The British Shorthair is one of the oldest English breeds of cats. His ancestry can be traced back to the time of the Romans. He is often described as a teddy bear cat because of his dense, soft coat, big round eyes, small ears, and tendency to purr and show affection. The British Shorthair is excellent at hunting and very agile although he can occasionally be quite clumsy. The breed usually reaches maturity around the age of three. They are a large breed that can weigh as much as 17 pounds. Although they don’t like to be carried, they enjoy being cuddled and loved on. The British Shorthair does well with children of all ages and gets along with most other pets. They are easy to train too. They were recognized by the CFA in 1980. Your most trusted Rochester NY vet can tell you that a typical British Shorthair can live between 11 and 20 years.