How to Select a British Shorthair

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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The British shorthair won "best in show" in the first-ever cat show, held in 1871. The breed is increasing in popularity and has been featured in recent films and TV commercials.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Cat Beds
Cat Carriers
Cat Collars
Cat Combs/brushes
Cat Dishes
Cat Foods
Cat Leashes
Cat Litters
Cat Scratchers
Cat Shampoos
Cat Toys
Cat Treats

Step 1

Find a responsible breeder who will guarantee that your British shorthair is in good health and doesn't have feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
Step 2

Expect to pay $200 to $500 for your British shorthair.
Step 3

Pick up and hold the cat or kitten to check for good muscle tone.
Step 4

Make sure that the cat isn't sneezing or sniffling, that the eyes have no discharge and that the ears are clean and pink inside.
Step 5

Examine the cat's fur, which should be either long or short (but always soft and silky) and have no bald patches or signs of dry or flaky skin.
Step 6

Check for fleas behind the ears and at the base of the tail - flea dirt, which looks like black sand, is a sure sign.
Step 7

Get a written sales agreement from the breeder that provides the breeder's health guarantee.
Step 8

Take your British shorthair to your veterinarian as soon as possible to confirm that the cat is healthy.
Step 9

Take home a kitten no younger than 12 weeks of age.
Step 10

Plan to keep your British shorthair inside and to have the cat neutered or spayed. Vets say it's the best way to keep cats happy and disease-free and to prolong their lives.

Comments

Primrose said

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on 7/21/2008 Because British Shorthaired cats tend to be kept inside they do become very affectonate towards their owners. They tend to look after themselves much easier than Persians, and their fur is smooth and silky, but like all cats they can be extremely misheavious.