Credit: Nynke van Holten / Shutterstock.com
Great Britain is the birthplace of many current cat breeds, some common and others more rare felines. Some of these British cat breeds developed when admiring people took advantage of unique physical characteristics that were the result of a spontaneous genetic mutation in litters of farm cats. Others were carefully cultivated as a result of crosses by creative cat breeders that wanted to create something new. Regardless of how they came to be, these British cat breeds have won fans around the world thanks to their unique characteristics.
Let’s have a look at some of these popular cat breeds.
The British Shorthair has a reputation of being somewhat aloof, but can bond closely to their owners RVRSPTRLab / Shutterstock.com
The British Shorthair is a well-known British cat breed, recognized for their dense coat, chubby cheeks, broad faces, and sweet smile. This breed has an ancient history, with its ancestors likely brought to Great Britain by the Romans. These substantial cats are compact with a stocky body and muscular build. The soft, plush coat has an irresistible texture – like a deep carpet pile. They were once called British Blues because blue-gray was the most common color, but today they come in a wider range of coat colors. Their round eyes can be blue, gold, or copper.
Once used for rodent control, they now serve as beloved pets and have steadily gained in popularity. Quiet and mellow in disposition, British Shorthair cats can be a little stoic until you get to know them. They like a bit of alone time, but can also be cuddly and affectionate with their family.
British Longhair cats are less common than their short-haired cousins, but just as beautiful. OksanaSusoeva / Shutterstock.com
Somewhat lesser known than their shorthair cousin, the British Longhair is a semi-longhaired version of the more popular British Shorthair. The two breeds are identical in looks and temperament other than the British Longhair’s luxurious fluffy coat. The hair is longest on the backs of the legs (called britches), and around the neck, forming a ruff. Coat texture is also slightly different, with the British Longhair’s fur texture described in the breed standard as “fluff-plush.” These long-haired cats have a laid back, relaxed nature, and are always up for a good nap.
Burmillas are known for their green eyes. JE Jevgenija / Shutterstock.com
The Burmilla is a beautiful breed with distinctive markings, namely its silvery gray coat. It was created in the United Kingdom in the 1980s by crossing a Burmese and a Chinchilla Persian. Chinchilla is a unique coat color pattern that is characterized by a silver-white ground color with each hair tipped in black or other dark color, creating a shimmery or glittery effect. Burmillas can be short-haired with a smooth coat, or semi-longhaired, which is medium length on the body with fringes or frills on the underparts, a ruff around the neck, and a fully plumed tail.
Burmilla cats have a green eye color, which further enhances their sparkling beauty. Burmillas are gentle and sweet, with a lively, kitten-like attitude.
The Cornish Rex has a short, curly coat which is low shedding. polya_olya / Shutterstock.com
The Cornish Rex breed had its start in Cornwall, England, when a kitten with a unique look was born into a litter of barn cats. The kitten, later named Kallibunker, had a very short, curly coat of kinky curls, large ears, and a lean, finely boned body. Kallibunker’s appearance was due to a random genetic mutation. He became the foundation of a breeding program, which included other breeds, namely Burmese and Siamese, as well as domestic shorthair cats which eventually emerged as the distinctive Cornish Rex breed.
Cornish Rex cats come in a wide range of colors. They are a great choice for people who suffer from cat allergies as the coat sheds very minimally. In terms of personality, these intelligent cats are playful, energetic, and very people-oriented, making them charming pets.
Devon Rex cats are known for their intelligence and energy. Veera / Shutterstock.com
Like the Cornish Rex, the Devon Rex came into existence due to a natural and spontaneous genetic mutation. The first Devon Rex, a kitten that would go on to be the foundation of the breed, was born to a stray cat in Devonshire, England, in the 1950s. The kitten was quite odd-looking thanks to his long, skinny neck, slender body, elfin appearance and short, wavy coat. A woman smitten with his appearance used him to create a new breed.
