British Longhair cat: description, conditions of keeping and feeding features

British long-haired cats remained in the shadows for a long time - this was due to many of the shortcomings of this breed. After breeders perfected the British, the demand for these animals increased. Many pet lovers dream of having such a cat. You can often find another name for the breed - Highlander. These pets have a docile nature; they are affectionate and friendly with their owners.

In the last century, breeders have been actively involved in improving the British cat breed and developing new animal colors. For this, a lot of breeding work was carried out, short-haired representatives of the British were crossed with Persian cats. Thus, the specialists brought the Highlanders out. Two world wars significantly slowed down the process of breeding long-haired cats.

In England, the pedigree of animals is very strictly monitored, so it is important that the ancestors of cats do not have long hair, in which case they will be considered noble and purebred. For this reason, Highlanders have long succumbed to culling.

Today these cats have become very popular among cat lovers. Therefore, breeding work is now being carried out purposefully. The International Cat Association listed this breed of animals in 2001. Long-haired Britons have received recognition as an independent and experimental breed. Three years later, experts presented the Highlander breed standard to the world. Only 10 years ago, the system of the World Cat Federation announced the official recognition of the breed.

The appearance of the highleaders is practically no different from their ancestors - the short-haired British. The main point in the differences between the varieties is the length of the animal's coat.

The long-haired breed of British cats is distinguished by its robust constitution. Their hips are very powerful, and the same goes for their shoulders. The back of the animals is straight, the chest is rather wide. The neck of animals, although short, is very massive. The British have a pronounced anatomical difference, the size of cats is noticeably larger than the size of cats.

As with many species of animals, standards for the appearance of the breed have been developed for the Highlanders.

• A large, rounded head, large cheeks, which are also very developed, a mustache located on convex pads.
• The animal's muzzle is emphasized by wide cheekbones. The massive chin of cats has a round shape.
• The straight nose of the Highlanders is very short, the depression is almost invisible, and the stop is absent.
• The ears of cats are low, have a small size, rounded to the tips.
• The large eyes of the animal are deep-set and have a round shape. The color scheme is varied, in any case, the eyes are always favorably combined with the coat.
• Muscular short limbs have large and massive pads.
• A thick, short tail is rounded towards the tip.
• The standard weight for cats is 4-5 kilograms.
• The standard weight of cats is 5-7 kilograms.

The coat of the British is medium in length, has a high level of density and has a dense undercoat. The coat, due to its volume, practically does not adhere to the body of the animal. The fur of the fluffy Britons has a rather coarse structure, while it is softer to the touch than that of their short-haired counterparts. The fluffy cover around the neck resembles a chic collar.

Long-haired Britons have a calm disposition. They are also considered to be very level-headed. Animals can be difficult to scare or anger. If you harm your pet, he will remember the insult for a long time and hide away from the eyes of the household. These Britons do well with loneliness and rarely need the company of their owner. They calmly wait for their household members and have a great time alone.

There is nothing wrong with the fact that the pet will be left alone at home. Furniture and various interior elements will definitely not be damaged. In addition, the British are non-conflicting animals, so they can be safely left alone with other pets.

Despite the love of loneliness, Highlanders are very sociable cats. They can easily find a common language with other pets, be it a small rodent or a large dog. Cats of this breed are considered to be quite sedate and restrained. For this reason, you can hardly see your pets angry and aggressive.

Children often love to play with them, while cats are able to withstand any prank. Although cats do not like increased attention to themselves, they are calm about it. If they get bored with this, they simply retire to another room. They owe such qualities to their high intelligence and intelligence.

Highlanders are very well-mannered animals, so they can be quickly taught to be at home. They will unquestioningly follow all the rules. Cats get used to the pot pretty quickly, so there shouldn't be any problems. It is advisable to do this from an early age of the pet. As they grow older, they become slower and calmer. Between sleep and play with their master, they will choose the former. It's amazing how restrained these cats are, even with severe hunger, they will never be the first to ask for food, they will not beg for it and create a lot of noise in the house.

The hunting instinct of the British long-haired breed is completely absent. They will not help to cope with harmful rodents.

The Highlanders owe their cold-blooded calmness to a stable psyche. Such cats are practically not subject to stress, and such situations are treated normally. They will not be intimidated by going to the doctor or frequent transportation. Participating in exhibitions, the British are quite calm about a large crowd of people.

The life expectancy of British longhaired cats directly depends on the conditions of the animals. There are many undesirable factors for pets that can provoke their premature death. Basically, this can be an illiterate cat care or improper nutrition. You can not expose the animal to stress and disease.

Genetics have a very large impact on the life expectancy of the British. Although these animals have excellent immune systems, they may have an inherent predisposition to certain diseases.

On average, Highlanders live up to 15 years. If you create comfortable conditions for the animal, then they can live for more than 20 years. This largely depends on the care and diet of the animal. There are basic expert recommendations to help owners extend the life of their furry friends.

1. Fresh air strengthens the immune system of cats, so regular walking is vital for them.
2. If the owners do not want to let their pet out of the apartment, then sometimes it is advisable to take it out onto the balcony.
3. It is recommended to regularly wet clean and ventilate the rooms in the house.
4. Cats do not react well to drafts, so it is better to eliminate them immediately. Animals should also not be exposed to hypothermia.
5. The secret to a pet's longevity is an active lifestyle. Play various outdoor games with animals.
6. See the British vet from time to time. Doctors often advise providing animals with minerals and vitamins.
7. Purebred Highlanders need a special herb. You can buy it at a specialty store or pharmacy.

