They are generally easygoing and adapt well to new environments and routines. What’s important is the individual cat’s temperament, which can vary from one cat to another regardless of its coat color.īritish Shorthairs, including calicos, are known for their calm, gentle nature and make great companions for families with children and other pets. The color of their fur does not have any bearing on their personality or behavior. Calico British Shorthairs can make excellent pets like any other British Shorthair. These felines are well known for their independent nature, making them an excellent option for those looking for a low-maintenance cat. Image Credit: arrivalinsky, Shutterstockĭo Calico British Shorthairs Make a Good Pet? All major breed standards recognize British Shorthairs as coming in a calico coloration. The calico coloration was included in this update, as well as several others. More colors were introduced in the UK in 1957, as the breed standard was refined and selective breeding occurred. After that, the breed grew in popularity until it became one of the more popular cats in the states. The Cat Fanciers’ Association recognized the feline in 1906. The breed began to be imported into the United States in the early 1900s. This was the earliest time this breed’s standard was written down, so it gave breeders something to aim for, making the breed more standardized. This UK cat club established the breed’s standard, which lays out their physical attributes and temperament. The British Shorthair was first recognized by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in 1901. Formal Recognition of the Calico British Shorthair Many cat lovers choose this coloration because it is more unique and eye-catching. However, enough breeders produce Calico British Shorthair cats that they aren’t entirely unknown. They don’t come in calico as often as other colorations. They’re known for their easygoing temperament and friendly nature, which has led to them becoming rather famous cats. However, the breed has always been decently popular in the British Isles. Essentially, this was done through the efforts of breeders and clubs associated with the breed.

The Calico British Shorthair began gaining popularity as the rest of the breed did. How the Calico British Shorthair Gained Popularity Furthermore, this breed is recognized as coming in calico by all kennel clubs, so, likely, the coloration was around in the breed from a very early point. However, this coloration has appeared throughout history in many different cultures, which wasn’t uncommon in the ancient world. We don’t know precisely when these cats began exhibiting calico patterning. Therefore, they tend to be healthy, as unhealthy cats wouldn’t have survived long. This breed was solely utilized for practical purposes for much of its history. The cats were used to control rodent populations in homes and on farms. There, the breed interbred with the native cats to create a new, shorthaired breed still utilized mainly for farming. Later, the breed ended up in Britain after the Roman invasion.

At this time, they were kept mainly for their hunting ability, which allowed them to keep rodents and other pests out of fields and grain stores. The British Shorthair has ancient origins-probably as far back as ancient Rome.

The Earliest Records of Calico British Shorthairs in History Image By: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock

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