Tags: cat (56 pics), kittens (76 pics) The British Shorthair is a domesticated cat whose features make it a popular breed in cat shows. Indeed, it has been the most popular breed of cat registered by the UK's Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) since 2001 (18 years ago), when it overtook the Persian breed. Origin The British Shorthair is the descendant of cats brought to Britain by the Romans and then interbred with wild native cats. They were later crossbred with Persian cats to improve the thickness of their coat. The breed was defined in the 19th century and British Shorthairs were shown at the 1871 (148 years ago) Crystal Palace cat show. The popularity of the breed declined by the 1940s, but since the end of World War II, breeding programs have intensified and the breed's popularity is high once again. Breed description British Shorthairs have dense, plush coats that are often described as crisp or cracking, referring to the way the coat breaks over the contours of the cat's body. Eyes are large, round and widely set and can be a variety of colours, though the copper or gold eyes of the British blue are the best known. Their heads are round with full, chubby cheeks. Their bodies are large, sturdy, and muscular and are described as having a "cobby" build. The breed has a broad chest, shoulders and hips with short legs, round paws and a plush but not fluffy tail that ends in a round or blunt tip. These are the characteristics listed in most governing bodies breeds standards to which show cats must conform. The males of this breed are larger than the females, and the size difference between them is more easily noticed compared to other breeds. The males' average weight is 5-10 kilograms, whereas a female would weigh up to 5-7 kg. As with many breeds, the adult males may also develop prominent cheek jowls that distinguish them from their female counterparts. The typical lifespan of this breed is 14 to 20 years.

Navigation Previous picture Back to gallery Next picture View in fullscreen Customize this wallpaper Rate this picture Click on the star to vote Download 1024x768 1152x864 - widescreen 1280x960 1440x1080 - 1080i HD 1600x1200 Use this wallpaper Set this wallpaper as homepage Comments

Users who have seen this wallpaper have also seen:

Green Tree Python

Moss Frog

Dendrobates azureus (Dendrobates tinctorius)

Img

Dog Tired

Random Animals pictures

Duck and fledgling

Resting Leopard, Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Kenya, Africa

Tripplescreen Penguins

North American Grey Wolf, Rocky Mountains

Squirrel

Request deletion of this wallpaper

Claim ownership of this picture