British Shorthair Cat

The pedigreed variant of the classic British domestic cat, with a characteristically stocky build, thick coat, and large face, is the British Shorthair. The "British Blue" color variety is the most well-known, with a solid grey-blue coat, orange eyes, and a medium-sized tail. The breed has also been bred in a variety of various colors and patterns, such as tabby and colorpoint. It is one of the oldest known cat breeds. According to the UK's Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), it is still the most popular pedigreed breed in its own nation today. British Shorthairs account for one-quarter of all kittens registered with the GCCF each year, making them the most popular pedigree cat in the UK.

The British Shorthair is a huge cat with a wide chest, strong thick-set legs with rounded paws, and a medium-length, blunt-tipped tail. The head is quite wide and rounded, with a short nose, broad cheeks (particularly visible in adult males, who acquire pronounced jowls), and large round eyes that are rich coppery orange in the British Blue and vary in color depending on coat. Their huge ears are broad and spread apart. The grey Scottish Fold, a breed related to the British Shorthair, is sometimes mistaken with the British Blue variation. The Shorthair, on the other hand, is distinguished by its pointed triangular ears, whilst the Fold has softer, folded ears.