How To Choose A British Shorthair Kitten
It is better to buy a British from trusted breeders or in specialized nurseries that breed this particular breed. At the time of sale, the kitten must have a metric confirming its origin and a veterinary passport with marks of vaccinations.
Little Brits should not show signs of aggression or fear. Cats should be active, playful, and moderately curious. Healthy British breed kittens have clear eyes, soft bellies, clean coats, and smooth skin without scratching or redness.
Claws Can Be A Bit Of A Problem With This Breed Due To Their Low Activity Levels
You should provide a scratching post or two as a matter of course scratching is very important for a cats health and happiness. As they get older and less active, though, your British Shorthair may stop scratching as much. She will probably spend less time on her feet, too. The upshot of this is that her claws may not be worn down as they normally would be, and the old claw sheaths may not be shed. This can result in British Shorthairs developing ingrown claws. For this reason, I recommend clipping your British Shorthairs claws on a regular basis. It is very, very important to be careful when you do this.
Clipping your cats claws too close to the quick can result in pain and injury for your British Shorthair. The quick is full of nerves and blood vessels it is extremely painful for your cat if this area is cut and can leave the tissue vulnerable to infection. Be sure that you are only cutting the very tip of the claw, where its white and slightly translucent. Your British Shorthair will probably object to you doing more than one or two claws at a time. I recommend you respect this if you force the issue and try to do the whole lot, youll upset her and make the whole operation more difficult next time. As long as all of her claws get a light clipping every ten days or so, you should be fine. Trimming your cats claws also helps prevent painful scratching if you have to do something she objects to, such as giving her medicine.
British Shorthair Color And Coat Type
British cats are covered with short, elastic, dense fur, which feels like plush to the touch. Under the shiny awn hides a thick undercoat. The standard allows several dozen color variations of British cats.
The most common colors found in the breed are:
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British Shorthair Cat Grooming
Because theyre a shorthaired breed, grooming is fairly minimal for most BSH cats. Having said that, though, there are a few grooming procedures I would recommend for the British Shorthair. Although their fur is short, it is wonderfully dense and plush.
This means that British Shorthairs tend to shed more heavily than other breeds. I tend to have a fairly robust attitude to a little kitty hair on my furniture and clothing if you cant tolerate a bit of fluff, you should own a Sphynx but the British Shorthair is a world champion when it comes to producing loose hair. This wouldnt be too bad, except that when your British Shorthair cleans herself shell end up eating the shed fur and tend to develop hairballs. To cut down on the amount of vacuuming and hairball cleanup you need to do, I recommend giving your British Shorthair a good brushing or combing at least once a week. You might need to do this more often when the weather is warming up at the end of winter, as this is when your BSH cat will tend to moult.
British Shorthair Cat History
The story of the British Shorthair begins two thousand years ago, with the arrival of the Ancient Romans in Britain. To cope with the problem of vermin raiding their stores and spreading disease, both on long sea voyages and when they settled in the British Isles, the Romans brought along some skilful pest control experts: the first domestic cats, acquired from their territories in Egypt.
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On arrival in Britain, the Egyptian cats made some new friends: indigenous European wildcats. These European wildcats were very distinct from Egyptian cats. As well as being larger and more muscular than those elegant desert felines, the wildcats temperament is markedly different. More solitary, more aggressive and not at all amenable to sharing their habitat with humans, the European wildcat was considered impossible to domesticate.
Despite these significant differences, the two species appear to have found some common ground with each other and mated. The wildcats were genetically close enough to their more sociable Egyptian cousins that they could have kittens together. The results of these cross-breedings were hardy shorthaired felines, eager hunters like the wildcat but very sociable and quite happy to live alongside humans. These were the first British domestic cats.
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Dont Be Fooled By The High Cost Of A Show
Breeding queens cannot become pregnant too frequently and a kitten able to command thousands of pounds doesnt come along in every litter. Some litters will have only two or three kittens and if they dont have show-quality characteristics, they wont sell for more than a few hundred pounds each. Whether or not they can sell their kittens for a particularly high price, a breeder must still feed, shelter and care for each member of their breeding stock.
