British cats are brown. British white

British plush cats - the pride of Great Britain - have been winning the hearts of cat lovers for many years. Their popularity is growing day by day. truly English: they are characterized by aristocracy, intelligence and self-sufficiency.

Many people imagine only one thing about the British - blue color. However, like Scottish, British cats can have a wide variety of colors (see photo below). Today, more than 250 varieties of colors are known, and this is not the limit. Rare combinations of shades are highly valued both among professional felinologists and among ordinary breed lovers. Even a cat couple with a classic monochromatic color may have a kitten of a rare color. To organize the variety of colors of British cats, they are divided into types and groups according to the main color, pattern and type of pigmentation.

Cat breeding has been going on since the late 19th century. From this time on, serious work of breeders began to breed animals of both different colors and breed varieties. So, initially these cats had short, thick hair with the same thick undercoat, but crossing with Persians made it possible to breed semi-long-haired pets. The colors of British cats with long hair correspond to the colors of short-haired cats. Despite this, the British are a natural breed that has not undergone too many changes in type.

If you want to know in more detail what the color of British cats can be, a photo and description will help with this.

Colors of British cats: table with photos

#	Color code (BRI)	Color code (BRI)
					W - numbers from 61 to 64
	Plain (flat, solid)
	Tortoiseshell (tortie)
	Smoky (smoky)	NS/AS/BS/CS/DS/ES - numbers 22,23,24; FS/GS/HS/JS - numbers 11, 12
	Shaded silver color	NS/AS/BS/CS/DS/ES - numbers 11,12; FS/GS/HS/JS - number 11 and 12
	Golden shaded	NY - 11.12
	Patterned (tabby)	N/A/B/C/D/E - numbers 22,23,24; F/G/H/J - numbers 22,23,24
	Silver patterned	NS/AS/BS/CS/DS/ES - numbers 22,23,24; FS/GS/HS/JS - numbers 22,23,24
	Golden patterned color	NY - numbers 22,23,24
	Bicolor, van and harlequin	N/A/B/C/D/E - numbers 01,02,03; F/G/H/J - numbers 01,02,03
	Colorpoint	N/A/B/C/D/E - number 33; F/G/H/J - number 33
	Colorpoint with a pattern	N/A/B/C/D/E - number 21 and 33; F/G/H/J - also number 21 and 33

Solid colors

The solid color of British cats is uniform, without spots, patterns or any white hairs. The coat looks and feels plush, thick and soft.

The following solid colors are available:

Blue or gray color

Classic and most common. It is this color that comes to mind when it comes to British cats. The coat of this color should be uniform, while the undercoat may be slightly lighter than the main color, but whitish hairs are unacceptable. The lighter blue color is especially valuable. Kittens are allowed to have stripes that disappear over time. The color of the iris in British babies is gray or blue, but with age it becomes a rich amber color.

Black color

This is a rare color, it is difficult to obtain and is considered “capricious”. It often happens that a kitten born black changes its coat color to chocolate as it ages. The pigmentation of the coat, undercoat and skin is rich. In this case, the color of the undercoat and coat should not differ. It is believed that the more unbleached colors the ancestors have in their pedigree, the richer the black color will be. The rule of mating like with like, without experiments, so as not to harm the breed, applies here.

White

The white color of a British cat's coat should be pure, without yellowness or spots. Kittens may have blue or black stripes on their foreheads, but they disappear with age. Eye color coding is indicated by a number, thus 61 – blue (or) blue eyes, 62 – orange, 63 – odd-eyed, 64? green. I wonder what the name itself is “white”? It’s not a color, but its absence, which is why in the group of solid shades, white stands alone. It is quite difficult to breed animals with perfectly white fur, and obtaining such a color involves high risk producing unhealthy offspring. Thus, white parents have a high probability of giving birth to offspring with deafness. Since 1997, breeding work with white color has been stopped.

Cream color of British cats

This is a bleached red that is produced by the presence of a bleach gene. This shade of coat is one of the oldest types of solid colors, but recently it has become rare in breeding. The cream-colored British must have a clear (pastel) shade, intense color, and color i.e. "hot" cream is considered a disadvantage. Kittens have a tabby pattern, and adult animals may have residual tabby markings. The nose and paw pads are pink. In terms of wool quality, cream British are not inferior to blue and lilac.

Chocolate color

Should it be rich and deep? the darker the shade, the better. This color is called differently Havana, or chestnut.

Recently, breeders, as a result of careful selection of offspring, i.e. future manufacturers, have achieved high quality wool, in no way inferior to classic blue. The fur of such cats looks like a mouton. For the British, the standard recognizes all shades of chocolate: from light milky to dark “bitter”. The eye color of the chocolate-colored Briton is dark orange or copper, with rich colors being a priority. The nose should be the same color as the coat: chocolate or light chocolate.

