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The British short hair cat is possibly the most frequent inhabitant of both urban and rural areas

of the United Kingdom --- walk through any street, meander in country lanes and bridelpaths,

rest awhile on any quay side or even the stables of erudite equine breeders, glimpse the many

farmyards of our land, visit the well known whisky distilleries of Scotland and there is the

British cat: in one situation the cat may be described as feral or a worker and be continuing

the hunter gatherer role, chasing rats, mice, other small rodents and small birds; and on the

other curled up by the fireside, gazing contentedly from warm window sills, or reclining in

well furnished catteries. It may even deign to sit on your lap purring contentedly and nestle like

a cuddly and warm 'teddy bear.'

 Mrs. G Binns' Ch & Gr Pr Cavmere Pressure Ridge (31a) relaxes at home

When seen out and about the British cat is seldom seen as being true to the type and colours

recognized by breeders and show exhibitors. Some say there is a rainbow of colours, and

modern breeding methods are certainly near achieving more than 50 % of the illusive rainbow.

The free living cats have resulted in many variations of colour now cherished as household pets

and even exhibited with as much care and passion as their pedigree cousins. As a cat the

'moggies' are as loving and loveable as the more aristocratic pedigree.

It would appear the British cat was the outcome of domestication in the Middle Ages, and

later became of commercial value for the fur used to trim the dresses of the wealthy ladies of

yesteryear. Some consider there to have been interbreeding with the Egyptian sacred cat, but

there is no genuine documentation to support this latter hypothesis.

The British Short-hair of today has a very distinct type, with a head with good round top of

skull, a good breadth between the ears which are small a slightly rounded at the tips. The cheeks

should be full and round and the chin firm. The eyes are large round and open with a short

but broad nose. The body is ideally four-square or 'well-knit' with a good depth and full breadth

of chest giving a powerful structure. The tail is thick at the base, tapering to a rounded tip and is

short rather than long; the legs are short ands strong with feet that are neat and well rounded yet

sturdy, while the coat is short fine crisp and close whether cottony nor woolly. The animal gives

an appearance of muscular vigour and strength supported by active health as well a sound well

proportioned body. In addition the cat is responsive and very intelligent, possibly gained through

the rigours of the history and prior need to fight for a livelihood. Most British cats appreciate being

nursed and fondled and form firm and loyal friendships with their owners which may be second to

none. Indeed this is a proper cat and purring machine.

Coat colour and pattern now varies with specific breed type, as will the eye colour and

other details known as the 'standard of points.'

The British cat was in evidence at that first show in 1871, but did suffer more than others

throughout the ravages of the first world war, but a few devoted breeders kept lines alive and

by 1938 the quality was much improved and many were being bred and shown. The

devastation of the second world war once more devastated the stock, but those lines which

survived to maintain a small but significant section in the Cat Fancy provided great

opportunities for the enthusiasts who followed.

A faithful group of supporters founded the British cat |club (now defunked) in 1901 and the

Pioneering Group included such names as Mesdames Abell and Dimoperline, as well as the

Rev'd Father Basil Rees. More details of the evolution of breed colours and their recognition is in

a later chapter.

The British shorthair makes an excellent pet ; The management of these British cats hold

few difficulties, and they are an hardy breed who can thrive in outdoor catteries as long as the

accommodation is weatherproof and free of drafts. This cat does, however, demand a

comfortable bed and as large an outside run as is possible. There should, however, be rooms

indoors, one for queens in kitten or with kitten, and another for the occasional ill or elderly cat.

However, many cats are kept in the house as much as in the cattery, as long as precautions re

made to avoid unacceptable or unwanted matings, etc.

The British cat's lifespan averages at 9 - 15 years --- some are known to have reached the grand

old ages of 18 to even 23 years. The average size of a litter is about 5 kittens and the Queens are

good mothers. These sturdy cats are a healthy breed and suffer no specific health problems,

although an annual 'service' as well as vaccination is recommend from age 8 years to assess

liver and kidney function. With the excellent modern diets teeth should nit need cleaning, but in

the older cat dental care may be a necessity. The author uses the health diet dental biscuits

as well as twice weekly dental hygiene care and no cat has needed surgical cleansing for

over eight years at the time of writing.

There is of course, one breed that is not quite as the others --- the Manx, perhaps the most

fascinating breed, who are markedly affectionate and intelligent, and live well as pets for the

home and most probably originate from the Isle of Man. The taillessness is the mark of the

Manx and must be complete with an hollow at the end of the backbone and outstanding hind

quarters and a rump as round as an orange. The coat is usually double with soft thick

undercoat and a rabbit like topcoat. Many stories evolve around the derivation of these cats;

some even claim the tails were lost because they were the last animals to board the ark and had

them cut off by the closing door --- scripturally most unlikely. Most breeders still lay claim to their

cat's ancestry on the Isle of Man, and in 1820 they first appeared in New Jersey.

Today the British Blue tends to be the most popular, and comes closest to the general breed

standards. At early shows these blue cats were shown with a variety of breed names including,

Archangel, the Russian, the Spanish, the Chartreux and the American Blue --- some had

British type while others had longer slimmer heads and bodies, and judges preferences varied

between the two, escalating argument which eventually lead to there being two classes, for

what we now know as British and Foreign cats. Skilled breeding during the 20th century has

produced the attractive cat of today.

Some breeders have found it necessary to out cross approximately every fifth generation with

exceptional longhairs in order keep the required standard type

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