Identify A British Shorthair Cat

  The British shorthair is often referred to as a “teddy bear” cat thanks to the round face and dense, furry coat. These are medium-to-large cats with a broad, deep chest and short legs that make them appear stocky and solid.
  There are two basic ways to identify British shorthair cats.

Looking at Physical Characteristics

• Look at the cat’s face and head. The British shorthair cat has a chubby face with chipmunk cheeks. Look also for a rounded contour to the face, with wide jowls and a generally wide head. The head should sit atop a neck that is short but thick.The cat’s ears are broad and round.The nose of the British shorthair cat is short. A cluster of whiskers protrudes from just below and to either side of the nose.The British shorthair cat’s default facial expression is in dispute. Some describe the cat as having a happy smile, while others contend that it has a sour expression.
• Check the cat’s body. The British shorthair cat has a stocky and broad-shouldered build and a full chest. It has a thick tail that tapers to a round tip.
• Look at the cat’s legs. To identify a British shorthair cat, look for short, strong legs.They have rounded paws at the end of each of their four legs.
• Examine the coat. The British shorthair cat, as its name implies, has a short coat. The coat is quite dense, however, and its short length does not prevent it from shedding heavily.It has a crisp or plush feel to it.
• Look at the cat’s eyes. The eyes of the British shorthair cat are large and round.They tend to be copper or deep gold in color. Occasionally, British shorthair cats will have blue or deep green eyes.
• Weigh the cat. Male British shorthair cats weigh about nine to seventeen pounds  when full-grown. Females weigh between seven and twelve pounds. Weigh your cat when it is fully grown to determine whether it could be a British shorthair cat.

Observing Temperament