Lilac color

Lilac coat color of a British cat? this is a combination of gray, pink and blue flowers and it looks like clarified chocolate. The animal's nose, as well as its paw pads, match the tone of its coat. Eyes orange-copper shades. The lilac color is presented in various variations: from cold lavender to warm pink-gray. The undercoat of cats of this color may be slightly lighter in tone than the outer hair, but a pronounced contrast is not acceptable. Kittens often have a residual pattern (moire) that disappears with age. The quality of the wool of lilac British cats resembles a blue mink coat, the color of which is mixed with a little pink dye. The nose, paw pads and lining of the mucous membranes are pink-purple in color, which darkens slightly with age.

Red (red, gold)

The red color of the Briton was introduced from Persians and other exotic cat breeds that have a red tint to their coats. These cats often have tabby markings on their foreheads. The eyes of British cats with red fur have a rich orange. The shade of the nose and paw pads is red, brick. A significant drawback of the red coat of the British is the uneven color distribution; for example, a cat's tail often has a lightened tip, so it is quite difficult to meet a Brit with a uniform red color. In view of this, the standards allow for a small, weakly defined tabby pattern.

Cinnamon

Quite a rare, highly desirable color, the name of which is translated from English as cinnamon. The shade is similar to a lightened chocolate color. Cinnamon-colored kittens are born quite rarely, because... The gene for this coat color is recessive. Cinnamon Britons always have pink paw pads and noses, but brown or milky ones? no longer cinnamon.

Faun

No less rare and desirable color for breeders. Looks like bleached, faded cinnamon.

It was recognized as an independent color in 2006.

The color is very interesting for breeders because of the possibility of breeding even lighter colors. The cat's belonging to a faun is confirmed by a DNA test. Individuals with a similar, but not confirmed color are classified as blue, cream, or discarded.

Tortoiseshell colors

Tortoiseshell variety of color? These are combinations of spots of solid color that leave a mosaic pattern on the cat’s fur in various combinations. Intense solid colors? black, chocolate and cinnamon? goes with red, in turn, diluted options: lilac, fawn and blue? with cream. This type of coat color is characteristic only of cats.

The tortoiseshell coat color appears gradually. A newborn kitten may have a few spots, but as they grow, the number will increase. Young British cats may have a gray undercoat or a somewhat muted red tint, but the final color develops by the age of one year.

Tortoiseshell cats are rightfully considered the queens of any cattery, because... they can produce offspring with a variety of colors.

Variants of tortoiseshell colors of British cats:

Black turtle

This is a harmonious combination of proportional red and black spots of different shades. The hairs are dyed evenly. Black color should be saturated, and red, accordingly, bright and intense. Both shades should be present on the paws and head of British tortoiseshells. According to the standard, mixed spots are acceptable. A red “tongue of flame” (scorch mark) on the muzzle would be desirable. It is not desirable to have patterns on red spots.

Chocolate turtle

It is a combination of chocolate and red shades in identical mosaic proportions. The general requirements are the same as in the previous case: intense, saturated color, harmony in arrangement, evenly colored hairs, tan on the face and absence of a pattern.

Cinnamon turtle

This is a combination of cinnamon and red spots on the coat. The color requirements are the same as for black and chocolate turtles.

Blue or bluish-cream turtle

Combines blue and cream spotted pattern, the spots should also be proportional. The tone of this color can be either light cream or medium blue. Creamy tan markings on the face of this type of color are welcome.

Lilac (option: lilac-cream) turtle

This is a uniform combination of lilac and cream shades, respectively. Colors must be clear. A cream-colored tan leading to the nose is desirable.

Faun turtle

Combination of fawn coat color and cream spots. The basic requirements are the same as for other British tortoiseshell colors.

Tabby colors

Tabby colors include brindle, merle, and spotted patterns on the agouti-type coat. Tabby color also implies the presence of the following important elements:

• Ticking? the presence of zonally colored hairs that make up the background, and the hairs of the pattern are painted in the same color almost to the very base.
• The so-called “sign of the scarab”? pattern on the forehead in the form of the letter "M".
• The presence of a light spot, similar to a fingerprint, on the auricle.
• The outlines of the mucous membrane of the eyes and nasal planum are in the main color.
• A necklace on the chest (at least 3 stripes), curls on the cheeks and rings on the tail and paws.
• There are 2 rows of double spots on the belly.
• The pattern is clear, saturated, not blurry, painted in any primary color or mosaic (for tortoiseshell Britons), contrasting with the main background, which is several shades lighter.

Types of tabby colors

The tabby pattern does not depend on the main coat color; it is a dark color pattern on a light background. There can be as many color variations as there are colors in general.

