If you own a British Spotted Shorthair, look out for cat thieves! Its gorgeous coat is an eye-catcher that never fails to turn heads. Reminiscent of some of its smaller wild cousins, “Spottie”, as it is affectionately known, is basically a Mackerel Tabby with the markings broken up into spots.
History
A cat very similar to the British Spotted was known in Ancient Egypt, where it was revered in mythology as the killer of the serpent of evil. Like most British Shorthairs, the modern breed was selectively bred from street cats and made an early appearance at the cat shows held during the 1880s. It fell out of flavor at the beginning of this century, but regained popularity by the mid-1960s.
Temperament
Spottie is good-natured, affable and affectionate.
Variety
Any tabby-type color combination is permissible for the British Spotted, as long as the spots match the coat color. The most common varieties are the Brown, Silver, and Red. The British standard is more specific about the distribution of markings than that of the US.
British Silver Spotted Shorthair
The markings on the British Spotted need to be as numerous and distinct as possible. The spots can be around, oval, or rossete-shaped.
Picture: British Silver Spotted Shorthair
Body
A strong, muscular, stocky type.
Coat
- The fur is short and dense. The color should be pale grey with black markings.
- Dorsal stripe should be broken up into spots.
- Broken rings on tail.
Tail
- Short and thick.
- Tip of tail must be same color as markings.
Legs
Short, but well-proportioned.
Feet
The paws are large and round, with black or red pads.
Head
Round and broad, with a well-developed chin. The nose should be short and straight, with a red or black pad; Red nose pad, outlined in black.
Eyes
Large and round; color should be green or hazel, outlined in black.
Ears
Medium in size and round-tipped.
Facial Characteristics
British Silver Spotted Shorthair.
Picture: British Red Spotted Shorthair
British Red Spotted Shorthair
For this variety, the standard calls for a light red coat, spotted in rich red, coupled with deep orange or copper eyes.
An “M” characteristic of Tabbies, decorates the head.
History
A cat very similar to the British Spotted was known in Ancient Egypt, where it was revered in mythology as the killer of the serpent of evil. Like most British Shorthairs, the modern breed was selectively bred from street cats and made an early appearance at the cat shows held during the 1880s. It fell out of flavor at the beginning of this century, but regained popularity by the mid-1960s.
Temperament
Spottie is good-natured, affable and affectionate.
Variety
Any tabby-type color combination is permissible for the British Spotted, as long as the spots match the coat color. The most common varieties are the Brown, Silver, and Red. The British standard is more specific about the distribution of markings than that of the US.
British Silver Spotted Shorthair
The markings on the British Spotted need to be as numerous and distinct as possible. The spots can be around, oval, or rossete-shaped.
Picture: British Silver Spotted ShorthairBody
A strong, muscular, stocky type.
Coat
- The fur is short and dense. The color should be pale grey with black markings.
- Dorsal stripe should be broken up into spots.
- Broken rings on tail.
Tail
- Short and thick.
- Tip of tail must be same color as markings.
Legs
Short, but well-proportioned.
Feet
The paws are large and round, with black or red pads.
HeadRound and broad, with a well-developed chin. The nose should be short and straight, with a red or black pad; Red nose pad, outlined in black.
Eyes
Large and round; color should be green or hazel, outlined in black.
Ears
Medium in size and round-tipped.
Facial Characteristics
British Silver Spotted Shorthair.
Picture: British Red Spotted ShorthairBritish Red Spotted Shorthair
For this variety, the standard calls for a light red coat, spotted in rich red, coupled with deep orange or copper eyes.
An “M” characteristic of Tabbies, decorates the head.
