ORIGIN AND INTRODUCTION:
British shorthair blue also known as British blue originally belonged to Egypt. Due to environmental conditions, it migrated to Rome and then finally settled in British getting British in its name. There are different variants of British shorthair i.e. black, brown, fawn but grey blue is the most common.
Habitually, it is quite a calm and patient breed having a good temperament. These are the reasons why these cats are loved the most and preferred as pets. Also, they can catch and eat mice, which makes them more popular in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, instead of cuddling or physical contact they prefer to be entertained with other stuff like toys, bird watching and sitting beside the family members and entertaining them.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Generally, British cats have round teddy-like faces with round eyes and short but dense fur on their body.
Height:
Ranges from 12 – 14 inches
Weight:
Usually between 5 – 17 pounds
Life Span:
15-20 years
Body:
Not that massive, males weigh more than females, have round eyes, wide ears and whole body covered with short and thick fur
Length:
56-64 cm
Generally, they are not that much talkative and less tenacious, but they develop a strong feeling of love and affection with their owner without demanding an unusual amount of attention. Their physical appearance also makes a person attracted to them. Moreover, they take some time to mature their mind, and their actions are more like kittens even after 5-6 years of birth.
DIET AND NUTRITION:
Attractiveness is a major quality of British Blue cats that should be maintained. The cats must be fed according to the nutritional plan of international and attested companies like the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutritional guidelines
The best quality cat food normally contains all the necessary nutrients but still, in case of any diet consult a veterinarian to get the supplements that are lacking in the diet.
Other than that good quality food also has groups of cat food like growth, maintenance and food for all age groups.
Moving on to the portion of meals to feed your cats. Just like humans, the metabolism varies from one individual to another. It is very important to save the cat from obesity. So, to get a complete diet plan and how to feed a British cat a complete examination is required. It will tell how much food should be given to the cat after how much time. Also, the major food groups should be present in a fixed proportion. If all these things are considered they can lead to serious health issues.
HEALTH AND CARE:
British blue cats are not the inheritors of any disease but in some rare cases, they can get some genetic, dental or other healthcare concerns that need to be treated. Some most common diseases faced by British blues are
• POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY
DISEASE: It is a genetic disorder. To some extent it is believed that this disease originated due to the breeding of blue cats with the Persian breed and as Persian cats were the victims of PKD so are the blue ones. In this condition, multiple cysts are formed in the kidney causing
disturbance in normal functioning.
Being a genetic disorder, the only prevention is to eliminate it from the gene pool and treatment is still under study.
• HEART DISEASES:
Genetic cardiovascular diseases are also very common among this species. Among the vast class of CVDs most familiar and common is Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy HCM. HCM is a type of disease in which the walls of the heart chamber become abnormally thick which causes problems in contraction and relaxation. This condition leads to other serious problems as well.
A cat with HCM will have an abnormal heart rate and difficulty breathing. Furosemide, ACE inhibitors (e.g. enalapril or benazepril) and pimobendane are given to the cats orally.
• DENTAL ISSUES:
Mostly observed dental issues include stinking breath, difficulty in swallowing, tooth resorption and bleeding gums.
The best prevention from dental problems is to maintain oral hygiene. Proper brushing, dental cleanings and regular checkups are the best and most effective methods to prevent these diseases.
HYGIENE AND CLEANING:
A British Blue is a low-maintenance breed and does not require a lot of money for its care
• Mostly British blue cats are not favorable to skin problems rarely there can be a rash or infection that needs to be treated by a veterinarian.
• British blue cats have round eyes and just like skin they don’t require any specific care for their eyes. In case of any discharge from the eyes, consultation is necessary.
• Other procedures of personal hygiene include proper brushing that reduces the risk of shedding and mating with individuals of other species.
• Regular bathing with good quality products protects the breed from infections and insects.
• The nails of blue cats should also be trimmed every 2-3 days to prevent infections.
• Their ears can also get clogged due to ear wax. If you notice any debris or particulate matter in the ear clean it with animal special cotton buds. Cleaning must be done attentively to protect any damage to the ear.
PARENTING AND TRAINING TIPS FOR THE OWNERS:
As mentioned earlier, British blue cats are not clingy and attention seekers but due to their calm and polite nature they enjoy the company of their owner. They are friendly but they don’t like to get bothered so they are not suitable for a household with children. Instead of getting into a person’s lap, they sit beside them. To avoid unwanted and harsh behavior of cats there should be fun activities and training of the cats should be reward-based. The cats should be allowed to socialize and go out in an open environment. They are very energetic throughout the day participating in different fun activities like sunbathing, running, hunting toys etc. In the beginning, they are reluctant to a new person, animal or companion but after a complete introduction, they easily get friendly with others.
