Domestic Shorthair vs British Shorthair
The check that settles it
Far heavier and rounder, with a very dense plush coat and a broad face. A grey domestic shorthair is not a British Shorthair.
Confirming a domestic shorthair
- Moderate in every dimension — no exaggerated feature anywhere.
- Any colour and any pattern. Calico, tortoiseshell, tabby and tuxedo are patterns, not breeds.
- No documented pedigree, which is what a breed actually is.
- Generally healthier and longer-lived than the exaggerated pedigree breeds.
Confirming a british shorthair
- A dense, crisp coat that stands away from the body and springs back when stroked.
- A broad round head with very full cheeks, more pronounced in males.
- Round copper or gold eyes.
- Short, thick, straight legs on a compact heavy body.