The head is the most crucial aspect when ordinary people choose a cat. Here’s a detailed explanation:
Just remember: round face, round mouth, round ears, and round chin, but the top of the head should not be round.
Muzzle: Disqualified case, not round enough.
Head: Disqualified case, the outline is not round enough.
Nose: Disqualified case.
Standard ear line.
Disqualified ears.
Cat Fur – The most critical factor related to the experience of petting a cat.
The fur of a British Shorthair is extremely important. In the CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) scoring standards for British Shorthairs, fur and fur color account for 35 points, the body accounts for 35 points, while the head and eye color together only account for 30 points. The ideal fur length is just enough to peek out when pinched between two fingers (male fingers). The fur should be dense and thick, with a texture that is neither too hard nor too soft—similar to the feel of a blanket. Fur that is too long or too sparse is disqualified. Light and medium colors are acceptable, but colors that are too dark are disqualified. As for sellers who use photo editing to make the fur look unnaturally perfect… well, I don’t need to say more.
If there is shedding, it is largely due to genetics. Additionally, British Shorthairs tend to shed during their first year and around three years of age, which is normal. Prolonged high temperatures can also cause shedding.
British Shorthairs typically take 3 to 5 years to fully mature into their perfect state. Purebred, traditional British Shorthairs only grow more beautiful over time, while mixed breeds may look cute as kittens but their appearance as adults is unpredictable. Of course, good genetics alone are not enough; proper nutrition is essential for raising a healthy cat. Genetics account for 70% of the outcome, while care accounts for 30%. (In fact, British Shorthair kittens under three months old usually have chubby faces. After three months, their facial structure begins to change, revealing differences. Besides the traditional type, there is also the Australian bloodline of British Shorthairs. The Australian bloodline is known for its “sweet” appearance, which aligns more with Asian aesthetics. They look good from childhood to adulthood without an awkward phase. However, their smaller size is a significant disadvantage in competitions, as body size alone accounts for 35 points in scoring!)
Shedding usually involves the undercoat. If there is large-scale shedding of entire fur strands, it is most likely due to fleas or nutritional deficiencies.
All of the above are just the basics of appearance evaluation. Achieving a certain level of expertise in appearance assessment requires extensive experience and there are no shortcuts.
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