Biography of British cats

Regular victories at international exhibitions-renegles, new and new world records, recognition and love of the owners-all this is about the "British". The origin of the British breed of cats goes deep into the past: it is impossible to say exactly when the characteristic features formed and whether at least some selection existed in the early stages. One thing is clear: these cute animals are the real pride of Great Britain, and the popularity of the breed over time will only increase.

How it all began to historical sources telling about the appearance - or withdrawal - the breed for obvious reasons has not been preserved. One thing is reliably known: cats, which later began to be called British, existed several thousand years before our era. Perhaps they were brought to the island of Romans-Westerners-and, therefore, have an Egyptian origin. Arriving on a new, much colder and rainy land, the animals quickly got used to it: their wool has grown and became thicker, character - calmer and decisive.

Regardless of how the British breed of cats was brought out, it can be argued: the tailed favorites were originally used to exterminate rats and mice. The animals were useful - and people gave them their due: in the areas of Denbury, Badbury, Gasser and other English cities, neatly organized mass burials of cats were found. There is another version of the appearance of the breed.

According to her, the "British" appeared on European land only in the era of the first crusades. They were imported from Palestine or Africa, and the British breed was a direct heiress of French chartrez. The name comes from the name of the monastery, in which the monks of the Cartesian Order made animals. Later, the cats were transported from the mainland to Britain - and settled here forever.

On ships, fluffy animals were used as rats. The first theory is confirmed by historical calculations according to which cats lived in England even before the Crusades. The second is the extreme similarity of both breeds - such that only specialists can find differences. The first evidence, although it is impossible to track the origin of British cats, it is quite possible to find evidence of its antiquity.

On the fields of the book, both silhouettes and finished figures of cats are clearly visible. It is difficult to guess the “British” in them, but it will not work to confuse animals with any other look. There are many similar images along the edges of the sheets of another famous manuscript - a Kell book created in Ireland and dated to the 9th century. At the same time, in the same country, monks created a poem telling how one small cat can brighten up monotonous days in solitude.

Another remarkable historical monument is a stone crucifix standing in the Irish county dating back to the beginning of the 10th century. In addition to the main plot, a lot of ornaments are cut out here - and, in particular, two cats lying at the foot of the cross. One of them holds a bird in claws, the other protects the kitten. The next document is from Wales.

Here in the X years an order was issued, which prohibiting the punishment of applying any harm to cats. Of course, this document, of course, does not give an answer to the question of how British cats were brought out - but it proves the antiquity of the breed. The main reason for this attitude is the extraordinary benefit brought by animals: they conscientiously destroyed the various diseases of rats and mice.

And there were a lot of tailed favorites: the farmers had to buy them in a fold, and one animal distributed his strength into several yards. One of the countless bestiarians, which have become special in the 12th century, contains an image of a cat. It is located between the closest, according to the compiler, “relatives”: squirrel and hare. The main qualities of cats in the book are recognized as patience and attentiveness.

And now about the bad, despite the scale of persecution that were very exaggerated by modern historians, in the era of “witch hunt”, cats that live in the houses of Europe - including England, also went to cats. Several animals were burned as accomplices of sorcerers and witches - along with the owners. Such insinuations were used to get rid of unwanted people.

For example, at the beginning of the XIV century, the Coventrian bishop was burned on the territory of Britain - on charges of relations with a demonic black cat. Similar fiction will be part of the indictment in the case of trimming knights. True, isolated cases did not affect the love of ordinary British, French, Germans and other peoples for mustachioed rats.

According to Daniel Defoe, who lived for three centuries later than the events described, the cats were in almost every English house - and, as always, successfully coped with their direct duties.

The new story of the British cat is all just entry. The real story of the British cat begins in the century before last, from one wonderful felinologist and breeder - Harrison Wayra.It was he who, possessing the gift of drawing and experiencing sincere attachment to the tailed, organized the first in London, and in the world, an exhibition of cats. The event took place in the famous crystal pavilion; One of the participants was the Pitomitsa Wayra, a short-haired cat of Old-Lady Old Lady.

At that time, she had already gone for the fifteenth year, but Tabby’s hair coat retained a natural shade and shine - which allowed the animal to win in her category. After almost twenty years, the British breed of cats was finally officially registered - from that moment the real story of the “British” begins. By the end of the 19th century, there were new successes of several colors of British cats, from dark to bright.

The main features were finally formed and were recognized as positive signs of the breed. These include: wide big head;.