The British Shorthair, while originally coming from the farms and streets of Britain, is also considered to be the first cat of the cat fancy. The father of this breed is Harrison Wier, who is thought of as the first professional cat breeder. He is known in cat fancy history as the Father of the Cat Fancy. Not only was he the first professional breeder, but he also determined the rules for the first cat show, which was held in Britain in 1871.
As if this were not enough, Harrison took the humble street cat of Britain and, through an intensive breeding program, transformed it to the pedigreed breed that he named the British. The British fell in love with their new now-pedigreed breed. When the Persian was introduced into Britain, it nudged out the British for the most popular breed temporarily. During the Second World War, as in the First World War, the British Shorthair breed was decimated, but it always reemerged into the top ranks of popularity. Today, the British shorthair is accepted in cat registries worldwide. At one time, it was known as the British Blue, but since it comes in a variety of colors, it is called either the British or the British Shorthair.