Without subdividing into types of patterns, we can distinguish colors:

• brown tabby? The main part of the coat is copper-brown in color, and the pattern is rich black.
• blue tabby distinguished by a background light blue tint and deep-colored markings blue color
• For chocolate tabby The coat is characterized by a bronze shade and a deep chocolate color pattern.
• lilac tabby It is distinguished by a lilac pattern and a beige background shade.
• red tabby: dark red color pattern and intense red coat tone.
• cream tabby? pattern in rich cream shades, coat color is warm pale cream.
• silver tabby colors, or silver tabby: silver black, blue, chocolate, red, lilac-silver, creamy silver. The pattern is a deep, rich shade of the main tone, and the area outside the pattern has a silver or pale silver tint to the main color (for example, silver cream or silver blue. The letter “s” is added to the pattern code.

Tabby colors, depending on the pattern, are divided into:

Tiger (mackerel) tabby

This color is considered an ancient natural pattern, and is quite widespread among cats. Along the spine, from head to tail, a narrow solid stripe of the main color is visible. And along the entire surface of the body there are vertical parallel stripes. The more there are, and the narrower they are, the better. They must be clearly distinguishable from the main background. A Briton must have the letter “M” on his forehead. A continuous line leads to the back of the head from the outer edge of the eye. There is a “necklace” on the neck, narrow stripes on the cheeks, double button-like spots on the cat’s belly, and even narrow rings on the tail and limbs. Despite the fact that this color is one of the dominant colors in the group of tabby colors, it is quite rare in the British breed, and real British “tiger cubs” are highly valued among professional breeders.

Spotted Tabby

The basis of the spotted pattern is a tiger pattern. In spotted Britons, under the influence of polygenes, the stripes are interrupted, forming small round spots on the coat along the entire body, which can be of different sizes, but always of the same shape and evenly spaced. The scarab sign, as in the previous version, is required. There are intermittent stripes down to the neck and along the back. In kittens, a continuous stripe on the back is allowed, but with a tendency to form spots. On the chest, neck and tail of the cat there are open and closed rings, and a colored tip of the tail. There may be rings and spots on the paws. On the cheeks? stripes.

Marble tabby color

It belongs to the classic, popular designs. Essentially, this is a mutation of the striped variant. The pattern resembles a cut on marble. All its elements should be contrasting, symmetrical, and have a rich color. There must be an “M” mark on the forehead. From outer corners Narrow stripes run from the eyes to the back of the head, and from the back of the head a “butterfly” pattern begins, spreading to the neck and shoulders. On the cat’s cheeks there are narrow rings twisted into a spiral. Three parallel lines run along the back from the shoulders to the tail. There are pronounced stains on the sides, and a “necklace” on the neck and chest. Are there “buttons” located in the area from the chest to the stomach? two parallel rows of spots. The paws and tail have clear, evenly spaced rings, and the tip of the tail is dark.

Thorby color (short for tabby and torty)

This is when an animal tortoiseshell color combines, in addition to the spotted mosaic, tabby patterns that cover the entire body of the cat and have all distinctive features. If the color is uniform, there are no stripes and characteristic features tabby, the cat has a normal tortoiseshell color. The color of the torby is distinguished by the expressiveness and clarity of the tabby pattern, which goes evenly and appears above the tortoiseshell (both red and black) color.

Abyssinian or ticked tabby

The color is named after the Abyssinian breed, where it is most pronounced. With this color, the hair should be evenly colored with stripes of dark main and, accordingly, light background shades. This is called tikkig. Each hair has double or triple ticking. Moreover, there should be no patterns, stains or designs on the wool. Markings are only allowed on a lightened belly. The presence of a “necklace” on the chest should be minimal.

Smoky colors

The smoky coat colors of the British are quite common and numerous. The peculiarity of this color is that, under the influence of an inhibitor gene, the guard hairs are colored only on top, and the hair from the roots and undercoat is devoid of pigment. This zonal staining is called tipping. There are 2 subgroups in this group: smoky type and chinchillas.

The smoky should not be confused with the agouti color. Smoke type cats have a completely colored nasal surface and should be free of body patterns. The tipping of the hair is quite deep: it should be painted over 4/5 of the total length. The main characteristics of the Smoky British are: pronounced contrast, the undercoat is as close to white as possible, and the tips of the coat are rich in color. The photo does not fully convey this color of British cats: at first it seems that the cat has a solid color, but only in person can one appreciate all its beauty, since when it moves, “silver” appears, which is hidden under the plush fur.

Varieties of smoky color

Black smoky

Coat of contrasting shades: from smoky black to silver on the sides. The undercoat is whitish, with black specks visible on the back and sides. The muzzle and legs are black, without patterns or marks.

