British Shorthair Cat Breed Standards: A Comprehensive Guide

The British Shorthair is celebrated for its sturdy build, dense coat, and gentle temperament, making it a beloved breed worldwide. Understanding the breed standards is crucial for breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts alike. This guide delves into the specifics of the British Shorthair breed standard, outlining the key characteristics that define this remarkable feline.

General Appearance: Balance and Proportion

The overall impression of a British Shorthair should be one of a compact, well-balanced, and powerful cat. They are known for their good depth of body and a full, broad chest. Their legs are short to medium in length, exhibiting strength, and they possess rounded paws. The tail is characteristically thick at the base, tapering to a rounded tip.

Balance and proportion are paramount. No single feature should be exaggerated to the point of creating weakness or an extreme appearance. The breed matures slowly, reaching its full development between three to five years of age. Females are typically less massive than males, with males often exhibiting more pronounced jowls.

Head: Round and Expressive

The head of the British Shorthair is a defining feature, described as round and massive. The face is round, supported by a round underlying bone structure, and it is set upon a short, thick neck. The forehead should be rounded, with a slight flat plane on the top of the head, but it should not slope.

Nose, Chin, and Muzzle

The nose is medium in length and broad, with a gentle dip in profile. The chin is firm and well-developed, aligning with the nose and upper lip to create a strong profile. The muzzle is distinctive and well-developed, featuring a definite stop beyond the large, round whisker pads, contributing to the breed’s characteristic “smiling” expression.

Ears and Eyes

Ear set is critical to the overall look. The ears are medium in size, broad at the base, and rounded at the tips. They are set far apart, fitting into the rounded contour of the head without distorting its shape.

The eyes are large, round, and well-opened, contributing to the breed’s sweet expression. They are set wide apart and level, enhancing the broad facial appearance.

Body: Sturdy and Well-Knit

The body of the British Shorthair ranges from medium to large in size, described as well-knit and powerful. The back is level, and the chest is deep and broad, contributing to their substantial and robust appearance.

Legs, Paws, and Tail

The legs are short to medium in length, well-boned and strong, and in proportion to the body, supporting their sturdy frame. The forelegs are straight. Paws are round and firm, adding to the overall impression of solidity. They have five toes on the front paws and four on the hind paws.

The tail is medium in length, proportionate to the body, thicker at the base, and tapering slightly to a rounded tip, completing the balanced silhouette.

Coat: Short, Dense, and Crisp

The coat is one of the hallmark traits of the British Shorthair. It is short, very dense, and well-bodied, providing a plush feel. The texture is firm to the touch with a crisp quality, often described as having a “break” like a teddy bear’s coat. It is important that the coat is not double-coated or woolly, maintaining its characteristic texture.

Color Standards and Variations

Color plays a significant role in breed standards. For British Shorthairs with special markings, the coat color is allocated 5 points, and markings are allocated 10 points in judging. Shadow tabby markings in solid color, smoke, shaded, shaded golden, bi-color, or calico kittens are not considered a fault.

Solid Colors

White: Pure white, untipped with yellow. Eye color can be deep sapphire blue, gold, or copper. Odd-eyed whites have one blue and one gold eye. Nose leather and paw pads are pink.
Black: Jet black to the roots, without any rusty tinge or white hairs. Nose leather and paw pads are black or brown. Eye color is gold or copper, without green traces.
Blue: Light to medium blue, with a lighter shade preferred and level color. A sound medium shade is favored over an unsound lighter shade. No tabby markings or white. Nose leather and paw pads are blue. Eye color is gold or copper.
Red: Deep, brilliant red, level in color to the roots, without white. Nose leather and paw pads are brick red. Eye color is gold or copper. Disqualification for heavy tabby markings.
Cream: Rich cream, with lighter shades preferred, level in color to the roots. Tabby markings are acceptable in cats under five years. No white. Nose leather and paw pads are pink. Eye color is gold or copper. Penalty for heavy tabby markings.

Smoke, Shaded, and Chinchilla Patterns

These patterns are genetically non-agouti tabby variations where color is restricted to the hair ends in silver and golden colors.

