[Avalon]

I have heard mixed things that some say the BS do meow other say they dont and also the ones I have encountered have all been so lovingly and affectionate. Do you think its the w,ay we impart our love on them and talk to them that they sort of mimic us just curious as I want to get as much info before my little one comes to us. I have read many articles but all are different. One said they love cuddles and like their feet off the ground another said they dont and like to be grounded very confusing.

Cherie

[Advert]

---

[arkady_jo]

I am not an expert by any means, but like anything, I think a lot depends on the individual cat and how they are treated; while also obviously some breeds have some distinctive characteristics.

I have a 6 month old BSH; she doesn't meow a lot, but occasionally does when I talk to her. She definitely doesn't like to be picked up - when I cuddle her to say hello when I come in from work, I pick her up and flip her over onto her back, and cradle her like a baby. She puts up with that for about 30 seconds, enough time to say hello and scratch under her chin. Then she wants down. She is incredibly affectionate and loving; I don't know if that's her nature or just because it's only me and her, and she knows I am it for food and cleaning the litter tray! She doesn't often sit on my lap, but will spread out on the couch next to me; she sleeps on the bed next to me of a night, and about 5am every morning snuggles right in and insists on a pat!

One peculiar habit she has - she loves to knock things off tables/tallboys/couches! Doesn't matter what it is (ornaments, hair ties, jewellery, remotes), if she can move it with her paw she knocks it off. Once it falls on the floor, she isn't interested anymore! Drives me bananas

[Britzobeauty]

I really do think that is 70% nurture and 30% nature as to whether they will be affectionate or not. I have a couple that are talkers and some that make no noise at all, handy since one of these is one of my stud boys. Ours love to be handled and follow us around the house. I have one that doesnt mind being picked up but not placed on his back and the others you can do whatever you want with them. They are very trusting I find.
Cheers
Julie

[Avalon]

Good answers, it will certainly be interesting as a Persian Breeder I recently talked to tried to tell me not to get the British Shorthair because she said he would not interact with our little persian whom I might say she doesnt event know. Phoenix is a cuddly girl and loves being pickup and nursed, she also said they will not get along and that Persians are so affectionate (well I know some Persians who hate being cuddled but mine have all loved attention and I give all my friends cats lots of love too doesnt matter what breed) I answered her question by say surely it was how we nuture this baby and interact with both of them which will dertermine how he will grow and how his personality shines through. I am a strong believer NOT to take favourites i mean we will need to spend time with the wee one and cuddles etc but not keep them apart as I believe Phoenix will also nuture him. I hve been told they are very trusting, love to follow you and that they are also independant.

Can anyone suggest a book to read as I would really like to do as much homework before this. We have always had persians and this is all new to us and one thing I will say I wont need to brush every day LOL but I kow they do shead in spring summer.

Cherie

[Stara]

Jaz is my first bsh so I'm no expert either but she is very very affectionate...from the floor! It's taken about 4months for her to get to this point though so be patient with your new bub and don't push him if he's not ready for something. Jaz meows every time she enters the study until we look at her, no other reason just wants us to know she's there. She meows when I'm grating cheese too. She has a very sweet non-intrusive meow though, it's so so cute! She loooooooves headbutts and having her ears rubbed and these pat sessions can go for ages but it's always with her staying firmly on the ground. She's happy to be petted and brushed while she's chillin in her bed. She lets me pick her up a little now, not for long but if I need to carry her out of a room she's cool with it. Also she NEVER bites or scratches, if she does accidentally during play she stops immediately which I think is amazing :D She's even fairly gentle with toys lol

Wow lol I love talkin bout her

[swellen]

I've had Sophie from when she was a few days short of 10 weeks and even from that young age she was very firm about what she does and does not like. She has never liked sitting on laps or being cuddled but she has no problem with having her feet off the floor and being picked up (although not for too long) in order to be held like a baby and have her chin scratched. She sits beside me or at my feet ALL the time - I've seen her wake up from sleep in order to follow me to another room when she heard me get up.

Sophie is not very vocal at all, although she has lately taken to doing this tiny little high-pitched mew - almost a whine - when she's bored and wants to play. It's kind of cute... unless I'm working from home that day and don't have time to play... then it's not so much cute as annoying!

I hear a lot of people saying that BSH are aloof and non-affectionate. From my very limited experience, and from reading posts from other BSH owners and breeders, I really don't think that's true at all. I think BSH are very affectionate and loving; it's just that they express it less obviously than some other breeds.

