Features, character and content of British black cats

Classic British cats are recognizable for their rich gray coat. But there are many varieties of this breed, including luxurious black British women, which many consider not only mysterious, but also mystical.

The British are considered one of the oldest breeds, and their homeland is England. According to some reports, they came to this country with French sailors, and stayed there. For many years they were ordinary street cats, and only nature was responsible for their breed. During this time, they have developed some genetic characteristics that are inherent in this particular breed. That is, the animal had a huge body, large, rounded eyes, and a very dense and water-repellent coat.

In addition, British cats are quite neat and intelligent animals, which allowed them to become favorites of the British. Already at the end of the 18th century, breeders began to cross these beauties with representatives of other breeds. At first, their color was only blue, but over time it turned out to diversify the color scheme. And at the end of the 19th century, certain standards for cats of this breed were established. These are two main colors that are responsible for the formation of minor shades: black and red.

A gene such as zumelanin is responsible for the formation of black. However, for its appearance, it is necessary that the British cat has two genes: B and D, but the B gene must necessarily dominate. In addition, the British can be smoky. Among them it is worth noting cats with black smoke color. Their fur is black only at the tips themselves, but at the roots it is white.Paws and muzzle are completely black.

However, a real British cat has an even color, without any transitions or shades. The same applies to the undercoat. The animal's coat can be either long or short. Black British cats are slightly different from their gray counterparts.

• They have a stiffer and brighter coat, which appeared in animals due to black pigmentation.
• The body of the British is quite dense, with a wide back and short legs.
• The front legs have five toes, but the hind legs have only four.
• The tail is long and thick.
• A rounded muzzle is placed on a wide neck. In addition, there is a fold on it, which only representatives of this breed have.
• The ears of the British are small, with rounded tips.
• Their eyes are huge, wide open.
• The weight of cats can be up to 10 kilograms, but cats weigh no more than 6 kilograms.

Despite the color of these beauties, which makes them mysterious and strict, the British are quite affectionate and sociable. They have great reactions and a keen mind. They quickly get used to a new place of residence, and also become attached to their owners. However, in front of strangers, they only like to show off and show their self-sufficiency. They won't even let themselves be stroked, they will keep a certain distance.

Representatives of this breed, with close contact with people, can affect their health. This is especially useful for those who suffer from hypertension or cardiovascular disease. Although the British love affection, they never feel alone. These beauties can perfectly cope with their loneliness by playing with a tail or any toy. Therefore, these cats are very often given by busy people who love animals, but do not have a lot of time to play with them.

British cats are rather unpretentious animals that can live in a house for up to 15 years. To do this, you need to follow just a few of the simplest rules of care.

Particular attention should be paid to their thick coat. This animal needs to be brushed once a week. To do this, you can use a special comb with "droplets" on the tips of the teeth, so that the animal does not get hurt. But during the molting period, this must be done much more often, every two days. In addition, combing must be taught from childhood, this can be done as early as 2 months, when the fluffy pet begins to explore everything around.

These cats love to lick themselves, which is very dangerous during the molting period. After all, the hair will settle in their stomach, as a result of which problems with the intestines may arise.

From the age of six months you can start bathing the British. This should be done as they become dirty. However, for their health, bathing should be carried out no more than 2 times a year. You can use a special shampoo that is sold at any veterinary pharmacy. In the most urgent cases - for example, participation in various exhibitions or heavy pollution, pets can be bathed more often.

In addition, having brought home a small kitten, you need to take care of its housing. He can equip a small corner: build or buy a special house. You can install it in a place convenient for the owners, but if the pet does not like it there, then you will need to give up. Otherwise, a proud Briton will live wherever he wants.

However, special efforts are not required, since the cats are distinguished by their cleanliness. When buying a toilet tray, you need to pay attention to its dimensions. The tray must be large, as the cats themselves are rather big. It is better if the toilet is closed.

The cat should also like the filler, otherwise he will not go to the toilet. Therefore, when buying Britons, be sure to ask the breeders which one they used. If there is no such information, then you need to buy fillers that do not soak so that the pet does not then spread the dirt throughout the house.

It is imperative to take care of the claws of your pets. They must either be cut regularly or a scratching post installed in the house so that the pet does not damage the wallpaper or expensive furniture.

