I Can Has Cheezburger (ICHC) is a website1 where internet denizens can head for hilarious animal-themed pictures and videos. The famous picture of a cat featuring a caption reading, “I Can Has Cheezburger,” was one of the first images posted on the site.
It featured a British Shorthair cat named Happy Cat. Eric Nakagawa (Cheezburger) and Kari Unebasami (Tofuburger) created the site, which they sold back in 2007. The ICHC cat isn’t the only famous British Shorthair cat! Some argue that Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat in the illustrated classic Alice in Wonderland is based on one.
Are British Shorthair Cats Large Cats?
British Shorthair cats are medium to large kitties. Most grow to between 12 and 14 inches at the shoulders, and large males can weigh up to 12 pounds. Their bodies are compact and muscular, with rounded heads. While gray is the color most often associated with the breed, British Shorthair cats can be found in several colors, including chocolate, sable, lilac, and orange.
Most have thick, almost water-resistant coats. They also come in bi-color and tabby patterns. They live relatively long lives, from 14 to 21 years.
What Are British Shorthair Cats Like?
British Shorthair cats are usually mellow and relaxed. They’re fun and playful without being hyper. And while they generally enjoy being around people, British Shorthair cats seldom become intensely demanding of attention like some other breeds. Most British Shorthair cats are happy to entertain themselves as long as they’re around their favorite people.
While they’re often champion cuddlers, many don’t enjoy being picked up and carried around. Because they’re relatively mellow, they often get into less trouble than cats, who are driven to investigate everything they encounter. Most do perfectly well indoors as long as they get enough love, attention, and exercise (and have nice feline-friendly living spaces). British Shorthair cats usually do well in apartments since they’re not terribly vocal and don’t have outsized physical activity needs.
Most tend to be fantastic family cats; they’re mellow enough to get along well with other four-footers and usually patient with children. British Shorthair cats are generally inclined to bond with multiple family members. They’re not known for being particularly anxious or prone to developing separation anxiety and are excellent pets for families and individuals who regularly spend time away from home.
Do British Shorthair Cats Have Any Special Needs?
British Shorthair cats tend to be healthy, partly because the breed is descended mainly from street cats. They can gain weight easily and love food, so paying close attention to their diet is an absolute must.
Being overweight boosts a feline’s risk of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and joint disorders such as osteoarthritis. Measuring your cat’s food is a great way to ensure it gets the right amount to eat and maintains a healthy weight.
Because British Shorthairs are prone to obesity and not inclined to be active, they benefit from regular exercise routines. Physical activity helps keep cats happy thanks to the release of feel-good endorphins, and it’s also a great way to burn calories. A few short sessions a day with a teaser or other toy that gets the cat up and running is generally more than enough.
They don’t have any special grooming needs, but weekly brushing can reduce the likelihood of hairball development. Many cats enjoy good brushing; some even take matters into their own hands and rub their heads against the brushes to speed things along. Like all cats, British Shorthair cats need to have their teeth brushed about three times a week, and their nails clipped a few times every month.
British Shorthair Cat History
British Shorthair cats have been around for quite a long time, even if they’ve only been treated as a distinct breed since the latter part of the 19th century. The ancestors of these cats most likely arrived with the Romans and quickly gained popularity for their efficient mousing skills and sweet natures. British Shorthair cats soon found their way into family circles, becoming loved family members.
However, they were essentially street and farm cats until Harrison Weir decided they were special enough to be recognized as a distinct breed. A British Shorthair cat participated in the very first cat show held by Weir at the Crystal Palace in 1871. As the popularity of pedigree cat breeding grew in the United Kingdom, British Shorthair cats fell out of favor. Breed numbers dropped precipitously during the first part of the 20th century, primarily due to the First and Second World Wars.
The breed was revived after the end of the Second World War through crossbreeding with Siamese, Russian Blue, and Persian cats. British Shorthair cats were recognized by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1980. They’re the most popular pedigree cat in the United Kingdom. The breed came in 6th on the CFA’s 2022 list of the most popular cats in the United States.
Conclusion
Happy Cat, a gray British Shorthair cat, is the famous ICHC cat whose image was used in the website’s inaugural posting. ICHC is a popular site packed with fun videos and captioned photos of animals. British Shorthair cats have compact, robust bodies and short little legs. But they’re perhaps best known for their adorable round heads and laid-back personalities.
They’re friendly and happy to be around people, and most bond deeply with loved ones and are patient with children. Although they’re not known as lap cats, they’re perfectly happy to do their own thing in the presence of their favorite humans.
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Featured Photo Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock
