British longhair cat - breed description

Today, this breed is very popular among modern people. Now having such a pet at home is considered even fashionable and prestigious. This is due not only to the cute appearance of cats of this breed and good nature, but also to the fact that in terms of care and maintenance such cats are very unpretentious, which is quite convenient.

Breed history

At the beginning of the 20th century, they began to make various experiments, trying to bring out new, distinctive from previous, cat breeds. So, crossing short-haired British cats with Persians, scientists intended to create the perfect look. For this reason, many breeds of cats crossed in those days with Persians, as they were considered the most noble breed.

But the results obtained were far from pleasing, but, on the contrary, brought only disappointment. The fact is that the resulting appearance of the new species was not only far from ideal, but, on the contrary, was something terrible. The asymmetric structure of the jaw and skull, stiff hair - all this scared away.

So, an important decision was made to leave the Persians in their original form, but some of the most successful individuals were abandoned and later spread to all corners of the planet. They became known as British Longhair or Highlander.

What are British longhaired

1. The body of this type of cat is very massive and muscular with broad shoulders and a strong back and neck. The tail is not very long and thick with a slight rounding at the end. Paws in animals of this species are short and strong.
2. The structure of the head of these cats is very large. The skull is round in shape. The chin is powerful, and the cheeks are quite plump. The nose is small, straight. The uniqueness of the British appearance lies in the pads of the mustache - they are very massive.
3. The eyes of this type of cat are very large, which makes the face expressive. Eye color is interestingly combined with the color of the animal.
4. The ears of these cats are medium and are located at a far distance from each other. They have the correct average shape.

Another feature of this breed is the presence of a fluffy tail. As for the hair, these cats have a long hair, which, however, distinguishes British longhair from their brothers.

Cat colors

In most cases, animals of this breed have a monochromatic color of different colors without any admixture of patterns and marks, but, like representatives of shorthair, any color is recognized as standard. However, you can meet other varieties.

1. Tortoise color. In this type, the color is even patterns throughout the body. It can be red and black spots, as well as a combination of blue and cream colors.
2. Smoky color. Cats that can be found with this type of color are also known as chinchillas or smokes. The main unique feature of this species is the presence of snow-white undercoat, which overlaps the main color. It looks very beautiful and original. Cats with this type of color have a darker head, back and legs, but their ears and collar, on the contrary, are lighter (silver).
3. Tabby (tabby). They are also called spotted or marble cats. The main and most distinctive feature of these kitties is the amazing pattern on the forehead in the form of the letter M. The color of the spots and the main color are different in color, so that the picture becomes original and not like the others. Also on the face there are solid lines that originate from the corners of the eyes and go along the back, drawing like a butterfly.On the neck and chest you can see rings, which also differ in color from the main color of the cat. There are also peculiar circles on the legs and hips, and spots are located on the stomach.
4. Bicolors. As the name implies, these are species that combine two colors - primary and secondary (for example, tortoiseshell). Everything is quite interesting here, as the main color of the cat should be more than half of the whole body, and the colored part of the coat should have a clear certain color and strictly outlined lines. The next additional condition is the mandatory color of one ear, as well as the presence of a spot or other mark on the head, muzzle. There should also be a few spots on the legs and back.
5. Color Point Color color. It is also called Siamese. It is a pure white color that spreads throughout the body. On the face there is something like a mask, and the ears, tail and paws are painted in a darker tone than the rest of the hair.

Cat Character and Behavior

At an early age, kittens of this breed are very active and manifest themselves immediately. They like to jump and run, hang on curtains, climb into a drawer with clothes, into a shoe box and much more. Getting a British longhair pet, owners should consider the curiosity of cats. And for the period of early development, hide everything valuable away.

There is a very big plus: kittens get used to the tray very early and behave very carefully.

An adult of this breed is a balanced animal, which is not so easy to bring to emotions. But, if someone still succeeds in doing this, then be sure that the animal harbors a very strong grudge and, perhaps, will take revenge on the offender at any convenient opportunity.

With other species begins to be friends pretty quickly. He reacts calmly to transfers, which allows him to make transfers without problems. And unlike the oriental breed of cats, leaving the animal alone and without attention is not at all scary. It does not like excessive affection and touch. The best option for him would be just to be near the owners, settling in from a distance from them.

Food

If we talk about the diet, then it is worth thinking about it from the earliest times, but if the kitten is already accustomed to a certain type of food, then it is not worth replacing it.

There are special ready-made balanced foods for this type of cat, and that everything you need for the animal’s body is there. These are minerals that support a cat's health in excellent condition.

If the owners prefer to feed the cats homemade food, then you need to remember that pork, as well as the tubular bones of poultry and fish should be excluded from the diet for good, and kittens should not eat legumes and potatoes.

It's important to know! If you feed the cat constantly salty, fried or sweet, then soon the metabolism will be disrupted, which will lead to a deterioration in the condition of the animal.

What to feed your pet? Allowed foods include boiled chicken, beef, and raw quail eggs. Kittens are very fond of dairy products and enjoy treating them with pleasure. And if you still decide to feed your pet homemade dishes, then from time to time add all kinds of supplements in the form of vitamins and minerals to the diet.

Care

Many owners note the fact that this breed is not picky in terms of care. This greatly simplifies the life of the owners.

1. You need to comb them quite often. You can use a special rubber mitt for this.
2. When the molting period begins (spring and summer), it’s important for the owners to give the pet special medications that help to quickly remove the hair from the pet’s body, but if you still have health problems, contact a specialized veterinary clinic as soon as possible.
3. For hygienic bathing procedures, it is important to use special shampoos for cats of long-haired breeds.

Breed health

This breed of cats is distinguished by endurance and good health, but, like any other species, there are a number of diseases unique to them.

1. First, the presence of parasites in cats.This can be prevented from an early age by performing preventive procedures against ear mites, worms and much more. Treatment should only occur under the supervision of a treating veterinarian. And it is important to remember that the process of getting rid of worms and parasites is contraindicated in pregnant and weakened cats.
2. Diarrhea can also occur with malnutrition and impaired metabolism, so the choice of food should be approached very carefully. You do not need to feed the animal only meat and milk, as well as give spoiled or expired products to food. An intestinal upset can also cause a long trip by car or train, various excitement associated, for example, with the appearance of a new animal in the territory.
3. Hair loss is another unpleasant thing that accompanies this breed. Such things as pregnancy, molting, worms, the presence of constant stress, gastrointestinal upset, and much more can provoke it. To find out the reason why the animal began to lose its coat, you should visit your veterinarian as soon as possible.
4. Pets of this breed are very fond of licking hair, which is why lumps in fairly large quantities accumulate in the stomach. This can lead to malfunctions of the digestive system and even lead to surgery.

Breed cost

Today, the cost of highland kittens of this breed depends on many circumstances: the pedigree, the fame of the establishment, what gender of the pet, and much more. A rule has been established that cats are always several times more expensive than cats. Now the price ranges from 500 to 1,500 dollars. By acquiring such a pet yourself, you will acquire with it extraordinary calm, comfort and warmth, devotion that the animal will gladly give you.

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