Bills for quality food, visits to the vet and so on will still add up. It can also be very time-consuming to operate a cattery, especially if you are also exhibiting your cats on the show circuit. In most cases, a really serious cat breeder will need a separate income. What often happens is that cat breeder end up in couples where one spouse or partner goes out to work and the other dedicates their time to the cats. Unless you have some kind of unearned income, it can be hard to survive unless someone in the household has a full-time job.
Reasons To Add A British Shorthair To Your Family
They are affectionate:These much-loved felines enjoy being wherever their owners are. They love to receive fuss and are very loving in return which makes British Shorthairs a delight to be around. They are also known to get along with strangers.
They are independent:British Shorthairs are affectionate without being demanding. They are content when by themselves so this makes them the perfect pet choice for people who have to leave the house for work.
Their ‘teddy bear’ like appearance:These cats are definitely one of the cutest breeds! Their large round eyes and chubby cheeks have made families across the UK fall in love with them!
They get along with children:These cats are incredibly laidback which makes them great companions for young children. They are very tolerant and tend to choose to walk away rather than scratch when play gets a little too rough.
They are calm and easy-going: These cats do not require too much attention and they are known to be less energetic than many other cat breeds. This makes them fairly easy to care for.
They are low maintenance on the grooming front: The short, plush coat of this breed makes them easy to groom. A brush once a week is all that is need to keep their coats in good condition.
They are healthy: British Shorthairs are known to be a healthy breed which means fewer vet bills for you!
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How Much Does A British Shorthair Cat Cost
The British Shorthair cat is not an inexpensive breed of cat to buy. Prices can range from around $1,500 to $3,000 USD for a kitten.
This can also be a lot higher if you want a cat with a rare color or combination of colors, as well as if theyre from a pedigree line.
If this is a little high but youre set on adopting a British Shorthair, dont forget that there are plenty of older cats in adoption shelters in need of a home!
A Little History Of The British Shorthair
This breed of cat has a long and colorful history.
The British Shorthair is a native British breed that has been around for centuries.
They were first introduced to the United States in the late 1800s and have been gaining popularity ever since.
They have a distinctive look and feel with their thick, plush coats and large, round eyes.
British Shorthair cats are also known for their gentle dispositions and easy-going nature, making them ideal companions for families with children.
It may not come as much of a surprise, but the British Shorthair is also the official cat of Great Britain.
So, if youre looking for a British-themed pet, this is the perfect choice!
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British Shorthair Indoor Or Outdoor Cat
Its very common for breeders to insist that any British Shorthair cat they place will be an indoor kitty. This is a very sensible measure. While it can be fun for a cat to explore the great outdoors, its really not safe. If you live in an urban area, your cat runs the risk of being hit by a car or motorbike. In rural areas, predators such as foxes and even birds of prey can harm your cat. Wherever you live, there are hazards from badly trained dogs and other cats that arent as good-natured as your British Shorthair. Your cat is also at risk from other humans. In the best case, this might mean someone who wants to steal her your British Shorthair may be a beloved friend and companion to you, but to an opportunistic thief shes nothing more than a valuable piece of property to be stolen. In the worst case, there are violent and cruel individuals who delight in hurting creatures that are too small to hurt them back.
British Shorthair Cats Are A Fairly Low
They do have more energetic moments but tend to spend most of the day sitting or lying quietly in their preferred lookout spots, dozing or supervising the household with their big round eyes. The British Shorthair is very intelligent they are very easy to train and delight in learning new games and tricks. Unlike, say, the Siamese, this intelligence doesnt manifest as problematic behaviour.
Theyre much more likely to exercise that BSH brain with an intriguing toy or puzzle than in trying to raid the treat cupboard or work out how to open the fridge. Their high trainability makes it a cinch to educate your British Shorthair in practical skills like using the litter-box properly and scratching their posts, not the furniture. Its also fun to teach your BSH a novelty skill such as giving you a high-five in exchange for a reward. My favourite skill to teach British Shorthairs is playing fetch. This not only gives the cat plenty of entertainment and stimulation, but its also a nice little trick to show people when they complain that cats arent trainable like dogs.