Blue smoky

Wool of contrasting colors: from smoky blue to silver. The muzzle and paws are blue, without any markings. The undercoat is closer to a white shade, and the fur on the belly, chin, and bottom of the tail is silvery-white. The Chocolate Smoky has a smoky chocolate-colored coat that fades to silver on the sides. The fur on the chin and underbelly is silvery-whitish. The undercoat is close to white, the muzzle and paws are the color of chocolate, without markings.

Lilac smoky

The shade is distinguished by its lilac color in contrast with the white undercoat. The sides fade to silver. The chin, belly and underside of the tail are silvery white. The muzzle and legs are lilac without markings.

Red smoky

implies a red tint to the coat with a white undercoat, the chin and belly are silvery-white. The muzzle and legs have a uniform red hue. Tabby fur is not allowed.

Creamy smoky

With a creamy-smoky color, white contrast predominates in the area of ​​the sides with a transition to the belly and bottom of the tail. The undercoat is white. Paws are cream colored and tabby patterns are not allowed.

Tortoiseshell smoky colors

Do they look like mixed shades with a combination of derivatives of the main ones? black and red? flowers. Tipping can be of any intensity. Predominant in the undercoat white. The collar, ears and sides are silvery.

Silver colors: typed and shaded

These types of colors develop on a genetic background agouti.

Silver shaded (shading color)

This color is characterized by 1/3 coloring of the hair. It is characterized by a white undercoat and black tipping. Tipping in the head and tail area is mandatory. The areas of the chin, chest, bottom of the tail and belly should have a predominant white tint. The coloring is uniform, which gives the impression of a dark cape. The cat's eyes, nose and lips must be edged with black. Let's allow a light pattern (open rings) on the tail and legs. Eye color can be green or green-blue.

The following colors are available in the silver-shaded version:

• shaded silver-blue;
• silver-lilac;
• silver-red;
• silver cream;
• silver chocolate;
• tortoiseshell shaded.

Silver Chinchilla (Silver Veil)

A color in which the pigment is distributed over only 1/8 of the hair's entire length. It is characterized by a predominance of white undercoat. There is black tipping on the back, tail, head area, sides and ears. The main requirement for silver chinchillas is an even distribution of tipping. The areas of the chin, chest, belly and underside, tail, and mustache are white. There is a dark rim on the lips, nose and eyes. Eyes in this color are green or bluish-green.

For black color, the name chinchilla is used, and for the remaining colors of the silver line, the main color is indicated: blue chinchilla, red chinchilla, etc. For silver colors of British red line cats, the name “cameo” is added: smoky cameo, veil cameo, shaded cameo.

Deep, pronounced tipping in silver color types allows the pattern to appear, which causes the appearance of silver tabbies with different drawings(spots, stripes or marbling). So, for example, silver marble (blue, black, etc.) are the well-known so-called “whisky” types.

Golden colors

The golden series of colors of British cats is divided in the same way as the silver. This type was developed relatively recently, which explains many controversial issues in the classification. In the golden variation there cannot be red and cream shades of wool.

The undercoat of golden cats is not white, like silver cats, but a rich, warm cream or apricot color. The hair has black (optionally: brown) tipping on the head, back, tail and sides. The cat's chin, ears, chest and belly are soft apricot, nose? brick, paw pads dark (brown to black). The tipping on the tail is deeper than on the rest of the body. The eyes must be green. The mirror of the nose is reddish in color. Tabby markings are acceptable on kittens. In adults? the letter "M" on the forehead, as well as closed rings on the legs and tail and an open necklace.

Color point

The color of British color point cats is distinguished by special colored markings.

The British inherited this unusually attractive type of color from the Siamese. The coloring is most intense in the remote areas of the cat's fur, but in other parts it is lighter, but not pure white.

Accumulations of pigment (markings) are called “points”, and the overall color in relation to the main body is called color point. The Siamese color gene is recessive and in order for it to appear in the future, both parents must have it. The gene is also linked to blue eye color. Breeding British color point dogs is difficult. Kittens are born pure white or close to white, so it is unlikely that you will be able to find a color point in a photo of British kittens of all colors. The marks begin to fade over time.

The Siamese color gene matches all colors British breed. If it “works” with solid colors, then it is called color point, if in combination with tabby colors it is links point, and the combination of the pattern on the points with silver? has the name silver lynx point, respectively shaded colors? This is a shaded point.

Solid color points are characterized by a diamond-shaped face color, and the color of the markings should be identical in color with pronounced borders at the transitions. The rest of the body is painted in light colors, and the lighter the better. The muzzle mask should not extend to the back of the head in any way. The paw pads and nose are completely consistent in color with the main color of the markings.

