British biography
How to choose a kitten British cats are famous for their plush wool, sophisticated manners and a soft character. Excellent companions and independent neighbors - they were popular long before the opening of the first exhibitions and contests, as they were unpretentious in leaving and coped with the main feline duty - fishing mice. Now the "British" are appreciated for an impressive exterior and calm disposition, and more and more fans are becoming more and more fans.
What story British cats are hung up, what standards of appearance exist and what you need to know about care and nutrition - we tell in the article. The name of the breed: British short -haired cat. Country of origin: Great Britain. Breeding time: XIX century. Weight: females - kg, male - kg. Height at the withers: see wool: short, dense, with a thick undercoat. Eye color: orange, dark golden, copper, blue, green.
The average life expectancy: years. The main facts of the breed are in good health. For a long time, only the "British" of the blue color were considered reference. Now there are more options for colors: the most popular are gray-blue, chocolate, lilac, cream. The rarest are Qinnamon and Faun. Previously, the "British" were popular only because of the skill of fishing.
Pets are restrained and do not like violations of personal boundaries. They rarely sit in their arms and do not ask care. Calmly tolerate the long absence of the owner and is suitable for people who spend a lot of time at work. Characteristics of the British cat Activity. Kittens are active and playful, adults prefer to spend time after a relaxing vacation, but they will not sometimes refuse to play active games.
They get along well with other pets and do not claim to be the owner’s entirely attention to themselves. Patiently treat children and do not show aggression: they prefer to retire to a quiet place if they do not like something. They are restrained in the manifestation of emotions and more like to spend time alone. They differ in independence, do not insist on attention and rarely meow.
Attitude to loneliness. Calmly tolerate loneliness and can find entertainment on their own. They are fed 2 times a year-in the fall and spring, but sometimes the process can be delayed due to the features of nutrition and health. The history of the origin of the British is still unknown. One version says that the animals were brought to the British islands by Roman conquerors, the other - that British cats went to earth from French ships.
The first "British" did not resemble their plush descendants little and kept the owners exclusively for practical purposes - for fishing mice. Pets were particularly popular among peasants precisely thanks to hunting skills: cats helped maintain grain and food supplies from rodents. The predecessors of the "British" were more elegant, differed in long limbs and more reminiscent of Egyptian cats.
But then they met cats of other breeds and began to enrich their gene pool. The appearance of the British cats for a long time was formed naturally, and only in the second half of the 19th century did the inhabitants of Great Britain see all their charm and realized that the features of the exterior should be fixed. Cats were crossed only with representatives of the same breed, so they managed to maintain their natural appearance for a long time.
For the first time, the breed was presented to the world in the year in London at the first professional exhibition, after which it became truly popular. Felinological clubs and nurseries appeared, as well as the rock standard, which, by the way, included only blue coloring. The first official genealogy was discharged in the year. After the Second World War, the surviving “British” began to be crossed with other breeds, which is why many felinological organizations refused to register descendants, considering them hybrids.
Only after a year, when the "British" received recognition of the largest felinological associations of Europe and the USA, the breed began to actively develop. Now the "British" are popular thanks to calm morals, plush soft wool and a variety of shades, as well as aristocratic manners. Photo of the British cat standards of the appearance of the British cat British short -haired cat - a medium -sized breed.
Males, as a rule, are larger than females: their weight reaches 9 kg, while the weight of females is a maximum of 6.5 kg. Pets grow for a long time and completely develop by about 5 years. The head is massive and rounded, with smooth outlines from all angles. Wide in the cheekbones, has well -developed rounded cheeks. A strong chin, a rounded forehead with a flat platform between the ears.
The eyes are large, round, widely set and open. The distance between the inner angles of the eyes is equal to the length of the nose. Color-bright orange, copper, dark gold, rarely-blue and green. The nose is short and straight without dimples. Wide, does not narrow to the tip. The nose should form a straight line with a chin.The ears are placed low and wide, short, with slightly rounded tips and wide at the base.
