The British love cats and have brought us quite an impressive collection of cat breeds. This article picks five of the cutest British cat breeds, including the ever-popular British Shorthair, a breed that's popular both in mainland Britain and across the Atlantic.

1. British Shorthair

Let's start with the most famous British cat, the British Shorthair. These felines share the same ancestry as the American Shorthair, although when the breeds separated they also exhibited some unique traits.

The British Shorthair was once called British Blue because of the common silver-gray coat in this cat breed, although they do come in a variety of colors.

Their distinctive appearance comes from their round eyes, broad face, and plush fur, although the worldwide love for this breed may have more to do with the fact that they tend to be laid-back and loving, patient personalities that make them the good choice for families with children.

2. British Longhair

The British Longhair is a medium to large breed of domestic cat with a luxurious, shaggy coat and a similar face to their shorthaired relatives.

These resemblances are no accident, the British Longhair is the product of continuous breeding of long-haired cats such as the British Shorthair and Persian, and it wasn't until 2009 that the British Longhair was officially recognized by the International Cat Association (ICA).

This English breed is known to be very sweet but doesn't mind a little independence. In addition to their round eyes and faces, British longhairs and shorthairs have several other distinguishing traits, including patience and friendliness.

3. Devon Rex

The Devon Rex is a very affectionate British breed with large ears, short stature, and short curly hair. It's hard to ignore this adorable breed, one of two curly-haired breeds from Great Britain.

Unlike some other purebred British cats, the Devon Rex's lineage cannot be traced back to different breeding efforts. Instead, the first Devon Rex — a kitten named Kirley — was born in Devon, England. It has the same genetic makeup as the Cornish Rex, but what appears to be a genetic mutation sets it apart.

While the exact origins of the Kirlee have never been discovered, the Devon Rex has become a popular breed in the United Kingdom, known for their friendly, relaxed nature as much as their impressive ears.

4. Cornish Rex

While they may feel uncomfortable hearing you say it, the Cornish Rex cat also has a dog-like disposition in its interactions and loves to play, and you might not associate it with the British Imperial cat breed.

Of course, there is nothing particularly noble about the origins of the Cornish Rex. Its resemblance to the Devon Rex seems to have been traced only to an unexpected genetic mutation, between a shorthaired pet cat and a stray tabby.

Also similar to the Devon Rex is their short curly coat and oversized ears, but the Cornish Rex is a true original in personality, with a natural sense of humor and charm, as well as a penchant for mischief.

5. Oriental Shorthair

Oriental cats actually originated in England, where they were bred as a replacement for Siamese cats. The Oriental Shorthair, also known as the Foreign Shorthair, has a very similar appearance to the Siamese but comes in a wider range of colors.

Tall, muscular, and graceful, Oriental was as beautiful as she was wit—and she knew it herself. This breed will give you love and expect it in return, and you can reciprocate it with plenty of hugs.