The number of colors of color points is the same as for solid ones:

• seal point (markings are dark brown);
• Choklit (all chocolate shades);
• blue point (bluish markings);
• lilac point (warm lilac shade);
• red point (warm red markings);
• cream point (cream markings);
• cinnamon point (golden cinnamon markings);
• fawn point (beige-sand markings).

Tortoiseshell color-points

In these colors, in most variants, the color of the markings repeats any of the main shades, and the spots on it are red or cream shades. The coat color is light cream or beige. The pads and the nose are in the main tone of the points.

The following colors of tortoiseshell colorpoints exist:

• seal-torty-point;
• blue cream;
• Chokli-torti;
• Lilac cake;
• cinnamon cake;
• faun-tortoise.

Tabby point (links) colors

They are distinguished by the presence of a tabby pattern on the points: the letters “M”, a pattern around the eyes, pronounced spotting in the whisker area, spots on the ears. The body of the links is heavily lightened, without drawings. On the cat's front paws there is a pattern in the form of open rings running from the toes upward. There are stripes on the thighs and hind legs to the hocks? solid shade. Paw pads and area around nose to match markings. Lynx-point colors are presented in all the variety that only tortoiseshell and point colors can have.

Silver color points

This group of color point colors includes smoke point and silver tabby point. The colors differ from other variations in the lighter shade of the body and markings, as well as the presence of a whitish undercoat. The requirements for this line are the same as for color points, but the contrast is not as pronounced and intense. Smoke points may have shadow stripes, which is not a fault.

Shaded point and chinchilla point color

It is quite difficult to distinguish a point chinchilla from a chinchilla color, but it is quite possible: a point chinchilla is characterized by blue or blue eyes. Also, the tipping tone is slightly lighter in relation to the points. The requirements for these types of colors are the same as for tipped ones. The contrast between the point markings and the rest of the body is not so important.

Interestingly, golden colorpoints are very rare, so their description is controversial.

Colors with white - particolors

Particolor colors in the British breed are distinguished by their originality and uniqueness.

The group of particolors includes all colors and their combinations with varying degrees of white. Particolors should be distinguished from bicolors: if the former have colored spots of a non-solid color and/or patterns, then the latter are distinguished by monochromatic colored spots. Following the standards, at least 1/3 and no more than 1/2 shades of white are bicolors (minimum 1/3 and maximum 1/2 white of the total body surface) and particolors; more than 90% white? Harlequin cats (about 5/6 white) and Vans (maximum amount of white).

For bicolors, it is ideal when the cat's chin, chest area, belly and inner surface of the paws are white. There should be a closed white “collar” on the neck, and the letter “L” on the muzzle. The top of the animal's head, shoulders, tail, etc. are painted. “cloak” on the back, which should not have whitish inclusions. Approximately this distribution in the standards is desirable and more preferable.

At the Harlequins on the white back, head and thighs there are clearly defined large or medium colored spots different shapes. Ideally, the neck, chest, belly, paws and chin areas should be white. The tail is completely painted.

British cat color van distinguished by a large amount of white. Two spots on the cat's head are required, separated by a whitish line. In this case, the ears should be white, the tail should be colored. In the color of the bathtubs, 1-2 small colored spots on the body are acceptable.

Tricolor turtle with white is gender-linked, so only cats can be tri-colored. This color has the following feature: the black and red spots are not mixed, as in the tortoiseshell color, but are isolated and outlined.

Mitted- This is a color not recognized in the British breed and is therefore considered a fault. In such animals, white spotting occupies no more than 1/4 of the total surface. Also characteristic white stripe along the chest from the chin, white groin and belly, the so-called. "socks" on the paws.

Everyone knows that there are a huge number of colors of British cats and each color has its own connoisseurs. When many people hear a phrase like “British cat,” they imagine an animal with a classic blue color and luxurious thick fur. Currently (tabby) are very popular.

Color is a set of characteristics such as the color of the coat, the pattern on it, as well as the color of the eyes. Coat color is genetically linked to the color of the paw pads and nose. And if a blue cat has any pinkish spot on its pad, then it is not blue, but blue-cream.

Caring for the fur of British cats requires a lot of effort and effort. But such work pays off later - because you can look at these beautiful animals endlessly.

The most rare colors

British cats sometimes give birth to kittens with amazing colors. It is not easy to find such kittens, because there are huge queues of people wanting to buy them.

Rarely are cats with chocolate or black fur and copper eyes. A great rarity is a white British man with different eyes.

It should be noted that smoky, shaded and chinchilla are one group of silver color. Blue British cats are very popular, lilac color is in second place, silver tabby is in third place, spotted is in fourth place, and in some countries the brown-spotted color is popular.

