British Shorthair

The British Shorthair is the founding cat of Britain, descended from the working cats the Romans are said to have carried to the island to guard their grain. For centuries it was simply the British street and farm cat, before fanciers turned it into the plush, round-faced breed seen today.

It is built like a brick. A broad round head, full cheeks, big copper eyes, and a stocky cobby body sit under a dense, crisp coat that stands away from the skin. The blue-grey version, the British Blue, is so iconic that many people think it is the only color.

The temperament is famously easygoing. British Shorthairs are calm, dignified, and a little reserved, affectionate without being clingy. They will keep you company from across the room rather than demanding a lap, and they tolerate being left alone better than most.

Their plush looks have made them cultural icons. The breed is often named as the inspiration for the Cheshire Cat and for Puss in Boots. Easy to live with and slow to anger, the British Shorthair is one of the most popular cats in Britain and a steady climber in America.

The British Shorthair is one of the easiest cats to live with. It is calm, undemanding, and content to keep you company from its own chosen spot, tolerating time alone better than most and rarely making a fuss. It is not a natural lap cat and often prefers to sit beside you rather than on you.

Two things need watching. The dense coat sheds and wants regular brushing, more in spring, and the breed loves its food and gains weight easily, so portions matter. Like many breeds it can carry the heart condition HCM, and the kidney condition PKD appears in some lines, so good breeders test.