GCCF Standard of Points for the British Shorthair
The British Shorthair cat is compact, well balanced and powerful, showing good depth of body, a full broad chest, short legs, rounded paws, tail thick at base with rounded tip. The head is round with a good width between small ears, round cheeks, firm chin, large round and well opened eyes and a short broad nose. The coat is short and dense. A muscular cat with an alert appearance and in perfect physical condition.
Head
Round face with full cheeks and good breath of skull with round underlying
bone structure. The head should be set on a short thick neck.
Nose
The nose itself
should be short, broad and straight. In profile, a rounded forehead should
lead to a short straight nose with a nose break that is neither too
pronounced nor too shallow.
Chin
A strong, firm and deep chin is essential. Any deviation from this to be
considered a fault. The bite MUST be level, the tip of the chin to line up
with the tip of the nose in the same vertical plane.
Ears
Small, rounded at
the tips. Set far apart, fitting into (without distorting) the rounded
contour of the head. External ear to be well covered with fur, internal
furnishings not to be excessive.
Eyes
Large, round and
well-opened. Set wide apart with no tendency to Oriental shape. No squint.
Body
Cobby type with
short level back. Low on legs with broad deep chest. Equally massive
across the shoulders and the rump. Medium to large, but not rangy.
Legs & Paws
Short strong legs.
Paws round and firm. Toes carried close, five on each forefoot (including
dew-claw) and four on each back foot.
Tail
Should be thick and of medium length, thicker at the base with rounded
tip.
Coat
Must be short, dense and crisp. A soft and / or overlong and fluffy coat
is incorrect.