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An ideal body conformation, extra-plush fur, and a heavenly blue-grey color that is set off by orange or copper eyes have given this cat a consistent number-one ranking in the Shorthair popularity stakes.

History
The British Blue Shorthair evolved during the late nineteenth century from breeding programs using the very best street cats. It made an early appearance at shows, but the scarcity of studs during World Was II, and outcrosses to other breeds after the end of the war, caused the type to deteriorate. The introduction of Blue Longhairs into breeding lines resulted in some improvement, although the fur tended to be too long. It was not until the 1950s that very selective breeding was, finally, able to restore the original Blue Shorthair type.

Temperament
A sharp-witted and particularly affectionate cat, the British blue Shorthair makes an excellent companion and confident that some owners report has a hankering for the quiet life.

Varieties
The Chartreux is considered by some associations to be a true variety of the British Blue, but others judge it by the same standard. It is thought to have been developed in France during the Middle Ages by the monks belonging to the monastery of La Grande Chartreuse (famous for its green liqueur), using cats imported from North Africa. It is given its own class in North America, where a sturdier cat than the British Blue is called for, with a higher proportion of grey in the coat, and a face that is less rounded. In Great Britain, selective breeding has brought the Chartreux so close in type to the Blue Shorthair that no distinction is made between the two.

British Blue Shorthair
To preserve the breed type, occasional outcrossings to Blue Longhairs and Black Shorthairs are recommended in some countries.

Picture: British Blue Shorthair

Body
Strong, muscular, and stocky.

Coat
The fur is short and dense. At one stage, a dark state-blue color was accepted, but now the standard requires a medium to light blue. There should be no tabby markings.

Tail
Short and thick.

Legs
Short, and well-proportioned.

Feet
The paws are large and round with blue paw pads.

Head
Round and broad, with a short, straight nose and blue nose pad. Well-developed chin.

Ears
Medium in size, and round-tipped.

Eyes
Large and round; color should be copper or orange.

Facial Characteristics
British Blue Shorthair.

A perennial favorite, the British Blue Shorthair has a well-balanced, but still sometimes mischievous, disposition.

Selective breeding of the Blue Shorthair has produced a body conformation that is a perfect example of the British Shorthair type.

British Shorthair kittens are particularly irresistible and pretty. They may have faint tabby markings that should disappear within a few months.

Chartreux
In some countries, this cat is allowed to retreat into the monastic seclusion of its own class.

The British Shorthair became an officially acknowledged breed by 1889 and went on to become one of the most popular breeds in cat shows at that time and still are today.

British Shorthair General Appearance:

The British Shorthair cat is medium to large in size, well balanced and powerful, showing good depth of body, a full broad chest, strong short legs, rounded paws, tail thick at base with rounded tip. The head is round with good width between small ears, round cheeks, firm chin, large round, well opened eyes and a short broad nose. The coat is short and dense.

British Shorthair Personality

British Shorthair are placid, not demanding, tolerant, docile and respectful. They are not vocal cats and in fact are very quiet and can cope with being alone without fretting. They are not inclined to wander. They love children and get along extremely well with dogs.

Looking at a British Blue what is really striking is how round he is; his body is a series of rounded shapes, from his paws to the tip of his tail and all is covered in a deep plush coat which ensures every part of him flows into the next. Calm, alert and affectionate without being overly-demonstrative he is a soothing presence, unlike some breeds who are very much “look at me!!”.

The British Blue is a very adaptable cat who will calmly accept children, dogs and other cats with a tolerant gaze; a breed who is undemanding but displays an understated affection and loyalty to his household.

Although the British Blues have no particular health problems, it makes good sense to insure your cats. Many breeders sell their kittens with six weeks free insurance cover. More and more owners are now insuring their pets as advances in veterinary medicine, plus the soaring costs of drugs can mean astronomical bills.