All about British cats and cats

Today the British cat breed is one of the most popular in the whole world. Such animals are highly valued not only for their extremely attractive appearance, but also for their very pleasant character. At the same time, the uniqueness and aristocracy of this breed requires that its representatives be cared for in a special way - suddenly a regally beautiful animal needs some kind of unusual care.

If you have been interested in the opportunity to have such a pet for a long time, our short excursion will surely help you to finally decide whether this is a good choice for you.

Today it is impossible to find an exact answer to the question of where the modern British cat came from - there are at least two versions. The first of them says that cats, by that time already domestic and quite cute, were brought to the British Isles by the Romans two thousand years ago. At that time, the Roman Empire was already a developed civilization, and the colonial administration insisted on bringing in domesticated animals from the south, effectively taking care of the barns from the invasion of mice.

The sailors were not going to deliberately export animals to the islands, they simply brought them all with them for the same purpose - to protect the ship's provisions from unwanted eaters, but apparently such pets sometimes escaped at the port of destination.

Howbeit, on the territory of modern Great Britain cats were found for many centuries, however, they were not considered decorative for a long time. They also moved to people's homes relatively recently - before that, at best, they were kept in barns, that is, where they were most useful.

Only in the century before last did the British breeder Harrison Fair noticed that even street, wandering individuals, despite all the vicissitudes of life, still look pretty good.

For many years, this man has selected the most beautiful and healthy kittens, until in 1871 the new breed entered the decorative cat show. The British immediately gained a certain popularity, and after a few years, uniform principles were developed for classifying an animal as this breed. During the Second World War, these sympathizers almost disappeared into oblivion, since the British were not up to their purposeful breeding.

Therefore, it was even decided to cross the remains with Persian cats for the survival of the breed. As a result, the modern Briton has changed somewhat in appearance, but has acquired a useful calmness coupled with composure.

In our country, the first British cats appeared in the last century, but they began to climb to the peak of popularity only in recent decades, and it is possible that the brilliant future of this breed is still ahead.

Despite the great popularity of the breed, it is absolutely impossible to say exactly what its typical representative looks like - the street origin of the animal and the presence of impurities affect.

The head of such an animal is set low, there is practically no neck. The correct shape of the face of a thoroughbred pet is almost perfect round, such a cat has well-defined cheeks and, as it were, smiles. The cat's nose is short, it is distinguished by a significant width and neat straightness, it has a small depression in the region of the bridge of the nose. The ears of a mustachioed tetrapod are low, they are very distant from each other, which is a well-noticeable distinctive feature.

The look of the handsome man is complemented by large and clean round eyes, set at a considerable distance from each other. As with the color of the coat, the color of the eyes can vary significantly, but is usually considered correct if the shades are largely the same.

Babies grow and gain weight for a long time - it can take 3-5 years for a young individual. This is not surprising, because the body weight of an adult cat is 5-8 kilograms, while a cat is only slightly lighter - 4-6 kilograms. The body of any Briton is topped with a rather short tail, which tapers towards the base.

It should be noted that the concept of a British cat does not yet indicate a breed, since there are usually two of them: short-haired and long-haired. There is no fundamental difference between these two varieties, except for what is displayed in the name. At the same time, long-haired animals actually have medium-length wool, they are very fluffy and attractive, but their breeding completely excludes impurities, except, perhaps, short-haired relatives.

In general, the character of the British cat is typically feline - all those stereotypes that we know from literary works fit this animal. First of all, this is a rather good-natured creature - it is cute not only in appearance, but also in its basic habits.

In relation to the owner, such an animal is very affectionate, but at the same time knows when to stop - while not being too annoying, the pet at the same time loves to be in the room where its owner is located.

The pet does not show hostility towards the guests, but in general its attitude towards the newcomers is clearly noticeable - they can both please the animal and cause cold interest. If you came to visit and did not like such a cat, you can not count on his affectionate behavior - he will dodge any attempts to pet him, and will certainly demonstrate that he is independent and self-willed.

The aristocratic nature of the animal is also expressed in the fact that it is accustomed to a certain respectful attitude towards itself. This is by no means a dog that catches every word of its owner and gladly obeys orders - on the contrary, the British cat perceives the command tone extremely negatively, and instead of the expected execution, it can demonstrate all its feline stubbornness.

Communicate with your pet in a friendly manner. - then the likelihood of getting the desired result and not falling out with your pet is greatly increased. It should be noted that the cat is trying to choose one owner for himself, which is the maximum authority for him. The rest of the family members are already less significant figures for him, and he will be less likely to listen to them.

At the same time, the pet does not go crazy while you are not at home - his calm nature does not allow his pet to make a mess in the apartment.

The same innate calmness makes the representatives of the breed very patient with children - despite the fact that the animal may not like too arrogant attitude towards itself, it will not show aggression towards the child until the last. Finally, even to other cats and dogs, such a cat is quite tolerant.

