dignified diva,” though she has a deep playful streak that makes itself known on a daily basis as well. While affectionate (especially where food is involved) and invested, like most British Shorthair cats she does not enjoy being picked up whatsoever. With some light exposure therapy this has gotten somewhat better over time, however best practice is to respect that boundary. As resident diva, the British Shorthair may occasionally cry out to ensure attention is on them–most likely during play time, if a meal hasn’t been served promptly, or as their owners are attempting to go to sleep (just as a final reminder that they are indeed the point around which the entire rest of the household orbits).

3. Energy Level

While the day-long cat nap is as relevant here as with most other cat breeds, there is something to be said about the British Shorthair’s playtime. In our experience, the young adult cat tends to be most active in the morning (when the household is also busy getting a start to the day) and looking to play, and perks up again after dinner in the evening. In breaks between naps, your shorthair may take it upon themselves to conduct “inspections” of various items including but not limited to recently vacated shoes, tote bags, empty shipping boxes, and the same furniture they see every day of their lives. If they haven’t had enough playtime and mental stimulation throughout the day, they may get “zoomies” over the course of the evening (much like dogs do!) which in our case looks like a frantic skating from one side of our apartment to the other, occasionally bumping into random items. We typically find her toys hoarded into one corner or nook come morning–at least she’s organized in her chaos.

4. Appearance

Once you see a British Shorthair, it’s a breed you won’t quickly forget–almost entirely due to its distinctive appearance. Their faces alone are quite something, with large, extremely expressive eyes that are often a deep, bright orange. Combined with a small, almost flattened teddy bear nose, impossibly soft round jowls, and perked ears, you have a face almost anyone will find utterly adorable. Though looks aren’t everything, their bodies really complete the masterpiece with a distinctive “cobby” torso and slightly stumpy legs, finished off with a relatively short, puffed tail. Over time the British Shorthair does tend to retain weight, which frankly only adds to the already sky-high cute factor.

5. Different Colors

The “classic” look for the British Shorthair is fondly known as the British Blue, featuring a wildly soft gray-blue coat and striking orange eyes. Other eye colors (which can vary slightly based on the coat color) can include green, blue, and hazel. Coat colors are carefully curated by breeders, which result in a range of different variations. Solids can range from the aforementioned blue, to black, chocolate, cinnamon, lilac, cream, and white. Certain colors are more difficult to achieve–some due to necessary cross-breeding for specific colors, or to avoid genetic health problems. “Tipped” colors can have any of the aforementioned solid colors as the main coat, with a light-colored (typically cream or silver) undercoat, resulting in a slightly mottled effect. By contrast, “color point” coats feature a darker undercoat, resulting in areas of slightly darker pigmentation under a lighter-colored topcoat. Regardless of the color you seek and eventually choose, every color combination results in a beautiful Shorthair.

6. Media & Characters

It’s to be expected that such a visually striking breed has been the inspiration for countless characters and media features. The earliest (and likely most unforgettable) reference to the British Shorthair came to life as the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland. While the unsettling grin is not a feature you’ll have to work around in reality, the distinct facial features are clearly inspired by the British Shorthair’s round jowls. In more recent media, notable figures have included the “I can has cheezburger” cat and Puss in Boots from the Shrek franchise. If you’re looking to invest in a pet with inherent media value, the British Shorthair is absolutely the way to go.

7. Size

As mentioned previously, the British Shorthair boasts a distinctive “cobby” body type with a thick, round torso and slightly stubby legs. The breed does tend to run on the heavier side, with females weighing in around 7-12lbs and males ranging from 9-17lbs. They are subject to relatively easy weight gain–while no more than most other breeds, they do tend to look a bit chubbier than they actually are due to the fluffiness of their coat and density of their body type.

8. Fur Texture & Shedding

While the British Shorthair is not considered a hypoallergenic breed, their distinct fur texture does express itself differently than most other breeds. Keeping in line with the breed name, their coats are indeed short, with a thick undercoat that stands away from the body and gives them a distinct plushness–often compared to chinchilla fur. The breed does shed a moderate amount, more so in the spring and fall during typical shedding periods for most pets–occasional brushing should do the trick to keep things under control. Rather than a solid coating of fur across all of your belongings, like most other cat breeds will provide, the British Shorthair will instead bestow upon you small, furry tumbleweeds. Due to the plushness of the fur, it tends to stick to itself more than anything else–making cleaning a bit less of a chore. If you find yourself with a classic British Blue, rest assured the unique blue-gray hue will blend into your clothes more than most other colors will, and any coat color shedding is easy to remove with a lint brush.

9. Intelligence

Aside from appearance, one of the most notable features of the British Shorthair is their intelligence. While cats as a species tend to be relatively smart, the Shorthair does seem to go a bit beyond the norm. Quickly picking up on words and phrases, the cats easily recognize their own names, and many owners are able to go beyond, successfully teaching their British Shorthairs tricks. Our own British Shorthair, completely unprompted, has a habit of playing fetch–bringing us one of her toys (typically a catnip-filled stuffed squirrel) in her mouth, trotting across the room and meowing all the way–trumpeting her triumph. She then waits (somewhat) patiently for us to toss it to the other side of the room, and will then either stalk/pounce or straight out sprint for her prey. This cycle tends to repeat itself several times over, and is a delight every time–an experience we’ve never seen with any other breed.

10. Everlasting Love

Last, but certainly not least, the most wonderful thing you stand to gain in adopting a British Shorthair is their love and loyalty. Even if you’re adopting an older cat who’s had difficult experiences prior to living in your home–once you gain their trust, you have it forever. It may take some time to get past that huffy diva exterior, but the breed is, at its core, a giant fluffy ball of love. They adore being the center of attention with their owners and guests, and are extremely social when they’re comfortable and happy! Ultimately, the British Shorthair is an absolutely wonderful companion to add to your home–from appearance to temperament and day to day experience, they are truly the best of the best.