The British Shorthair is a gentle giant of the cat world. It is bred in most colours contrary to popular belief. The most popular colour is the blue, which is often referred to as the British Blue, thereby giving the impression that it is a breed on its own, totally incorrect.

The origin of the British Shorthair, stems from the breeding of the Ordinary domestic 'alley cat' with the pedigree Persian. This was in the late 1800's. The result was a big boned cat, with shorthair, and like its ancestor the alley cat, a great immune system.

The British Shorthair is a hardy cat, and with good breeding behind it there should be no notable defects, either congenital or hereditary. The round body of the British Shorthair should ideally be consistent from the face to the body. The size should be a big to large, cobby but not to compact a cat. Big round head, medium ears, with a good width between. Nicely rounded eyes and a round face. Big broad chest, muscled shoulders, strong round body. Tail should be thick, but not longer than the total body length. The eye colour should be solid, and ranging from gold to copper, except in Whites, colour points and some Tabbies and Silvers. The coat should be thick, short and dense, giving the appearance of crispness. Cracking in the coat is desired. Paws should be thick and powerful, legs - not overly long.

Personality of the British has sometimes been described as 'aloof' or 'independent', however this depends on the lines behind the cat, and the breeder. They are quite happy being 'inside' cats and an inside cat is a 'safe' cat. The British Shorthair continue to grow and develop for up to three years. The average weight of a grown British Shorthair is approximately 7 kilos. Although a big and heavy cat, they are usually gentle and affectionate. The British also get along with children and most other domestic pets if introduced 'sensibly'.