The color of the British cat breed should be uniform and free of spots, shades and white hairs. The British coat is thick, short and soft to the touch.

Tortoiseshell color

Tortoiseshell coloring is considered a rare coloring of British cats; it occurs only in girls. Spots of two shades are evenly mixed throughout the cat’s body. Cats with this color sometimes give birth to kittens with very interesting colors, so they are prized.

Smoky color

These British cats have a silvery undercoat that turns the base color into a smoky one. Smoky colors of two colors can also be found.

Chinchillas

In these British ones, the main color of the coat is shaded by another shade, which in turn covers the tip of each hair. One of the rather rare colors of the British is golden shaded with green eye.

Color with tabby pattern

Marble

Spotted (WISKAS)

Brindle color

The color of such cats can be almost any, but distinctive feature is a drawing that recalls the wild origin of cats. For the British cat breed, the standard has three patterns: marbled, spotted and brindle.

Color point

These representatives of British cats are distinguished by colored spots. In color, they are similar to Siamese cats. In rare cases, British cats of this color and pattern are found.

Bicolor color

This color occurs when any color from the main colors is combined, it is called bicolor. They are divided into (when the tail is colored and there are two spots on the head), harlequin (large colored spots), and also bicolor (almost half of the body is colored).

Each of these colors has its own clear criteria, and if you follow them, you can ensure successful performances at shows for British cats. Eye color and the symmetry of spots distribution also play a fairly important role.

Imagine a British cat. Most likely, your mind's eye will see a large, beautiful, gray-blue animal with bright copper eyes. In fact, the eyes of British cats, like the colors, can be very different.

The richness of the palette is endless. The main thing for participation in exhibitions or breeding programs is that the eye color of British cats is in harmony with their color.

However, when buying a small kitten, the owner is unlikely to be able to guess what his pet’s eyes will become over time - after all, tailed babies are born blue-eyed, and the real eye color appears in some by six months, and in others only by one and a half years.

But in this case, nature itself gives a hint - the eye color of British cats is directly related to color. If you want to know what eye color British cats will have, pay attention to the color of their coat.

Yellow eyes of warm fire

What kind of eyes do you have? british cats monochromatic or, in other words, solid colors? All monochromatic British cats, except white ones, are left with no choice - their eyes are yellow, sometimes even closer to orange. The brighter and more saturated the shade, the more beautiful and expensive the cat.

British tortoiseshell cats also have yellow eyes. It is genetically determined that mainly female cats are born with such “pieds”. If a tortoiseshell cat is born, then this is the result of a genetic mutation, and the boy, alas, is infertile.

Classical yellow eyes and in spotted-striped animals - this color is also called tabby (tabby) or drawn. If there is no gold or silver in the color of the British minke whale, then, in theory, it should also be yellow-eyed.

Emeralds - for gold and silver

What are the eyes of British cats that have “noble metals” in their colors? If we are talking about gold, that is, the colors “golden tabby”, “golden shaded” or “golden chinchilla”, then only british cat With green eyes. There are no other options - gold in this case should be combined only with greenery in bright shades.

As for silver cats - the same tabbies, chinchillas or “silver tabbies” - their eyes can be either green, preferably a shade of turquoise, or yellow-orange.

Siamese color - for blue eyes

If in front of you is a British cat with blue eyes or a British blue-eyed cat - with almost 100% probability we can say that this is a color-point animal (it is also called Siamese or acromelanic).

British cats with blue eyes can have six variants of the “Siamese” color - black, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream. We can say that these are the real lucky ones, because if a cat has blue eyes, then, as the song says, nothing will be denied to her!

Blondes rule!

White color is not the most common among representatives of this breed: it is very difficult to breed such kittens, in addition, white cats of any breed often suffer from deafness, so selection work with white British cats has not been carried out for some time. But if such a kitten appeared in the litter by the will of nature, the color of its eyes can be a real surprise for the owner.

British blondes can have yellow eyes, more precisely, gold, copper or amber - this is the most common option. It is extremely rare, but there are white British cats with blue eyes - they do not participate in breeding, but this does not detract from their unique beauty.

And finally, perhaps the most incredible white British cats are those with different eyes, this phenomenon is called heterochromia. Usually one eye is blue and the other yellow. On English Such cats are called “Odd-Eyed”, that is, strange-eyed.

White mark

What kind of eyes do British cats with white markings, the so-called bicolors, harlequins and vans have? In this case, everything depends on the main color - the color of the cat’s eyes should correspond to it. Most often, British cats with white spots are yellow-eyed or green-eyed, but sometimes there are rare heterochromic specimens among them.

However, all these nuances are important only for those who actively participate in exhibitions or are involved in breeding cats. For most ordinary cat owners who have British cats, the color of their pets' eyes does not matter. Yellow, green, blue or even different - they are still the most favorite!