Devon Rex are a playful breed, filled with energy and curiosity. These loving cats have an innate humor that can often get up to a bit of mischief, but it’s impossible to be annoyed with them once they turn on the charm. The sparse coat doesn’t shed, making the Devon Rex a good breed for people with cat allergies.
Havana Brown cats are easily recognized by their solid brown coat color. Nynke van Holten / Shutterstock.com
The Havana Brown did not originate in Cuba, as the name might suggest. The breed was actually created in England in the 1950s, and the name was selected to pay homage to the breed’s rich, warm, brown color, which is similar to a Havana cigar. The Havana Brown is one of the only breeds that comes in a solid, warm brown coat (called “self brown”), a trait that was achieved by breeding Siameses with domestic black cats.
The lovely brown coat is short to medium-length and smooth, with a lustrous sheen. The affectionate Havana Brown loves their human families and wants to be part of all family interactions.
Manx cats are distinctive for their lack of a tail. PradaBrown / Shutterstock
Hailing from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland, the Manx cat is known for its lack of a tail. In fact, some Manx do have short tails or even full tails, but Manx may only compete in the show ring if they are tailless (called a rumpy) or have a slight rise of bone at the end of the spine (called a rumpy riser). Manx cats evolved naturally on the island for hundreds of years without human intervention, but they caught people’s eye and were exhibited at the very first cat shows in the late 1800s.
Manx come in many different colors and patterns, and can be short-haired or long-haired (known as Cymric). Described as having a dog-like temperament, Manx are friendly, intelligent, and laid-back companions.
Despite the name, the Oriental Shorthair breed is credited to Britain for its development. VittoriaChe / Shutterstock.com
Despite the name and the breed’s ancestry to the Siamese cat, the Oriental Shorthair is considered a British breed since it is the result of distinct breeding efforts in England by British breeders who envisioned a cat of Siamese body type but in a wide variety of colors different from the traditional pointed color-pattern of the Siamese. Many breeds went into the development of the Oriental Shorthair, including the Siamese, British Shorthair, Russian Blue, Abyssinian, and short-haired domestic cats.
Orientals have a short coat, slender muscular body, big ears and come in endless coat colors and patterns, and also a variety with a long coat (the Oriental Longhair). These affectionate cats are extremely people-oriented, energetic, curious, and talkative.
A genetic mutation causes the ears of these Scottish Fold cats to form improperly. Oleksandr Volchanskyi / Shutterstock.com
The Scottish Fold, named for its one-of-a-kind ears that fold forward, originated in Scotland. This breed is another instance of humans capitalizing on an interesting genetic mutation. In the 1960s, a barn cat named Susie with uniquely folded ears was bred to a tomcat, and some of her kittens also had folded ears. Eventually, other breeds were added to the mix, including Persian cats, American Shorthairs, Exotic Shorthairs and Burmese.
All Scottish Fold kittens are born with straight ears, but around 3 weeks of age some kittens’ ears begin to fold forward. Sweet and outgoing, the Scottish Fold loves to dole out affection. Affectionately nicknamed “Foldies,” Scottish Fold comes in both a short-haired variety and long-haired variety.
#10 Scottish Straight
The Scottish Straight breed comes in a range of coat colors and patterns. Oleksandr Volchanskyi / Shutterstock.com
Breed Overview
ORIGIN: Scotland
HEIGHT: 20″- 25″
ADULT WEIGHT: 4-6 kg
LIFE SPAN: 12- 16 years
The Scottish Straight is the breed name given to Scottish Fold kittens that do not develop folded ears. Most litters have a combination of Scottish Folds and Scottish Straights, usually about half and half. The two types have a very similar appearance in all ways except ear shape. Like their folded-ear siblings, Scottish Straights can have short coats or long hair, and come in a wide range of colors and patterns. Both breeds are friendly, curious, and very people-oriented, always up for a lap cuddle.
