About TeddyGems

Welcome to TeddyGems British Shorthairs — a small hobby breeder based in the UK, where our cats are first and foremost cherished members of our family.

I live with my husband and two teenage children, and our cats share every part of our home life with us. They are raised in a busy, loving family environment where they receive daily affection, attention, and socialisation from the very beginning.

My love for cats started when I was a young girl. Growing up, we always had cats as family pets, but one special cat shaped my love for the British Shorthair breed forever. When I was around six years old, we discovered a stray British Blue boy hiding behind our neighbour’s shed. After unsuccessfully trying to find his owners, we welcomed him into our family and named him Smokey. He remained a much-loved member of our family for over 12 years, and from that moment I knew that one day I would own another British Shorthair.

Years later, that dream became reality when we adopted Ivy, our beautiful blue colourpoint British Shorthair, from a rescue centre. We believe Ivy had previously come from a backyard breeder situation. She arrived underweight and not litter trained, and helping her regain confidence and health opened my eyes to the importance of ethical, responsible breeding.

As I searched for a British Shorthair kitten to become Ivy’s companion, I found myself increasingly fascinated by the breed. I began speaking with experienced breeders, learning about colours and breed type, studying pedigrees, and developing a passion for exhibiting and breeding British Shorthairs correctly and responsibly.

That passion eventually became TeddyGems.

The name “Teddy” comes from the wonderfully teddy bear-like qualities British Shorthairs are so loved for — their plush coats, round faces, and affectionate nature. “Gems” comes from my own name, Gemma, making TeddyGems something deeply personal and close to my heart.

At TeddyGems, my focus is on raising healthy, well-socialised kittens with loving temperaments that will become treasured family pets. Our queens are health tested and cared for to the highest standards, and every kitten is raised with dedication, patience, and love from the very start.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us and our journey with this beautiful breed

A blue colourpoint British Shorthair cat sitting on a wooden shelf next to green houseplants in an indoor setting.
A blue colourpoint British Shorthair cat lying on a beige cat tree platform near a sliding glass door with a screened window.