Smoke Pattern: White or pale silver undercoat, deeply tipped with solid, tortoiseshell, or blue-cream color. At rest, the cat appears to be the specified color; in motion, the contrasting undercoat is visible. Nose leather and paw pads correspond to the coat color. Eye color is gold or copper.
- Smoke Colors include: Black Smoke, Blue Smoke, Red Smoke, Cream Smoke, Tortoiseshell Smoke, Blue-Cream Smoke.
Shaded Silver Pattern: Color tipping on about 1/3 of the hair length, with a white or pale silver undercoat. Tipping is even on the back, flanks, head, ears, and tail, and evenly distributed tipping is prioritized over the degree of tipping. Legs show even tipping decreasing towards the paws. Chin, stomach, chest, and under tail should be pale. Tipping can be any recognized solid, tortoiseshell, or blue-cream color.
Chinchilla Silver Pattern: Color tipping on about 1/8 of the hair length, with a white or pale silver undercoat. Coat on back, flanks, head, and tail is sufficiently tipped for a sparkling appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded. Chinchillas appear lighter than shaded patterns. Tipping can be any recognized solid, tortoiseshell, or blue-cream color.

Shaded Silver and Chinchilla Silver Colors:

Silver (Black Silver): Pure white undercoat; black tipping on back, flanks, head, ears, and tail. Black outlined eye and nose rims. Nose leather is brick red. Paw pads are black. Eye color is green or blue-green.
Blue Silver: Pure white undercoat; blue tipping. Blue-grey outlined eye and nose rims. Nose leather is old rose. Paw pads are blue. Eye color is gold or copper.
Cream Silver (Cream Cameo): Pure white undercoat; cream tipping. Pink outlined eye and nose rims. Nose leather and paw pads are pink. Eye color is gold or copper.
Red Silver (Cameo): Pure white undercoat; red tipping. Pink outlined eye and nose rims. Nose leather and paw pads are pink. Eye color is gold or copper.
Tortoiseshell Silver: Pure white undercoat; black and red tipping in a tortoiseshell pattern. Eye and nose rims outlined or patched with black and pink. Nose leather and paw pads black, pink, or patched. Eye color is gold or copper.
Blue-Cream Silver: Pure white undercoat; blue-grey and cream tipping in a tortoiseshell pattern. Eye and nose rims outlined or patched with blue-grey and pink. Nose leather and paw pads blue-grey, pink, or patched. Eye color is gold or copper.

Shaded Golden and Chinchilla Golden Patterns

These patterns have color tipping restricted to the hair ends with a rich warm cream undercoat.

Shaded Golden Pattern: Color tipping on about 1/3 hair length, with a rich warm cream undercoat. Even tipping on back, flanks, head, ears, and tail. Legs show even tipping decreasing towards paws. Chin, stomach, chest, and under tail are pale warm ivory to apricot. Disqualification for Corin gene evidence (white/off-white toes or chest/neck).
Chinchilla Golden Pattern: Color tipping on about 1/8 hair length, with a rich warm cream undercoat. Tipped coat provides a lighter appearance than shaded golden. Disqualification for Corin gene evidence (white/off-white toes or chest/neck).

Shaded Golden and Chinchilla Golden Colors:

Golden (Black): Ivory to neutral beige undercoat; black tipping. Black outlined eye and nose rims. Nose leather is brick red. Paw pads are black. Eye color is green or blue-green.
Blue Golden: Ivory to neutral beige undercoat; blue tipping. Blue-grey outlined eye and nose rims. Nose leather is old rose. Paw pads are blue. Eye color is gold or copper.
Tortoiseshell and Blue-Cream Golden: Ivory to neutral beige undercoat; tipping in base color (Black and Red, or Blue-Cream) mottled or patched with red shades or cream. Eye and nose rims outlined in base color, pink, or patched. Nose leather and paw pads appropriate to base color and/or pink. Eye color is gold or copper.

Tabby Patterns

Tabby patterns are categorized into Classic, Mackerel, and Spotted.

Classic Tabby Pattern: Dense, clearly defined, broad markings. Legs evenly barred, tail ringed, multiple necklaces on neck and chest, “M” on forehead, unbroken eye line, cheek swirls, butterfly-shaped shoulder markings, vertical spine line with parallel stripes, large side blotches with rings, double vertical rows of buttons on chest and stomach. Penalty for brindling; disqualification for white.
Mackerel Tabby Pattern: Dense, clearly defined, narrow pencillings. Barred legs and tail, distinct necklaces on neck and chest, “M” on forehead, unbroken eye lines, lines down head to shoulders, narrow spine saddle, narrow pencillings around body. Penalty for brindling, missing mackerel pencillings on both sides; disqualification for white.
Spotted Tabby Pattern: Clear spotting essential; spots can be round, oblong, or rosette-shaped, distinct regardless of shape or placement. Head as classic tabby. Spotted body and legs. Spotted or broken ringed tail. Colors: silver with black spots, brown with black spots, red with deep red spots, or other recognized ground colors with appropriate spotting. Eye color as classic tabby. Penalty for solid spine color line, brindling, indistinct markings or spotting not evident on both sides; disqualification for white.