Representatives of the British breed naturally have quite good health, due to which they are less susceptible to various ailments, and therefore live longer on average.Another reason for the comparative longevity compared to other breeds is that modern representatives of the British have admixtures of other breeds - this made it possible to ensure genetic diversity and once again protect pets from diseases.

The average life expectancy for British people is approximately 12-15 years, but this figure is only approximate. In practice, everything depends on the characteristics of the cat itself, and on how well he was looked after during his life.

In particular, if there are several centenarians in the pedigree of a thoroughbred individual, it is likely that your individual will reach the milestone of 15 years. There are cases when representatives of the breed lived to be 17-19 years old.

Also, stress in any form is extremely undesirable for the animal. Various injuries are a common cause of early death of a pet, so it is important to keep track of where the cat is walking.

In general, extending the life of a Briton includes five main tasks that the owner must perform with the utmost rigor:

• animal nutrition should be moderate, but at the same time timely, sufficient and balanced;
• a cat is a predator, for the normal state of the body he needs constant movement, without walks he can mope;
• cats do not have diseases that are treated on the principle of "it will go away", especially in healthy Britons - if any bad symptom has already appeared, you should immediately contact your veterinarian;
• no matter how effective the treatment is, it is better not to get sick and not be treated at all - for this you need to carry out regular prevention of major ailments, which consists in timely vaccination and some other procedures;
• it is worth making sure that the animal does not encounter any negative phenomena, be it boredom or hostile attitude from the household - all this is stress that is so dangerous for the animal.

Due to the fact that the real British do not have a very strict description of their breed and are not devoid of foreign impurities, it is rather difficult to determine what is a full-fledged breed and what is only a specific color. The varieties of the British breed in terms of coat color are numerous and varied, therefore, among them, separate breeds are often distinguished, which are not recognized by everyone.

The main difference between the British and the Scottish cat is that the first is straight, and the second is fold. In all other respects, these two breeds are very similar: here and the general fluffiness, and shades, and sizes. Because of this, it is easy for an inexperienced person to confuse them. In general, British cats can be divided into separate breeds, except for the length of the coat, which has already been mentioned above.

The color of the coat, like the color of the eyes, in most cases is not considered a sign of a separate breed - it is not so important, with blue eyes British, green or lavender, from this he still does not begin to be considered a separate breed. A relatively rare color can make a pet unusual and more interesting, but still this does not give grounds for separating it into a separate subspecies.

Contrary to the expectations of some people with no cat breeding experience, the sophisticated Briton is not pretentious about grooming - his street origin affects.Almost all that needs to be provided for normal maintenance is to take care of the coat in a timely manner, since this animal has become a universal favorite precisely because of its beautiful fur coat.

To keep the coat soft, smooth and silky, it is necessary to comb it out carefully two to three times a week. Not any comb is suitable for these purposes - you should buy a special slicker brush at the pet store. Such a tool has a massage effect, therefore, it not only helps to remove all excess hair, but also allows the animal to relax, and also stimulates increased hair growth, which makes the pet look even more beautiful.

British claws grow very quickly - practice shows that the efforts of a scratching point alone cannot cope with such a problem. For this reason, every two weeks it is necessary to trim the claws, removing about half of the regrown length.

Mucus can collect in the corners of a pet's eyes, which is a potential breeding ground for various pathogens. Such discharge is removed with a moistened cotton pad, with gentle movements, towards the nose. In addition, every two weeks it is necessary to inspect the pet's ears - if earwax or any other dirt has collected there, you need to remove it with similar means. In this case, it is advisable to moisten cotton pads in a special solution, which can be bought at a veterinary pharmacy.

What your pet will definitely not like is the need to inspect the oral cavity daily for any dental problems. Experienced cat lovers advise from a young age to accustom a kitten to the fact that every day he will brush his teeth with a brush with a special toothpaste - if such a procedure becomes a habit, it will no longer seem so unpleasant.

In terms of training, the British are quite smart - at least you can train them to the tray quickly and without much effort. To do this, you need to monitor the kitten immediately after he has eaten - in the next few minutes he will begin to show some anxiety, showing that the baby is not opposed to going to the toilet.

At this moment, you need to grab him and carry him to the tray, and sit there and not let go until all the work is done. Pretty soon, the animal will remember the location of the latrine in the apartment, and will come there itself, just keep in mind that the cat is a clean animal, so a dirty litter box will scare her away, and she will choose another latrine for herself.

By the way, remember that the British are very proud. Having punished an animal for a misdemeanor, you are unlikely to meet understanding - the animal will not understand what the punishment was for, and will simply consider you not a very good person, which can ruin the relationship between the pet and the owner. For this reason, when you find your pet for an indecent deed, resort to the so-called remote punishment - instead of assault, shoot the animal with a spray bottle.

Over time, the cat will develop a causal association, and she will understand that she is doing something wrong, and you will not be perceived by her as an executioner.

The attractive appearance and overall health of an animal largely depends on how well it eats. The menu of the British cat is not fundamentally different from the correct diet of other cat breeds, therefore we will simply repeat the truths well known to any experienced cat lover.

