British Shorthair cats, a fairly unusual breed in the U.S., are common in the United Kingdom. The British Shorthair is often one of the cats of choice of animal trainers who work with cats for movies and television, due to their easy-going, intelligent, and trainable nature. These cats tend to get along well with other cats, children, and pets of other varieties. Not only good for television and movie, this makes them well-suited as family pets as well.

It is likely that the British Shorthair is the oldest breed of cat in England today. The first shorthair cats were probably brought to England by invading Roman troops. Today there are many varieties of British Shorthair in existence, largely due to careful breeding programs that were started during the 19th century.

British Shorthair cats have exceptionally plush coats and round, full faces. Large and affectionate, they are well-balanced cats, with males weighing around 12 to 18 pounds on average. On average females weigh several pounds less, and are often in the range of 9 to 14 pounds. British Shorthair cats have short, strong legs and round paws. There are over one hundred different color and coat pattern combinations of British Shorthair.

Although the coat of the British Shorthair feels thick and luxurious, it requires very little grooming; only occasional brushing is needed. This is one reason British Shorthair cats are popular as show cats, because their coats need little grooming to prepare for a show. Their genial and docile temperaments also make them ideal for show conditions, which can try the patience of many breeds.

The average litter size for the British Shorthair is around five kittens. They are generally regarded by breeders are being easy cats to breed, and female British Shorthairs usually make good mothers. British Shorthairs are generally healthy cats, and are not prone to any particular illnesses or ailments. The life expectancy of a British Shorthair cat is around nine to fifteen years. Well-cared for, many British Shorthair cats live well into their teen years.