Black Britons will need annual vaccinations as well as treatment for various parasites. This is especially important if the pet is walking on the street. You can buy a special collar for him or use the right medication. In addition, it is imperative to hang a tag on the collar with the address or phone number of the owners - in case the Briton gets lost.

Be sure to monitor the health of the animal. Indeed, despite the excellent immune system that they inherited from their ancestors, the British are susceptible to disease... This can be heart disease, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is incurable.... But it is still possible to prevent it. To do this, you need to do your pet once a year an ultrasound scan. It will be better if the same doctor begins to observe the cat.

Black British people are prone to dental diseases, so they must be monitored with special diligence. That is, buy special toothpastes and regularly brush your teeth, as well as remove tartar on time. After all, if this is not done, then they can lose up to 30 percent of all teeth.

British cats are highly obese, so care should be taken not to overeat. You can feed them both natural and industrial feed. Do not mix them, however, as this will lead to stomach problems.

There is no need to buy only those food that are intended for the British. First of all, you need to pay attention to their content, as well as to your pet. After all, all feeds are completely different, for example, for castrated or sterilized animals, you only need to buy special feeds, where there is no phosphorus or calcium in the composition. In addition, it will be better, you get dry, rather than wet food. You need to feed your pets 2 times a day. After eating, the dishes should be washed and only fresh water should be poured, of which there should be plenty. This way you can avoid overeating the animal.

If natural feed is used for feeding, then it should consist of the following products.

• Raw meat. You can give veal or turkey. There is no need to cook meat, as it will lose all its benefits. It is enough just to pour over boiling water and put it in a bowl immediately.
• Fresh or boiled vegetables. It can be a pumpkin, a vegetable marrow, or a cucumber.
• Saltwater fish, best without bones.
• Eggs.
• Cottage cheese.
• Seaweed, which will make the Briton's coat silky to the touch.
• Mineral and vitamin supplements available from your veterinary pharmacy.

This process is not only troublesome, but also pleasant, because as a result small kittens will be born. Puberty in cats of this breed occurs 9 months after birth. However, you should not immediately knit. It is necessary to give your pet a good strength. It is best to mate after 15 months of life, since if you do this earlier, then all babies may die during childbirth.

Mating should be done only after the second or third heat. The cat should be left with the cat for a few days. On the first day, the animals just get to know each other.A British woman's pregnancy lasts up to 9 weeks. The first signs are the swollen and pinkish nipples of the cat. In addition, she eats a lot, and after 5 weeks her belly will significantly increase.

It is imperative to take care of the place of birth. It must be fenced off from the rest of the space and lay a soft cloth.

To obtain black offspring, the owners will need to work a little, especially in choosing a mate. Let's consider some rules:

• only black individuals are chosen for mating;
• there can be no gray relatives in the pedigree;
• both pets must be absolutely healthy and have the necessary vaccinations;
• before mating cats need to be treated for parasites.

If the owner does not know how to get the desired result, then it is best to turn to specialists for this, who will be able to find a worthy partner for your beloved pet. In addition, you can familiarize yourself with the breed compatibility tables, which are compiled by leading experts.

• If one pet is black, and the second is tricolor or bicolor, then the future offspring will consist of half of their black kittens, and half of their bicolor.
• If mating is carried out between bicolors and tricolors, then their offspring can be unpredictable. Half of the kittens will be bicolor, 25% will be black, and the other 25% will be almost white.

When a small kitten appears in the house, he must be given a nickname. However, you should not be in too much of a hurry. It is necessary to take a closer look at the baby, study all his habits, and only after that choose a nickname for him.

The name for a boy should emphasize not only his beauty, but also his color.... For example, it can be Black, Black or Moor. Interesting and such names as Graphite, Dart, Schwartz, Behemoth, Beetle, Cosmos, Noir.

The girl can be called Bagheera, in honor of the black panther from the cartoon, or Knight, which means night. The name Nyukta sounds very beautiful, that was the name of the Greek goddess of the night.

Other names:

• Currant;
• Shadow;
• Spacey;
• Chanel;
• Night.

All this does not mean that the name should only match the color. For example, having brought a baby into the house, you can notice that he distinguished himself in something, and the nickname itself will stick to him. Already after 4-6 months, the pet will respond to it.

All about the British Shorthair breed, see the next video.