First of all, the cat is a land predator, and although most cats will not refuse fish, it should not be the basis of their diet.Both store-bought feed and self-compiled ration should consist of about three-quarters of meat products, preferably beef or poultry. Too fatty meat should not be given to an animal, but if we are talking about offal, then they can be obtained from any animal.

About a quarter of the animal's diet can be side dishes - vegetables and cereals are well suited as such. Potatoes are a controversial product - some cat lovers do not recommend giving it, others indicate that they have never noted any particular negative consequences.

It is believed that to supplement the daily menu with vitamins and minerals, a British chicken should be given a weekly egg. In addition, fermented milk products such as kefir, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk or cheese should be periodically introduced into meals. Previously, cats had to be given the opportunity to walk on the street so that they could find the right greens, but today all the necessary substances can be purchased in tableted vitamins.

Dry food is allowed as the basis of the diet., but usually a requirement is put forward for them, according to which the quality should not be lower than the premium. Such a product is good because it already contains everything you need, and in itself is a balanced diet, therefore, with a mixed diet, the emphasis is usually on dry food.

For an adult animal, two meals a day are usually sufficient; babies are fed three to five times daily. It should be remembered that some foods that seem normal to a person, and therefore get into a cat's bowl, can often cause certain health problems for a pet. These include the following types of food.

• Milk. Despite the fact that many tetrapods do not give up this product, they, like many other animals, develop lactose intolerance in adulthood. Apparently, this is how nature protected children's food from adult encroachments.
• Sweets. Purebred cats are especially prone to obesity, and this statement applies to the British to the fullest. In order to avoid problems with the cardiovascular system and physical activity, such delicacies are contraindicated for a cat.
• Salt and spices. The abundant presence of seasonings negatively affects digestion, the same acids negatively affect the walls of the cat's stomach. Salt is more often blamed for another problem - it retains moisture in the feline body, provoking swelling.
• Coffee and alcohol. Everyone knows about the negative effect of these products on the human body - they are just as dangerous for pets.

A thoroughbred animal is often acquired for subsequent reproduction in order to profit from the sale of kittens. In addition, many owners believe that this is much more humane than castration and sterilization.

A female British cat reaches sexual maturity by about 8-10 months, but experts usually do not advise taking her right there for mating - a young organism is not yet strong enough to bear offspring, the consequences of haste may not be the best. Ideally, a breeding-ready cat with a serious interest in it is taken to the cat's house. She needs to choose a partner carefully.

To obtain thoroughbred kittens, you need to choose a representative of the same breed, It is also not advised to experiment with mating animals of different colors. Despite the fact that the British are usually in good health, it will not be superfluous to double-check how healthy the future father is.

If the female is still very young, she may not get pregnant as a result of the first mating, but usually this is not a reason to panic - you just need to wait until the next time and repeat the procedure.

A cat's pregnancy lasts about two months, the easiest way is to determine its onset by the hormonal background - the animal's body, having received what it wanted, relaxes and calms down. After 15-20 days, such a sign of pregnancy as swollen nipples appears, the animal shows a remarkable appetite. At this stage, fish should be completely excluded from the menu of the expectant mother, but the proportion of fermented milk products should increase.

During the first one and a half to two months, the cat itself takes care of its babies, and no one can do it better than she. After this period, when the kittens are gradually becoming more and more independent, they need to be shown to the veterinarian so that he can prescribe a course of vaccinations and generally assess their state of health. In addition, pedigree babies now need to make documents confirming their origin.

We will delight our readers with a set of interesting information about these beautiful animals:

• it is believed that the Cheshire cat is copied from the representative of the British Shorthair breed;
• in total, there are about 30 varieties of color that are considered officially recognized and acceptable to the British, although they are most often recognized by their gray-blue wool;
• do not be surprised at the drowsiness of the animal - it is normal for him to sleep for 14-16 hours daily;
• representatives of this breed are distinguished by a very quiet behavior - they almost never meow, except that they really need to attract the attention of a person;
• The “face” of the Whiskas brand is a representative of this particular breed;
• a special friendliness of such cats lies in the fact that even in conditions of a game similar to a fight, they usually do not release their claws, trying not to harm the sparring partner.

British cats are often called figuratively "businessmen's pets", and this is the best characteristic of such an animal. You can leave him at home alone with himself and leave for almost any time, the main thing is to leave the pet enough food and water. In modern realities, where most people are sorely short of time, this is the optimal pet.

Experienced cat lovers advise you to first clearly imagine how you will maintain and raise such a pet, and only then, when the picture is fully formed, acquire the animal. It will be extremely difficult to instill new habits in an adult animal, therefore the owner must be one step ahead of the development of the cat.

It is customary to dress aristocratic-looking pets in clothes, but if you decide to get one too, please note that it should be comfortable and made of natural materials. The fabric from which the clothes are sewn should be easy to wash and dry in a short time.

Interesting facts about British cats are presented in the video below.