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SHORTHAIRS
AN OLD FAVORITE THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN A VARIETY OF ATTRACTIVE COLORS
BRITISH SHORTHAIR—TABBY
Although the British Shorthair is the most even-tempered
of cats, this variation is a reminder of its wild tabby-patterned
ancestors. Brown tabbies were among the first British
Shorthairs to appear in cat shows in the 1870s, and red and
silver versions became popular early on in the breed’s history.
This cat now comes in a wide range of additional colors,
with three traditional tabby patterns: classic
(or blotched) tabby, with markings arranged in
broad whorls; mackerel, with narrower markings;
and spotted. In the patched tabby, the coat has a
second ground color.
Place of origin UK
Date of origin 1800s
Breed registries CFA, FIFe,
GCCF, TICA
Weight range 9–18 lb (4–8 kg)
Grooming
Colors and patterns
All traditional tabby patterns
with many colors, including
silver variations; patched
tabby in various colors,
including silver variations.
Even,
unbroken
rings on tail
Necklace
of stripes
around neck
Large, round
golden eyes
Typical tabby
“M” mark on
forehead
Legs barred
with darker
bracelets
Narrow
markings
on cheeks
Black silver
tabby coat
Red classic
tabby coat
Ground color
even over
whole body
Brick-red
nose leather
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