This English vagabond or alley cat acquired its pedigree in the show ring.  The standard was established to distinguish it from the Household Pet or non-pedigree cats.

The ancestors of the British Shorthair were bought to Northern Europe, and later to Britain, by Roman soldiers almost 2,000 years ago.   For a long time they lived wild, multiplied rapidly, and bred without control.   In the 19th century, English author and artist Harrison Weir, appreciating the sturdiness and intelligence of these street cats, began breeding the most outstanding specimens.  Weir wrote the first standards of cat-show judging and his favourites, the shorthairs, were among the cats on show at the exhibition he organised at London's Crystal Palace in 1871.

Blues were especially popular among the numerous British Shorthairs appearing in shows in the late 1800s.  At Weir's bidding, a special category was established for British Blues.  At the time they were compared to the Chartreux Blue.   Breeders then began to work towards differentiating the two breeds, crossing the British Shorthair with Persians to make them heavier and with a rounder head.  This is the type that has persisted.

Characteristics
The British cat is compact, well balanced and powerful, medium to large in size, showing good depth of body.  Tail thick at base with a rounded tip.  The head is round with good width between the ears, round cheeks, firm chin, large, round and well-opened eyes.  The coat is short and dense.

HEAD: Round and massive with good breadth of skull, well set on a short thick neck. Round face with round underlying bone structure.

EARS: Small, well-finished, slightly rounded at tips, with good width between.

EYES:  Large, round, and bold.  Set wide apart and level.

NOSE: Short, broad and straight.

CHIN: Firm and well-developed.

BODY: Cobby type with short level back.  Low on the legs with broad deep chest.  
Equally massive across the shoulders and the rump.

LEGS: Short, well-boned and strong.  Straight forelegs.

PAWS: Round and firm.  Toes carried close.

TAIL: Short and thick but in proportion to the body length, with a rounded tip.

COAT: Short, dense and resilient.

CONDITION:  Hard and muscular.