British Shorthair
Published on 1 Feb 2021
A solid and easy-going cat, the British Shorthair is a popular companion who enjoys time with their human family.Â
The British Shorthair is a pedigree version of the domestic shorthair of Britain.  Â
They were featured at the first ever cat show in London in 1871 and were a popular cat until World War I when they became scarce. After the war, fanciers made efforts to restore the breed and they were formally recognised in the 1970’s.Â
British Shorthairs are a sturdy cat ranging in size from 4 to 7kgs with males being larger. Blue-grey is the most common colour, but they come in a wide range of colours including black, white, cream, red silver, brown, cameo, tortoiseshell, and combinations of these colours.
Cat Breed Facts & Characteristics
Origin | Great Britain |
Size | 4 to 7 kgs, with females being smaller than males |
Colours | Blue, black, white, cream, brown, cameo, tortoiseshell, and patterns |
Life expectancy | 14 to 20 years |
Coat | Short and dense with no undercoat, sheds, frequent brushing is recommended |
Temperament | Easy going, friendly, doesn’t like being picked up |
Exercise requirements | Low |
Best suited for | Many types of households - may be better suited to those without young children |
Apartment friendly | Yes |
PersonalityÂ
The British Shorthair are known for being friendly cats who like to spend time with their human families but aren’t always tolerant of being picked up. This is something to keep in mind when teaching small children how to interact with the British Shorthair.Â
A calm disposition means the British Shorthair well suited to apartment living but encouraging play and having plenty of activities for them to do is essential to keep their mind and body healthy. Playing with your cat also strengthens your bond. Be sure to provide your cat with plenty of cat trees and toys to play with and climb on.
GroomingÂ
They have short, dense fur with no undercoat which sheds. They don’t need a lot of grooming, but gentle, regular brushing helps to remove shedding fur as well as strengthens your bond with your cat. A cat grooming glove is a great option for your British Shorthair cat. You may not notice your cat scratching like you would with a dog, but the cat flea "Ctenocephalides felis" is the most common flea found on both dogs and cats. So, make sure your kitty is on flea and tick control all year round to prevent these nasty parasites.
Feeding
When choosing a food for your British shorthair, select a premium food appropriate to your cats age and life stage. As British shorthair cats can have digestive problems, consider foods for sensitive stomachs.Â
Ensure that you follow the recommended feeding guides on the food appropriate to your pet's size to help avoid obesity and ensure your fur baby gets appropriate nutrition.Â
Always ensure your British shorthair has a constant supply of fresh water available, and consider providing them with a water fountain, as many cats prefer drinking moving water.
Common health concerns
The five most common reasons for a British Shorthair to visit the vet (excluding routine care visits) according to PetSure data (from 2019) include digestive upsets, skin and ear infections, traumatic accidents and arthritis. It may be possible to lower the risk of your British Shorthair having a traumatic accident by keeping them indoors or in a cat safe enclosure.Â
Rank | Condition | Average cost for single treatment (average pet insurance claim amount) | Highest cost for single treatment (highest pet insurance claim seen for this condition) |
1 | Gastrointestinal Conditions (including tummy upsets)Â | $262 | $1,539 |
2 | Eye Condition | $190 | $3,007 |
3 | Ear Condition | $215 | $3,471 |
4 | Traumatic accident | $480 | $5,560 |
5 | Arthritis | $87 | $352 |
Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.
Most popular British Shorthair names
- Luna
- Oreo
- Max
- Bella
- Blue
- Bruce
- Little
- LouisÂ
- Momo
- Mr
Most popular female names Â
- Luna
- Bella
- Blu
- Cleo
- Coco
- Lucy
- Molly
- Nero
- Phoebe
- Sophie
Most popular male names
- Max
- Oreo
- Bruce
- Little
- Louis
- Momo
- Mr
- Oliver
- Shadow
- Alfie
Did you know?
The original illustrations of the Cheshire Cat in Lewis Carroll’s famous Alice in in Wonderland book is thought to have been inspired by a British Shorthair cat when drawn by illustrator John Tenniel.Â
British Shorthair FAQs
How long does a British Shorthair cat live?
The British Shorthair breed lives around 14 to 20 years and have been known to live comfortably with lots of exercise, healthy diet and annual medical checkups.
Do British Shorthair cats shed a lot?
Compared to other indoor breeds, British Shorthair cats do not shed excessively even during shedding season. They also do not have an undercoat which reduces shed and makes cleaning up easy.
How much are British Shorthair cats?
In Australia, registered breeders usually price British Shorthair cats around $1200 to $2000 and unregistered breeders ask around $300 to $700 for the hardy breed.
Are British Shorthair cats friendly?
British Shorthair cats are independent and enjoy having space. Though they are known to adore their human partners, the hardy breed will not stay around long in laps rather they will show their love by following you room to room, being playful with guests and staying loyal to your company.
What to feed British Shorthair kittens?
A general guideline to keep most cat breeds purring happily is to have them on a high-quality dry feed mixed with the occasional wet feed. British Shorthair cats are easy to take care of and do not require specialty foods to keep their health in check.
Where can I get a British Shorthair cat?Â
Your local animal shelter or rescue organisation is the best place to look for a cat as shelters generally have many cats looking for loving homes. It may also be possible to find a British Shorthair through a breed specific rescue organisation.Â
References
- Wikipedia, British Shorthair, accessed on 21/10/2020
- Cattime.com, British Shorthair, accessed on 21/10/2020
- Playful Kitty, Who was the Cheshire Cat? 2017, accessed on 21/10/2020
- VetStreet, British Shorthair, accessed on 21/10/20
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