They’re healthy cats that aren’t prone to many troubling health concerns.Mackerel Tabby - coat pattern with narrow stripes extending down the spine and flanks Since it’s a single coat, they don’t need particularly stringent grooming. They have a thick, luscious coat, but it’s short and dense. Instead, these easy-going cats are intelligent and calm and happy to live with other (cat-friendly) pets. Tabby British Shorthairs are known for being clumsy, but they’re affectionate cats that love their owners and become attached to one person they aren’t known for being clingy or lap cats. Most tabby British Shorthairs are laid back and prefer to lounge rather than play, so keeping them engaged with exciting games and exercise is key to their health and well-being. They’re heavy-set despite their size, being prone to obesity because of their stockiness and tendency to chill out. So if you’re looking for a small cat, this might not be the breed for you! They’re medium-to-large cats, with males being notably bigger than females not all cat breeds have this much of a noticeable size difference. Do Tabby British Shorthairs Make a Good Pet?īritish Shorthairs are the teddy bears of the cat world. Smokey, the silver tabby British Shorthair, set the world record for the world’s loudest purr! 12-year-old Smokey set the record in 2011 with his purr, measuring 67.7 decibels, which is louder than some lawnmowers! Unfortunately, Smokey was dethroned in 2015 by a cat who managed a rumbling 67.8-decibel purr. A Tabby British Short Hair Held a World Record British Shorthairs (including their tabby-coated variant) were recognized by:ĥ.

Formal Recognition of Tabby British Shorthairsīritish Shorthairs were first formally recognized as a breed in the 1970s, with international recognition of the breed occurring by 1980. After its recognition of British Shorthairs by both national and international cat-fancy clubs, the Tabby British Shorthair became one of the most popular breeds in the UK in 2013. The lovers of the breed worked hard to see it continue, however, and eventually, their popularity regrew. This, together with the advent of longhaired breeds such as the Persian, saw the numbers of British Shorthairs drop to dangerously low levels. However, during World War I, the breed’s popularity fell out of favor due to the hardships many people suffered. The first-ever cat show in London’s Crystal Palace (founded by Harrison Weir) had a British Shorthair win first place and got the breed into the spotlight.

When the breed was established in 1870, it immediately began to gain popularity in Britain. How Tabby British Shorthairs Gained Popularity Credit: Dmitrij Skorobogatov, Shutterstock The earliest record of British Shorthairs in the US was a male red tabby, registered as the first of his breed in 1901. By the 1900s, the tabby British Shorthair had made its way to the US. However, other coats, including all colors of the tabby marking, were also allowed. In the 19th century, selective breeding began to refine the breed, focusing on their signature blue coats. These pairings produced the first tabby British Shorthair cats. The imported cats mated with the European cats in the area, which sported the classic tabby markings we see on many cats today. They were kept in Roman camps, possibly to clear pests and vermin, and they bought these cats with them to their settlements. In their earliest forms, British Shorthairs were imported by Romans in the 1st century AD when they settled along the British coast. The Earliest Records of Tabby British Shorthairs in History

The round faces and soft fur make the British Shorthair a popular cat in the British Isles and around the world these cats have a rich history in the area dating back to the Roman times, making British Shorthair one of the oldest breeds around. Tabby British Shorthairs are some of the most beautiful cats you’ll ever meet.

Mackerel tabby cat blue eyed