Today there are a wide variety of varieties of British cats. Everyone can find their own pet among them, who will give their love and respect. The white British cat is especially popular among lovers of this type of animal. There are more than two hundred different colors of British cats that look great both in photos and in real life.

History of the origin of the breed

First option

According to historians, the Briton is one of the most ancient breeds. Surely, many remember that cats were especially popular in the Roman Empire for hundreds of years. Emperors, as a rule, had not one or three cats, but about a dozen pets. These cats were brought to Britain by Roman soldiers from Ancient Rome . The images that have been preserved from those times show that they were short-haired gray British with not only large round eyes, but also quite sharp fangs.

Second option

Absolutely opposite to the first version is the second version of the origin of British seals. According to the second story, these wonderful animals appeared on the British Isles thanks to French sailors, who took them with them on voyages in the hope that the cats would protect their ship from rats and mice. In France they were also used as rat catchers in wine cellars.

Popular British colors

British white

British white cats with blue eyes are among the most gentle and sweet.

Combinations of white and other colors are not allowed, since the coat must be evenly colored. The paw pads and nose must be pink. They get along very easily with families with children, because they prefer home house with a friendly atmosphere than an animal breeder's kennel. The peculiarity of British white cats is that at birth they may have one of the following defects:

• blindness;
• loss of smell;
• hearing loss;
• non-absolute white color.

Adult representatives have a white coat color and, depending on the category, the following eye color:

• blue;
• orange;
• heterochronic;
• green.

Peculiarities

Newborn white British kittens have gray stripes that disappear within a year. This situation is explained by the fact that when breeding these animals, individuals of different colors take part. If you do not adhere to this principle, then British White cat kittens may develop various defects(often deafness).

Since white British kittens are not pure white, it is possible to determine what color their parents were. Therefore, if one of the parents is a blue animal, then the spots will be bluish-gray. If one of the individuals was black, then the marks will be black. According to buyers, pets with different eye colors bring good luck to their owner.

Of course, white pets require special care. The wool needs to be combed. Can be used special shampoo or dry if your pet doesn’t really like bathing in the bath. Representatives of this color take very good care of their white coat. as if they understand the importance of constant care for her. In order for a white cat to have a muzzle with a characteristic circle for this breed, it is necessary to give her diced meat, scalded with lightly boiling water, for lunch.

Fold white

The British are related to the Scottish White Fold. Many may think that this is their variety, but this is not at all true, since they are a separate breed. They also have white fur, which is soft and very pleasant to the touch. Unfortunately, they too can inherit deafness.

Black color

Breeding this type of color is quite difficult, since the black color of such a kitten can change to chocolate or brown within six months.

If they have light or white tan fur, they will already be considered defective.

Blue pet

No less popular color than white is gray without any gray tints. The fur coat should not have light fibers. Kitten is born with blue eyes, and then gradually they turn orange.

Silver

This type of color is extremely rare. These pets have eyeliner around their eyes, the tip of their tail, and their paw pads are colored black. People call them “golden”.

Cream

These representatives of the breed have a pale cream-colored coat. The presence of white or red spots is excluded. Their earlobes are pale pink. Eyes can be copper, orange or gold.

Of course, every cat breed has its own characteristics, and the British are no exception. The following facts are highlighted from the description of the British:

• British cats are endowed with very acute hearing. They have this ability due to the fact that the nerve endings that are located in their eyes instantly transmit noise from external environment into their ears.
• Representatives of this breed, unlike other pets, distinguish odors 14 times better, since the organs responsible for smell are also the antennae, and not just the nose, like other cats.
• British Shorthairs have eyes without eyelashes. It is noticeable that their eyes are not very proportional to their body and this did not affect their visual perception of the world at all.
• They have good health, are quite hardy, have short and strong legs, and also have very good hunting qualities.
• 14-16 hours, this is the period of time a British Shorthair needs to sleep.
• They meow extremely rarely, because they have a reserved, intelligent character, like real Englishmen.
• If you care for them properly, their life span will be more than 20 years.

VETERINARIAN CONSULTATION REQUIRED. INFORMATION FOR INFORMATION ONLY. Administration

Powerful and aristocratic British cats are known throughout the world.

These pets are perfect for home care thanks to peace and good health. The British Shorthair is a naturally developed breed.

Country of origin	UK 🇬🇧
Coat type	Shorthair
Difficulty of care
Lifestyle	Lazy
Height at withers	28-33 cm
Adult pet weight	Cat 5-7 kg Cat – 7-10 kg
Health
Lifespan	14-17 years old

Story

The first mentions of this breed are found in ancient chronicles. There is no documented information about their origin. The first very large rat-catching cats were brought in by Roman centurions. Researchers suggest that cats were introduced by the Romans during an attack on the British Isles in 43 AD. e. In Britain they were called the “British cat”, in France - “Charteuse”, in Germany - “Carthusian cat”.

