The British Shorthair is the oldest cat breed, its calm nature and its unique round "teddy bear" look make him a popular pet, as well as a sought after show cat. The coat of the British Shorthair is short but very dense. Its texture is not particularly soft, but is smooth and carpet-like. Originally, pedigreed British Shorthairs had blue coats - in fact, the breed was once called the British Blue. Today many colors and patterns are acceptable, but most associations still do not recognize the British Colorpoint Blue. The British Shorthair is an easy-to-maintain breed. The short coat needs only a brushing once or twice a week to remove dead hair. Occasional bathing helps to remove excess oil from the coat