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British Shorthair Cat Cost
The recommended route to owning a British Shorthair is to track down a reputable breeder and purchase a healthy, well-socialised kitten. This is expensive you could spend a few hundred pounds on a pedigree pet-quality kitten and upwards of a thousand on a show-quality one but there are a lot of advantages. Check this article How Much Does A British Shorthair Cat Cost. You get to check your breeders background record, see the cattery and pick out a kitten you feel a bond with. You can also meet the kittens mother and possibly the father too if he lives at the cattery.
Many breeders just maintain queen cats and hire in an entire tom from elsewhere when they want more kittens, but some keep a stud tom in-house. Your kitten will be in good health, have been checked for disease and received all her early vaccinations. She will also have been de-sexed (responsible breeders will absolutely insist on this. Good breeders keep kittens with their mother until theyre at least 12 weeks, with many breeders preferring to hang onto their kittens until the 16th week just to give them a really good start in life. At this age, the kittens are well-adjusted, fully weaned and ready to embark on a new adventure.
Welcome To Shorthair British Kittens For Sale Home
British shorthair kittens for sale is a home-based family business that specializes in luxury, purebred cats, and kittens for sale. We have proudly provided U.S. homes with bundles of love since June 2017.
British shorthair kittens for sale are unique from day one, as our breeders carefully pick perfectly matching cats for mating. By mating the best cats, the litter is absolutely exclusive. We breed all kittens in a warm domestic atmosphere, trying to teach them to be kind and loving. They are kept healthy by being fed natural vitamin-filled meals. They are also well-trained since they use litter boxes and scratching posts at the earliest possible age. As soon as they are 10 weeks old, kittens receive vaccinations and are ready to move to a new home and become a part of a loving family.
We are delighted to choose and bring your new kittens to you and help them get accustomed to a new family. We are also glad to advise our customers on all matters. The main aim of our company is to take care of our Shorthair friends by matching them with a perfectly loving home. We pride ourselves on finding the best cats for our clients in the most hassle-free way possible. Let us help you find your most desired companion!
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Tips When Choosing A British Shorthair Breeder Or Cattery
I did my best to verify the breeders listed above, however, you should do your own due diligence when choosing a cattery.
Keep in mind that a good breeder will be able to show you the parents of the kitten youre interested in, as well as provide health clearances.
Catteries that are members of The British Shorthair Society adhere to a code of ethics which also means they adhere to certain standards of care.
Make sure you visit the cattery in person, and if you dont get a good feeling about anything, dont be afraid to back out.
Any positive reviews you can find online are a bonus, but I always suggest trusting your instincts more than third-party reviews.
How Friendly Are British Shorthair Cats
Jill Wheeler calls them easy-going, non-destructive and low-energy pets.
British Shorthairs are good, calm pets for families once they move past their kitten stage.
They are affectionate, intelligent and trainable and will bond closely with their families. They usually get along with well-behaved children.
Once bonded, British Shorthairs generally like to be around their humans. They may even follow you from room to room, although they dont like to be carried or held in laps. But they value their alone time, too, making this a good breed for a family absent from the home during the day.
British Shorthairs usually get along well with other pets ranging from dogs to rodents, rabbits and even birds.
They can be fairly clumsy, so expect a few broken knickknacks if yours tries to make long leaps.
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British Shorthair Cat Appearance
The British Shorthair is a very appealing cat. They have a physical configuration known as cobby in cat fancy parlance: solid, round and blocky, with a lot of muscle. Everything about the British Shorthair is round, in fact. Their feet, their heads, their wide, expressive eyes. The British Shorthairs paws are very round and neat their ears, too, are round and spaced wide apart on their heads. British Shorthairs have a modest degree of brachycephaly not the kind of pronounced flattening of the face and shortening of the skull seen in exotics, but just enough to give them a cute snub-nosed look. Their heads are rounded, sometimes described as football-shaped.
They have quite pronounced whisker pads, giving them a charmingly chubby-cheeked appearance. Male British Shorthairs tend to be a little jowly . Theyre often described as teddy-bear cats, an entirely fitting descriptor: big round eyes, gentle features, soft fur.
One of the most notable features of this breed is their coat. Its dense, thick and remarkably soft, with a texture most frequently described as crisp. The fur breaks rather like sheepskin as the cat moves. Their fur texture is unique to the breed theres nothing quite like it.
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