The animals were used as rodent hunters, but by the end of the 16th century, breeders paid attention to the appearance of cats. The British attended the first London cat show in 1871. Then official breed standards were adopted, and felinology began its rapid development.

The first British appeared in Russia in 1992, along with the Cartheusers, who are now called in Russia “the old type of British.”

To consolidate the unique features of the British, breeders used Persian cats - which is why British cats have a slightly flat face.

Description of the breed

The physiology and appearance of the British were formed under high humidity in cold climates, therefore this breed has dense short hair that protects from cold and moisture.

Since British cats are excellent hunters, they are strong, hardy and unpretentious in food.

The breed standard describes the British as follows:

• The head is with a wide skull, round. The cheeks are developed, the cheekbones are wide, the muzzle is flattened and round.
• The nose is wide, straight and short.
• The ears are rounded and small, set wide and low.
• The eyes are round, at a great distance from each other, which exceeds the width of the nose.
• The body is massive, with developed chest and good muscles.
• The limbs are powerful, but short. Paws are rounded.
• The tail is thick.
• Weight - males weigh 10-13 kg, and females from 6 to 9 kg.

Wool protects cats well from the cold due to the developed undercoat. It does not adhere to the body, is thick and plush to the touch.

Sometimes there are longhaired British cats. A recessive gene is responsible for long fur, so a long-haired kitten cannot appear from ordinary parents.

People often confuse British and Scottish cats: some even seriously think that there is such a breed - the British Fold. The two different breeds should not be confused.

Colors of British cats

The following colors are typical for the British:

1. Blue. Gray wool without light hairs. Skin - blue.
   
   
2. A monochromatic color is considered if the skin, undercoat and coat itself are the same color, and there is not a single spot.
   1. Lilac is a combination of pink and blue. The nose and paws are purple. Eyes - copper or orange.
      
      
   2. Chocolate is a rich brown color.
      
      
   3. Black is a jet black color. Sometimes kittens are born with black fur, but it fades over time. This adds complexity to breeding black pets.
      
      
   4. White - pinkish skin and cold tone wool Yellow spots unacceptable.
      
      
   5. Cinnamon is a cinnamon color, similar to light brown.
      
      
   6. Fawn is a combination of creme brulee and pink colors.
      
      
3. Smoky. In this case, the pet's undercoat is lighter than its fur.
   
   
4. Silver chinchilla. The coat is silvery, slightly shaded.
   
   
5. Gold. At 1/8 of the length of the hair, the pigmentation is darkened, and the rest is golden. There should be no gray shades. The paw pads are usually black, and the eyeliner and nose are dark.
   
   
6. Tortoiseshell. These are 2 or 3 shades, evenly distributed throughout the coat. There is no pattern on shades with red and beige wool. Eyes orange or copper. This color only occurs in cats.
   
   
7. Tabby. This color is characterized by patterns: spots and stripes.
   
8. Paired spotted colors:
   
9. Color point. Characterized by two shades of coat with a predominance of white.
   
   
10. Lynx color. Silver chinchilla with striped gray paws and muzzle. The eyes are blue.
    
    

For the long-haired variety of the breed, all colors are acceptable except white and color point.

Personality of British Shorthair cats

Activity
Playfulness
Sociability
Affectionateness
Friendliness
Intelligence

British cats are independent and can easily tolerate loneliness. They don’t ask to be held, but they are not insensitive: the British love their owners with restraint, “in a gentlemanly manner.”

The British avoid strangers and prefer to first observe them from the sidelines. Such pets are unobtrusive, clean and smart. British cats do not use fangs and claws, so they are not dangerous for children.

Content Features

Despite natural health British people need proper care.

To extend your cat's life, choose the right food. Ideally, you should visit a veterinarian who will create a healthy diet. Take your pet to the veterinarian regularly: the cat will not complain if it gets sick.

Below are best food for British Shorthair cats:

It’s not difficult to care for the cat’s fur - buy a massage slicker brush and brush your cat 2 times a week. The Briton needs to be washed a couple of times a year or as needed.

Pay attention to the animal's eyes - they are looked after every day. A cotton pad is used to remove natural discharge from the eyes, and the cotton wool is led from the outer corner to the nose. The ears are examined a couple of times a month and cleaned with cotton wool treated with a hygienic solution.

You need to examine your pet's teeth every day to prevent tartar from developing. Breeders recommend teaching your British cat to brush his teeth from an early age.

Such pets are sensitive to drafts and catch colds easily: protect your cat from drafts.