Tabby Color Variations:

Silver Tabby: Pale clear silver ground color, including lips and chin. Dense black markings. Brick red nose leather. Black paw pads. Green or hazel eye color.
Silver Patched Tabby: Pale clear silver ground color. Dense black markings with red patches or intermingled red areas. Brick red nose leather. Black and/or brick red paw pads. Brilliant gold, green, or hazel eye color.
Silver Patched Tabby and White: Same as silver patched tabby with white. Blaze desirable. Brick red and/or pink nose leather. Black, brick red, and/or pink paw pads. Brilliant gold, green, hazel, or odd-eye color.
Red Tabby: Red ground color, including lips and chin. Deep, rich red markings. Brick red nose leather and paw pads. Gold or copper eye color.
Brown Tabby: Brilliant coppery brown ground color. Dense black markings. Lips and chin same shade as eye rings. Black leg back from paw to heel. Brick red nose leather. Black or brown paw pads. Gold or copper eye color.
Brown Patched Tabby: Brilliant coppery brown ground color. Dense black markings with red patches or intermingled red areas. Brick red nose leather. Black and/or brick red paw pads. Gold or copper eye color.
Brown Patched Tabby and White: Same as brown patched tabby with white. Blaze desirable. Brick red and/or pink nose leather. Black, brick red, and/or pink paw pads. Gold to copper or odd-eye color.
Blue Tabby: Pale bluish ivory ground color, including lips and chin. Very deep blue markings contrasting ground color. Warm fawn overtones. Old rose nose leather. Rose paw pads. Gold or copper eye color.
Blue Patched Tabby: Pale bluish ivory ground color. Very deep blue markings with cream patches or intermingled areas. Warm fawn overtones. Old rose or pink nose leather. Rose and/or pink paw pads. Gold or copper eye color.
Blue Patched Tabby and White: Same as blue patched tabby with white. Blaze desirable. Old rose and/or pink nose leather. Rose and/or pink paw pads. Gold to copper or odd-eye color.
Cream Tabby: Very pale cream ground color, including lips and chin. Buff or cream markings darker than ground color but within dilute range. Pink nose leather and paw pads. Gold or copper eye color.
Tabby and White: Red, cream, blue, silver, or brown tabby with white. Tabby pattern conforms to established requirements with white allowances. Minimum white on feet, legs, undersides, chest, and muzzle preferred. Symmetry desired. White blaze desirable. Nose leather, paw pads, and eye color conform to tabby color requirements; nose leather and paw pads may also be pink, eye color may be odd-eye.
Van Tabby and White: White cat with colored portions confined to extremities (head, tail, legs). Colored portions conform to classic, mackerel, spotted, and patched tabby definitions. One or two small body patches allowed. Nose leather, paw pads, and eye color conform to tabby color requirements; nose leather and paw pads may also be pink, eye color may be odd-eye.

Tortoiseshell, Calico, and Bi-Color

Tortoiseshell: Black and rich red softly mingled, not patched. Pink and/or black nose leather and paw pads. Gold or copper eye color. Penalties for tabby markings in black, unbroken paw color, large solid color patches; disqualification for white.
Calico: White with unbrindled patches of black and red, clear and defined patches. Minimum white on feet, legs, undersides, chest, and muzzle preferred. White blaze desirable. Tabby markings allowed in red patches. Pink and/or black nose leather and paw pads. Gold to copper or odd-eye color. Penalty for brindling.
Dilute Calico: White with unbrindled patches of blue and cream, clear and defined patches. Minimum white on feet, legs, undersides, chest, and muzzle preferred. White blaze desirable. Tabby markings allowed in cream patches. Blue and/or pink nose leather and paw pads. Gold to copper or odd-eye color. Penalty for brindling.
Van Calico: White cat with unbrindled patches of black and red confined to extremities. One or two small body patches allowed. Gold to copper or odd-eye color.
Van Dilute Calico: White cat with unbrindled patches of blue and cream confined to extremities. One or two small body patches allowed. Gold to copper or odd-eye color.
Blue-Cream: Blue and cream softly mingled, not patched. Blue and/or pink nose leather and paw pads. Gold or copper eye color. Penalties for tabby markings in blue, unbroken paw color, large solid color patches; disqualification for white.
Bi-Color: Black and white, blue and white, red and white, or cream and white. Minimum white on feet, legs, undersides, chest, and muzzle preferred. Symmetry desired. White blaze desirable. Gold to copper or odd-eye color. Penalty for brindling or tabby markings. Nose leather and paw pads conform to solid requirements; may also be pink.
Van Bi-Color: White cat with color confined to extremities. One or two small body patches allowed. Gold to copper or odd-eye color. Nose leather and paw pads conform to solid requirements; may also be pink.

