The British Shorthair and World War

The world wars of 1914-18 and 1940-45 seriously affected the British Shorthair. There were few breeding lines after the second world war due in part to the heavy bombing. After the war the "gene pool of quality registered stock was extremely small" (British Shorthair Cat by FM Rowley).

Non-purebred cats and Persians were used to rebuild the breed. Other breeds were also introduced:

• Russian Blues
• Burmese
• Chartreux

to name three. Breeders of these cats welcomed the mutually beneficial exchange as they too had suffered loses in the wars.

Obviously, the introduction of other breeds left the British SH in an impure state. Years of selective breeding has resolved that problem. It is a shame nonetheless as the British moggies of the early 1800s were purer in genotype that the modern version of this popular cat breed.