Judging British Shorthair Quality and Which Color is the Most Expensive

You can assess the quality of a British Shorthair cat by observing its face, body, and coat.

A purebred British Shorthair has a very round head, with a wide distance between the ears, and particularly round cheeks and eyes. Their body should be thickset, with a broad and deep chest. When you touch their fur, it should feel very short, dense, and of good quality.

Evaluating British Shorthair Physical Traits

When assessing a British Shorthair, several physical attributes are key indicators of quality. The head should be perfectly round with well-developed cheeks, giving it that signature ‘chubby’ look. The ears should be set wide apart on the head, not pointed or overly large. The eyes are another crucial point; they must be large, round, and set wide apart, ideally copper or deep gold in color for most coat colors. The body should be compact and sturdy, described as ‘cobby,’ with a broad chest and a strong back. The legs should be short to medium in length and well-muscled, ending in round paws. The tail is generally thick and medium in length with a rounded tip. A hallmark of the breed is its dense, plush coat, which should be short and springy to the touch.

Which British Shorthair Color is the Most Expensive?

The most expensive British Shorthairs are typically the pure white ones. These are quite rare, especially within specific breeding lines, making them highly sought after. Pure white British Shorthairs are admired for their elegant and noble appearance. It’s important to note that true pure white cats can sometimes carry the gene for albinism, but this doesn’t impact their health or lifespan. Due to the difficulty of breeding them, their price is higher than other colors.

Blue is one of the most common colors for British Shorthairs. These cats often have the most developed limbs among all color varieties, along with exceptionally round faces. "Blue cats" are often just blue British Shorthairs. The blue color comes in shades from deep blue to light blue. The lighter blue is generally considered to be of a higher standard in terms of appearance. Silver shaded British Shorthairs have become incredibly popular in recent years. They typically have almost entirely white fur, with the tips of the hairs being gray, reminiscent of Chinese ink paintings, giving them an elegant look. The Scottish Fold variation of this silver shaded look was initially popular, but it’s widely known that this look comes from a genetic mutation that can cause significant pain for the cat.

Understanding British Shorthair Coat Colors and Patterns

The British Shorthair comes in a vast range of colors and patterns beyond just white, blue, and silver shaded. Common solid colors include black, cream, chocolate, and lilac. Some of the more popular patterns include tabby (classic, mackerel, and spotted), bi-color (white with another color), and tortoiseshell (a mix of black and red). Each color and pattern can influence a cat’s price based on its rarity and the demand from breeders and cat enthusiasts. Some rarer patterns like the "colorpoint" (where the color is concentrated on the face, ears, paws, and tail) can command high prices. When choosing a British Shorthair, it’s essential to consider not just the color, but also the breed’s confirmation, temperament, and overall health.If you enjoyed this, try:Pet Naming