Other British Shorthair Colors (OBSHC) and AOV

OBSHC: Smoke, Shaded, and Chinchilla patterns and colors as described.
AOV (Any Other Variety): Includes Chocolate and Lilac in accepted British Shorthair patterns: solid, tabby, patched tabby, tabby & white, patched tabby & white, particolor, calico, smoke, shaded, chinchilla (smoke & white, shaded & white, chinchilla & white are not accepted patterns).
- Chocolate: Rich, warm chocolate-brown, sound to the tips. Brown nose leather. Cinnamon-pink paw pads. Gold or copper eye color.
- Lilac: Rich, warm lavender with pinkish tone, even throughout. Lavender-pink nose leather and paw pads. Gold or copper eye color.
- PartiColor: Chocolate Tortoiseshell, Lilac-Cream.
- Smoke/Shaded: Chocolate Smoke, Lilac Smoke, Chocolate Tortoiseshell Smoke, Lilac-Cream Smoke, Shaded Chocolate, Shaded Lilac, Chinchilla Chocolate, Chinchilla Lilac, Shaded Chocolate Tortoiseshell, Shaded Lilac-Cream, Chinchilla Chocolate Tortoiseshell, Chinchilla Lilac-Cream.
- Tabby: Chocolate Tabby, Chocolate Patched Tabby, Lilac Tabby, Lilac Patched Tabby.
- Calico & Bi-Color: Chocolate and White, Chocolate Tabby and White, Chocolate Patched Tabby and White, Lilac and White, Lilac Tabby and White, Lilac Patched Tabby and White, Chocolate Calico, Lilac Calico.

Penalties and Disqualifications

Penalties:

Definite nose stop.
Overlong or light undercoat.
Soft coat.
Rangy body.
Weak chin.
Brindling in tabby patterns, calico, and bi-color.
Heavy tabby markings in red and cream solid colors.
Mackerel pencillings not evident on both sides.
Solid spine color line in spotted tabby.
Markings not distinct and separate in spotted tabby.
Spotting not evident on both sides in spotted tabby.
Tabby markings in tortoiseshell and blue-cream.
Unbroken color on paws in tortoiseshell and blue-cream.
Large solid patches of color in tortoiseshell and blue-cream.
Less white than preferred minimum in tabby and white, bi-color, and calico.

Disqualifications:

Incorrect eye color, green rims in adults.
Tail defects.
Long or fluffy coat.
Incorrect number of toes.
Locket or button (small white patch).
Improper color or pigment in nose leather and/or paw pads.
Any evidence of illness or poor health.
Any evidence of wryness of jaw, poor dentition, or malocclusion.
Evidence of hybridization resulting in cinnamon or fawn, the Himalayan pattern, or these combinations with white.
White anywhere in solid red, brown tabby, mackerel tabby, spotted tabby, tortoiseshell, blue-cream, classic tabby pattern, mackerel tabby pattern, spotted tabby pattern, tortoiseshell, blue-cream.
Heavy tabby markings in red solid color.
Any evidence of the Corin gene in shaded golden and chinchilla golden patterns.

Conclusion: Appreciating the British Shorthair Standard

The British Shorthair breed standard provides a detailed blueprint for breeders and judges, ensuring the preservation of the breed’s distinctive characteristics. From their round heads and expressive eyes to their dense coats and sturdy builds, every aspect of the British Shorthair is carefully defined. This comprehensive guide serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of what makes this breed so uniquely appealing and recognizable. By adhering to these standards, breeders and enthusiasts contribute to the continued health, beauty, and gentle nature of the British Shorthair Cat.