Breeding Standards for British Shorthair Cats

Breeding Standards for British Shorthair Cats

British Shorthair cats have a well – proportioned, compact, and powerful body, showing good body depth. They have a broad chest, short to medium – strong legs, round paws, and a tail that is thick at the base and has a rounded tip. The head is round between the ears. They have round cheeks, a strong chin, medium – sized ears, large and round eyes, and a medium – broad nose. The outer coat is short and dense. Female cats are generally smaller in size than male cats and have less developed jowls. They need 3 – 5 years to fully develop to their ultimate maturity. An individual should convey an impression of overall balance and the golden ratio.

Head

Round and large. A round face with a round underlying bone structure is well – set on a short and thick neck. The forehead should be round with a slightly flat plane on the head. The forehead should not slope.

Nose

Medium – wide. It has a gentle chin in appearance, is firm, well – developed, and is in line with the nose and upper lip.

Muzzle

Distinctive and well – developed, with a definite stop above large, round whisker pads.

Ears

Ears are very important. They are medium – sized, wide at the base, and have rounded tips. They are set far apart and fit (without distortion) the round contour of the head.

Eyes

Large, round, and well – opened. Set wide apart and horizontally.

Body

Medium to large in size, well – built, and powerful. It has a horizontal back and a deep and broad chest.

Legs

Short to medium in length, with strong bones and well – muscled. They are proportionate to the body. The front legs are straight.

Paws

Round and firm. Toes: five in front and four behind.

Tail

Medium in length, proportionate to the body, thick at the base, and tapering slightly to a rounded tip.

Coat

Short, very dense, and firm to the touch. It is not double – coated or woolly.

Color

For cats with special markings: 5 points for coat color and 10 points for markings. Solid, shaded, tabby markings, colors such as smoke, shaded, shaded golden, bi – color, or calico cats are not faults.

Penalties

A distinct nose stop. An overly long or shallow undercoat. A soft coat. A lanky body. A weak chin.

Disqualifications

Incorrect eye color with a green outline. Tail defects. A long or fluffy coat. An incorrect number of toes. Kinks or buttons. Partial or complete inappropriate color or pigmentation of the nose leather and/or paw pads. Any evidence of disease or poor health. Any malocclusion. Evidence of cross – breeding resulting in colors such as chocolate, lavender, Himalayan patterns, or combinations of these with white.