The neck is massive and short. The body is harmoniously folded, strong and low, such as Cobbie. Massive hips, large shoulders and chest, flat and broad back. The paws are strong and strong, rounded, short. The tail is wide at the base and rounded at the end, thick. The hairs fit tightly to the body, the length is medium. The wool is short, the same length, with a dense rich undercoat, shiny.
It does not fit tightly to the body, the texture is thin. The nature and habits of the breed is the nature of British cats - their main business card after appearance. Pets are quite self -sufficient, not afraid of loneliness and respect personal boundaries. Cats of this breed get along well with other pets, rarely show aggression and try not to enter into conflicts. They differ in cleanliness and easily accustomed to the tray.
Adults prefer a relaxing vacation with the owner and will gladly share a cozy evening for watching the film. They patiently wait for the owner to devote time to them, and they will be happy to be affected if it is presented tactfully. What no aristocrat will certainly tolerate - forced embrace and stroking on his hands: he will be released from his hands, hinting that he is not configured to such intimacy.
British cats will easily find a common language with children: they will not allow themselves to bite or scratch the child and prefer to retire to another room if the games and communication are bored with them. Possible health problems among the British cats of the British are distinguished by endurance and strong immunity and, with proper care, are extremely rare.
Nevertheless, there are some diseases to which representatives of the breed are more susceptible to the rest: ophthalmological diseases. Due to the features of the structure of the skull and eyes, the pets are susceptible to various eye infections. They can suffer from conjunctivitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye, blepharitis - inflammation of the edges of the eyelids and keratitis - clouding of the cornea.
Adult "British" do not show special passion for outdoor games, so they often begin to gain weight if the owner does not timely adjust the diet and level of physical activity. Polycystic kidney. Due to hybridization with Persian cats, the British are also at the risk of the development of this disease. Polycystosis is characterized by the occurrence of hollow formations with a liquid inside, which affects the work of the urinary system.
Pets with this disease require constant supportive therapy. The disease is characterized by a thickening of the walls of the left ventricle and a decrease in the effectiveness of the heart. In order to protect the animal from the development of dangerous diseases, it is necessary to vaccinate according to the schedule, monitor the diet, devote time to active games and not forget about preventive visits to the veterinary clinic - then the British cat will be full of strength and live a long and happy life.
The maintenance and care will not take a lot of time: it is enough to perform a number of procedures that will help maintain the beauty of the exterior and health of the pet. The wool of the "British" does not huddle and does not get down into the stiffons, so they can be combed out once a week with a flat comb with medium teeth. It is not worth using a pudder for combing: it can adversely affect the quality of the undercoat and damage the hairs, which is why the fur will seem “aligned”.
During the molting period, the procedure should be carried out more often so that the pet does not swallow a lot of wool during grooming - this is fraught with the formation of hair lumps and problems with the gastrointestinal tract. The eyes of British cats are prone to the appearance of crusts in the corners and are susceptible to various infections. The owner needs to remove pollution in a timely manner if the pet does not cope on his own - so you can prevent the development of ophthalmic diseases.
It is enough to clean the ears of a cat every two weeks. The structure of the auricle in British cats is anatomically correct, so the procedure is not required more often. Particular attention should be paid to physical exertion: adult "British" can begin to gain excess weight, as they prefer measured rest. We also advise you to highlight the place where the pet will be able to retire and relax calmly.
British cats value silence and peace and love to spend time alone, so a cozy house on a hill or a couch in a quiet place will help them feel calm and safe. Features of the nutrition are repeated: the "British" are prone to a set of excess weight, so it is necessary to feed the pet relying on the daily norm. The diet should be balanced and include all the necessary vitamins to maintain good health.
We advise you not to save and choose high-quality feed: this is the only way you will be sure that the pet receives all important micro- and macronutrients in the correct ratio.How to choose a kitten we advise you to take a kitten in a trusted nursery: so you can not doubt not only in the “cleanliness” of its pedigree, but also in the fact that everything will be in order with the pet’s health.
Conscientious breeders will not give a kitten before three months of age: this time is necessary for the socialization and assimilation of all cat skills and rules of behavior.