[Cuddleton]

It depends on the cat. Penny howls the moment you touch her but still really loves being touched. Poppy grumbles and yowls when you carry her like a baby but she is just pretending to be grumpy and secretly loves it. Twinkie gets cranky and will wander around complaining if she cant do what she wants (which is to lay on her daddy while he watches TV). Suzy yells at me with a very angry meow if I dont devote all of my attention to her or go to bed late as she wants to say goodnight with a cuddle on the bed. Teddy doesnt make a sound but will look at you with a lazy expression. His brother Petey is a motor mouth chatting about anything and everything. Darcy has the cutest meow you have ever heard. Very dainty!!

As for a Persian not getting on with a BSh, hilarious. They are a very compatible breed. They get on fine.

p

[Avalon]

Pamela, Swellen and Stara
Thanks by the sounds of things they are very independent but like any cat tell you when they want to be petted, picked up and cuddles. I suppose its just wait and see, I just like to get as much info from all I can. As for the Persian breeder I thought it was an odd comment seeing that the BS have persian in their genes from way back. I can honestly say I have loved all my furries and they all start out with nervous tendancies so its up to us to make him feel comfortable. It is interesting getting everyones views, as the the crying meowing, I met a BS today on the way home beautiful cat sitting in its Fenced garden and it had a very polite meow when I said hello and leant ove the fence, i think the owner of the kitty saw me carrying a OzPet litter box and wasnt too worried with me giving her baby a pat.

I also hear they dont purr that much which is another interesting thing I didnt know. I will have to wait and see

Pam you have a mixed bag then so there is no real yes or nos by the sound of things which I think is wonderful it adds to their little quirky ways.

Thanks again
Cherie

[Stara]

Jaz purrs in our faces at night for pats and if we're up and about she purrs pretty much from the moment you start petting her to the moment you stop! She purrs much more than my moggie but doesn't seem to do it for no reason like our little fold
Really looking forward to pics of intros They'll get along great in no time that silly breeder has obviously never met a sweet lil brit!

[Britzobeauty]

Wow! Its funny how there can be so many varing opinions. Some of ours start purring as soon as you call them. Our Binky has a purr that sounds like a dove. Banrock our stud doesnt have a loud purr but insists on being picked up. If you ignore him he will stretch up like a baby with his paws up and you just have to pick him up and carry him around for a while.

[Chris]

My new baby British of four months is an absolute delight, i adore the Brits having bred them for years ,and having given up breeding now ,i decided to get a baby Brit to show and be a mate to my last baby Birman i have bred and am going to shows with.
"Muffin" is everything i wanted and more, she is an absolute delight , she purrs non stop , she loves to be held and cuddled and she sits on my knee for hours at night, she comes when i call her and so far i've never heard a meow.
To anyone thinking of a British, go for it, they are an amazing breed, and now i have one again i just dont know how i went so long without one in our home.

Chris

[bevbrits]

Pleased that the light has been turned back on Chris!

ALL of our cats purr. Never ever heard it said before that British do not purr LOL

Some love being held (though rarely on their backs, butthere are exceptions!! But they generally enjoy a cuddle.

It is always on their terms though, I think they often miss chapters when reading the "How To " book though.

[Avalon]

YAY by the sounds of things we are going to be having a fantastic time learning Horatios little quirks and idyosincratic ways. I really appreciate everyones answers and I agree the Persian breeder has no idea she even admitted she neve had a BS and never would me thinks a little biased.

Stara you will get lots of pics I have been having dreams LOL of him and Phoenix playing and we were discussing the size difference as we havent had a wee one for 14 yrs well Phoenix was 4.3 months when she arrived to us. Dynamics are definately going to be a joy to watch I hope he loves Da Bird too and all the toys I have bought him LOL
Cherie

[*Crystal*]

Bobby dislikes being picked up. He'll hold still for 5 seconds before kicking with his back feet. He prefers to stay on the ground but if he's really hungry he'll jump onto the kitchen bench, that's his sign for wanting more food.
He meows just to let us know he's in the room, or that he wants his dinner or if he wants pats lol
He loves belly rubs but only when he feels like it.
His purr is so loud, I can hear it from another room.
He LOVES Dan and will actually sit on Dan's lap for a bit - something I have never achieved

[petsearch]

our 6 month old boy does not like cuddles or to be held, but he does love a belly rub and chin rub when he is on the floor or sleeping on a chair. He is vocal but only when he is hungry and I think it is a learned behaviour because he knows we react to that. He is a funny cat, different to the other cats in our house which are all domestics. He doesn't bite or use his claws on us at all, so we didn't even need to train him not to do it, which for us is amazing as we have trained all of our foster cats & kittens not to do this but it is like he doesn't know how to bite or scratch.