Image Credits: Pixabay
One of the most popular pedigree cats in the world, the British Shorthair breed is known for winning several competitions. As the name suggests, these felines come from the UK and gorgeous looks.
The
beauty of different breeds of cats is that they have unique
personalities and temperaments. If you plan on getting one or you
just want to learn more about these felines, here are interesting
facts about British Shorthair cats:
Long
lifespan
Out
of all the cat breeds in the world, the British Shorthair has one of
the longest lifespans. You can say that it does have nine lives, as
it is healthy by nature. One of the reasons is because of the size of
the gene pool, during the early years of breeding.
It
comes in different colors
The
common belief is that British Shorthair felines only have one color –
gray. However, they come in a variety of shades. Silver, gold, black,
white, and red are some of the hues of its coat. They also have
different colors for their eyes, ranging from blue-green to copper
and gold.
It
could be the inspiration for Cheshire Cat by Lewis Carroll
If
you read Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, you will remember the
Cheshire Cat, which is a popular character in the book. There are
several rumors which indicate that the author drew the illustrations
for this persona from the British Shorthair cat.
The
roots go back to Rome
The
British Shorthair felines are one of the oldest breeds of cats to
exist in the world. You can trace their lineage to the legendary
Roman empire. As the Romans were planning on invading Great Britain,
they carried these felines with them. The belief is that these cats
were responsible for protecting the supplies of the soldiers from
rodents.
They
almost went extinct
You
will find it surprising to know that these breeds of felines reached
a point of extinction in the past. Although they were extremely
popular for shows, their popularity started to decline with the
introduction of Siamese and Persian breeds.
On
top of that, the two World Wars stopped people from breeding the
British Shorthair felines. Fortunately, dedicated British dealers
made sure to keep these species alive with the right mating
processes.
Vulnerable
to obesity
The
major reason why people love the British Shorthair is because of its
muscular and solid frame. However, it is quite easy for them to
become obese if you don’t pay close attention. Due to this reason,
you need to ensure it gets regular exercise while feeding it
high-quality and nutritious food.
If
you are planning on getting a British Shorthair cat, go for it. There
are plenty of options available, ensuring you can get one which you
will fall in love with, instantly!
