Hello Kitty

My beautiful cat, Lily, is a British Shorthair. I was curious about her breed, so I looked up some facts about Brits. What I found answered many questions I have formed about Lily over the past few years. I sure wish I knew this earlier! I finally understand my cat.

A perfect white shorthair with no hint of any other color is a relatively rare, and therefore sought-after, animal. The orange-eyed variety, which does not suffer from the problems of deafness associated with the blue-eyed types, is regarded even more highly. Pet quality typically runs $400 to $600, while breeder/show quality costs between $800 and $1,500, sometimes more or less depending upon the breeder, bloodline, location, gender, and color and pattern. Since numbers are limited, most Brits are sold through waiting lists.

Brits tend to be quiet cats, and it’s amusing to hear tiny squeaks instead of hearty meows. They will sometimes engage in conversation with you, especially if it is getting near time to be fed.

Brits enjoy keeping an eye on their favorite people, as long as it can be done from a comfortable lounging position. Brits are affectionate without being clingy and playful without being hyper, and tend to treat the entire family as their clan rather than bond with one special person. They enjoy games and have a quiet sense of humor. But they also need room and time alone to be truly happy. They enjoy a game of chase with a small toy, and some will fetch it back to you for it to be thrown again. They are quite lazy at times and love nothing more than lazing about in the gentle sunshine or completely crashing out in a cool area.

Brits are not lap cats, preferring to curl up near you or sit beside you to be petted and stroked. They are a four-on-the-floor breed: when picked up they stiffen, rigid legs extended to push you away and head turned as if pretending you don’t exist. Kisses are not welcome; keep those lips to yourself if you want your Brit to trust you. Too much of the wrong kind of attention makes Brits anxious and they may vanish into their secret hiding places for awhile. A coaxed British Shorthair will make itself comfortable for a while; a forced British Shorthair will flat out refuse.

Brits do not like to be hugged and/or carried like a baby. They simply do not like to be "controlled". Being a larger heavy cat, they feel very uncomfortable off the ground.

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Now I know more about Lily. It will be hard not to smother her with kisses and cart her around like a baby, but I want to make her happy. Perhaps she will be more affectionate toward me if I show her the kind of affection she likes.