The British Shorthair is a domesticated cat that is said to resemble a teddy bear. Its features make it a popular breed in cat shows. British Shorthairs have very dense, soft coats. The eyes are large, round and copper in colour. The head is round with chubby cheeks. The body is rounded and sturdy. The breed has a broad chest, shoulders and hips with short legs, round paws and a plush tail. 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 British Shorthair may be any colour or pattern, but the blue variant is common enough to have a name of its own: the 'British Blue'. However, a large variety of other colour and pattern variations appear and are accepted as breed standards.The lifespan of this breed is 9 to 15 years
One claim of the British Shorthair's origin is that it was bred for the first time in the 19th century in an attempt to create a beautiful cat out of an alley cat and a domestic cat. The result was a British Shorthair named "Brite", which was presented to the public in 1871 with widespread approval.Another claim indicates that the breed's ancestry traces back to domestic cats in Egypt and Rome. Under this claim, it is believed that the British Shorthair cats arrived to Britain after the 2nd century AD when the Roman Empire spread to Britain
The British Shorthair is an easygoing breed. It has a stable character and can easily live in an apartment setting. It is not terribly demanding of attention, although it will make its desire for play known if its owner looks available. It is not normally destructive or hyperactive, although it can be playful. It has become a favorite of animal trainers because of its nature and intelligence, and in recent years these cats have appeared in Hollywood films and television commercials