Most of the cats of this breed have a solid coat color. It is rare to find animals with various markings on the body. There are no definite standards for the color of the breed, it can be anything. There are several varieties of British coat colors.

• Tortoiseshell. This type of color is characterized by the presence of spots on the body of the animal. They can be black and red. There are times when the spots are creamy and blue.

• Smoky. The outer coat has a solid gray color, but the undercoat of cats is white. The incredibly contrasting shade of the coat makes the Briton very attractive. The ears of the animal are colored silver. The same goes for the collar area. But the back and limbs are black.

• Tabby. In these cats, the coat can be marbled, gold, ticked and spotted. There are striped animals. Most of the marbled cats have a spot on their forehead that resembles the letter "M". It stands out clearly from the main color of the animal's coat. The whole body of the cat is covered with spots and patterns in the form of rings. There is a beautiful butterfly-like pattern on the back.

• Bicolor... The name already speaks for itself - the main white color of these British people is combined with another color variety. The white shade of the coat takes up most of the body and only 1/3 of the complementary color. However, this part has a rather rich shade, and the white hairs are completely absent.

• Colorpoint. This color is also called Siamese. Cats in this case have a snow-white coat color. The muzzle is often covered with a mask-like pattern and can be of any color. The same goes for the limbs, tail and ears.

Caring for long-haired Britons will not take much time and energy from you. You just need to study this issue in more detail and familiarize yourself with all the nuances of keeping cats.

This process is quite simple, you need to pay attention to the main points in the care of the appearance.

1. Combing out. The wool of thoroughbred British does not roll, which cannot be said about their ancestors - Persian cats. The coat should be brushed at least twice a week. The best way to do this is to purchase a rubber brush. Many owners resort to using a special mitten that removes dead hairs on the pet's body. When the animal sheds, the brushing procedure is done every day. In the summer season, cats are cut, so they feel much more comfortable.
2. Bathing... This process is considered very painful for the British, since they do not like water. For this reason, kittens are taught this procedure from an early age. A bath day is usually arranged no more than three times a year. During bathing, shampoos are applied to the cover, designed specifically for animals with long hair. You can buy such a remedy at any pet store. In no case should you use shampoo intended for humans.
3. Ear care. The British ears should be examined no more than three times a month. To clean them, you need to take a cotton swab, pre-soaked in a special solution for cleaning pet ears, and remove dirt with it, if necessary.
4. Eye care. The inspection should be carried out every day. If necessary, the eyes are cleaned with boiled cooled water. You can also use special purpose napkins.
5. Nail care. To provide complete care for your pet's claws, you should purchase a scratching post. The size must be matched to the cat. The object is best fixed and secured.
6. Dental care. You can buy pet paste at the pet store. With its help, you need to brush your pet's teeth at least once a week. This is necessary for the prevention of oral diseases.

Any tray is suitable for the Briton; there are no significant criteria when choosing it. The size of the litter box depends on the size of the cat. It is necessary to select the toilet so that the pet can freely unfold in the tray. The filler for the cat pot can be anything.

With age, the British become not as mobile as in childhood, they lead a measured lifestyle. An apartment is enough for them, and they do not burn with a special desire to leave its territory.

The preparation of the diet of the Highlanders must be carefully considered. Natural products are only welcomed in pet food. Dry food can also be used when feeding cats. They are selected according to the preference of the animals, their sex and age. It is not recommended to give food to pets from a human table.

The British are known to have a good appetite and can often overeat. Subsequently, this can lead to obesity of the animal. Therefore, owners should carefully monitor the cat's portion size. For one kilogram of highlander weight, 70 kilocalories will be enough. Foods that need to be included in the diet of longhaired British cats:

1. cereals;
2. boiled fish meat (bones should preferably be removed);
3. lean meat;
4. germinated grain;
5. dairy products with a minimum percentage of fat;
6. quail eggs;
7. boiled meat offal.

The British prefer to eat raw meat. Before serving, the product is frozen, after which it is poured with boiled water. When the meat is completely defrosted, it is cut into small pieces and served to the pet.

Foods that are not recommended to be included in the diet of long-haired British cats:

1. pickles;
2. potato;
3. smoked meats;
4. sweets;
5. fried foods;
6. spicy food;
7. tubular bones.

To make life easier for themselves, many owners prefer to feed their furry pets ready-made food. When choosing them, it is advisable to dwell on premium quality products. There are special foods for long-haired breeds. The advantage of such food is that it is saturated with useful substances in the form of vitamins and minerals.

Kittens should be fed at least 5 times a day in small portions... By the age of one year, the number of meals is significantly reduced. In the future, pets receive food 2 times a day.

The breed of longhaired British cats is considered new and not yet sufficiently improved. For this reason, the process of breeding animals contains some difficulties. Only purebred British of the same breed should be crossed. There are times when breeders use short-haired cats, whose ancestors had long hair, for crossing.

When choosing a partner for a Briton, you must adhere to certain conditions:

1. compliance of the animal with all breed standards;
2. availability of documents for the pet and pedigree;
3. good health;
4. absence of external defects;
5. the presence of a special vaccine inoculation, which must be done a couple of weeks before mating the animals.

Before breeding, partners need to be checked for blood type compatibility. To do this, you must pass a DNA test.

Long-haired Britons reach puberty at an early age - from 6 to 9 months. The female can be mated only upon reaching the age of one year. Otherwise, you can get unhealthy offspring. Males can lose their strength as early as two years of age.

For interesting facts about British cats, see below.