Breed: British Shorthair / Bengal tabby markings (unconfirmed)
Date of birth: 25/06/2025
Gender: Male
Neck circumference: 22cm
Chest circumference: 33cm
Base of neck to base of tail: 43cm
Height to shoulder: 23cm
Weight: 3.72kg

Good things come in threes, and Martini delivers on all of them: striking looks, a remarkably obliging temperament and the kind of camera composure that most animals take years to develop. His coat is a richly layered mix of beige, cream, brown, black and white arranged in bold tabby patterning that carries a faint wild quality wherever the light catches it. He is compact, well-proportioned and possessed of the round-faced, plush-coated charisma that has made the British Shorthair one of the most photographed cat breeds in the world.

The British Shorthair lays claim to being one of the oldest recognised breeds in the UK, its origins traced back to domestic cats brought to Britain by the Romans. By the nineteenth century it had become the definitive British house cat and its distinctive round face is widely considered the template for Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The suspected Bengal influence in Martini’s markings adds a further dimension: the Bengal was developed in the United States during the 1960s by crossing domestic cats with Asian Leopard Cats and its wild, rosette-patterned coat has since featured prominently in luxury advertising and high-fashion editorial. The combination of these two breeds, however informal, produces something visually singular.

Martini has been raised alongside a Labrador and travels extensively with his owner, sleeping through long journeys and adjusting to new surroundings without a flicker of concern. He is warm with people, calm under pressure and holds consistent eye contact with a relaxed attentiveness that makes directing him straightforward. He responds to a whistle, works well off lead and is socialised well enough to meet and greet on set without fuss.

Feline roles on screen tend to fall into two camps: the decorative and the genuinely performing. Martini belongs firmly in the second. He can be placed in position, holds a stay for extended durations and follows directional looks to a point or person on cue, which gives directors the precision they need for scripted narrative without repeated repositioning. 

His creeping movement and ability to follow a target make him well suited to mystery and suspense productions where the cat tracks or reacts to something the audience cannot yet see. He climbs, jumps and rides a moving object, opening up more dynamic staging for adventure or fantasy formats. His willingness to be handled by strangers and his proven calm under pressure ensure he remains a consistent performer whether the set is intimate or busy.

Martini’s tabby patterning and plush coat photograph with a richness that suits premium visual briefs across a wide range of categories. He holds a pose reliably, follows redirection cues and is accustomed to studio lighting and flash, so creative teams can work efficiently without coaxing. Pet food brands seeking a feline face with genuine visual authority would find him a natural protagonist. 

His willingness to wear clothing and accessories, combined with his ability to balance a treat on his paw and work with props, lends itself to lifestyle and gifting campaigns, particularly in the premium and artisan pet market. Travel brands and cat-friendly accommodation providers gain from a feline ambassador who genuinely travels well and photographs beautifully in real-world locations. His motion capture clearance and product placement skills extend his value further for digital and interactive campaigns.