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Although the British are renowned for their staunch traditions, they have also been pioneers in progressive breeding techniques when it comes to cats. In Great Britain, several of the world’s most beloved felines have been developed, including the Cornish Rex, Scottish Fold, and British Shorthair.
Let’s delve deeper into Britain’s most recognizable cat breeds!
The 10 British Cat Breeds
1. British Shorthair
The British Shorthair, arguably the most renowned and ancient breed in Britain, is thought to have originated with the Romans, who employed them to control rodent infestations. Nevertheless, following World War I, the population of British Shorthairs experienced a precipitous decline.
To rejuvenate the breed, Persian cats were introduced as mates. This strategy initially succeeded, but the happiness was fleeting. With the outbreak of World War II, the population dwindled yet again, necessitating the reintroduction of Persian cats to enrich the gene pool. However, today, they are plentiful and rank among the most prevalent felines in the United Kingdom.
2. British Semi-Longhair
The emergence of the British Semi-Longhair can be traced back to the crossbreeding of British Shorthairs and Persians amidst the global conflicts of the two World Wars. Despite the extensive mingling of their genetic material, the two breeds have maintained their distinct identities. Remarkably, even two “pure-blood” British Shorthairs can give birth to a British Semi-Longhair kitten!
3. Scottish Fold
These charming creatures are the offspring of a genetic mutation that was first documented in 1961. On a serene farm nestled near Coupar Angus, Scotland, a unique white kitten named Susie emerged into the world, born to Mr. and Mrs. McRae with a remarkable trait: her ears were unusually folded.
The couple dismissed it as nothing out of the ordinary until a neighboring farmer, an avid cat lover, pointed out the unusual trait. Two years later, when Susie gave birth to her litter, two of the kittens were born with the same folded ears. As generations progressed, more and more of these “lop-eared cats” were born.
4. Scottish Straight
Although the Scottish Fold has become a highly coveted breed, certain breeding restrictions hinder its viability. Specifically, two Scottish Folds cannot mate together due to the homozygous genes they carry, which result in skeletal deformities in their offspring.
Scottish Folds must be bred with either the British Shorthair or the American Shorthair to produce offspring. These kittens are born with erect ears, but they gradually begin to fold over between three and four weeks of age. Kittens that retain upright ears are referred to as Scottish Straights.
5. Cornish Rex
In July 1950, a tortoiseshell cat named Serena delivered a healthy litter of five kittens. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until one kitten, named Kalli, emerged with an unusually short and curly coat. This unique kitten would go on to become the ancestor of the Cornish Rex breed.
6. Devon Rex
Although the Cornish Rex is a renowned breed of short curly-coated cats in Britain, it is not the only one. In 1959, nearly ten years after the Cornish Rex was discovered, Beryl Cox encountered an elderly stray male cat residing in a deserted tin mine nearby. This tomcat possessed an extraordinary coat and, when paired with another of Cox’s rescued cats, produced offspring with curly hair.
Shortly thereafter, Beryl came across a newspaper photograph advertising an upcoming cat exhibition, starring Du-Bu Lambtex, a Cornish Rex cat renowned as the lone curly-haired feline in Britain. Upon reading this, Beryl promptly reached out to Du-Bu’s breeder, revealing that she herself faced a comparable predicament.
This prompted Mr. Brian Sterling-Webb, a contemporary who worked on the original Cornish Rex breed, to purchase Kirlee, Beryl Cox’s kitten. While attempting to cross Kirlee with other Cornish Rexes, he stumbled upon something astonishing.
All offspring produced exhibited straight hair, indicating that the curly-haired gene from Kirlee and the other Cornish Rex kittens differed significantly. Within a decade, two entirely distinct curly-haired breeds were discovered in Britain, further highlighting the genetic diversity within this population.
7. Chinchilla
The Chinchilla, a breed that dates back to ancient times, is a testament to mankind’s skill in domesticating animals. While resembling the Persian breed with its flat face, the Chinchilla’s facial features are less pronounced, offering a subtle yet distinctive appearance. Renowned for its serene temperament, this breed boasts a coat that shines with a silvery or golden hue, a beauty that captivates the eye.
The breed emerged in 1882, resulting from the mating of a Blue Persian and a stray tomcat. This union yielded a smoke-colored kitten, a crossbreed of the Persian. Subsequently, this smoke-colored cat was bred with a silver tabby, leading to the birth of a litter. Among these kittens, one female gave birth to the inaugural Chinchilla male.
8. Burmilla
Burmillas, a relatively recent breed, first emerged in the early 1980s. This emergence was the result of an accidental breeding incident, where a Lilac Burmese female escaped from her enclosure and subsequently mated with a nearby Silver Chinchilla male.
The litter birthed four black-shaded female kittens with short hair, yet their allure lay beyond their coats and beauty. Their demeanor, a harmonious blend of calmness and playfulness, along with their intelligence, captivated everyone. In recognition of their unique traits, the breed was officially acknowledged in 1997.
9. Oriental
“The Oriental” is a unique breed of cat. It was first bred in the United Kingdom during the 1950s by breeders aiming to cultivate a Siamese cat devoid of its traditional color markings.
With their elegant, slender bodies and intelligent, affectionate dispositions, Orientals, sometimes known as Foreign Shorthairs, are the result of a meticulous breeding process that combined the lineages of Siamese, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, and domestic shorthairs.
10. Havana Brown
Britain’s Havana Brown, another product of human breeding, has a fascinating history. Originating in the 1950s, it was the result of a cross between a male Siamese and a black shorthair female. This union gave birth to four kittens, three of which were black, and a brown male that stood out. Named Elmtower Bronze Idol, this brown cat went on to sire multiple litters, and with the assistance of fellow breeders, the Havana Brown breed was born.
Conclusion
Observing the cats depicted above, it becomes evident that the United Kingdom has perfected the craft of cat breeding. Through specialized breeding techniques, they have rescued endangered breeds from the precipice of extinction. Furthermore, they have given birth to novel breeds by carefully crossbreeding selected lineages, and even capitalized on spontaneous genetic mutations.
