British Shorthair Cat: Size, Temperament, Health and Care

The British Shorthair is a medium-to-large, stocky cat with a round face, a short, extremely dense coat and a calm, undemanding temperament. It is one of the oldest cat breeds and is best known in blue, which is commonly known as gray.

The breed is easy to groom and quiet around the house, but it gains weight easily and is predisposed to a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Both points matter if you are thinking about getting one.

British Shorthair key facts

• Origin: Great Britain
• Weight: adult females about 8 to 11 pounds, adult males about 10 to 16 pounds
• Life expectancy: 12 to 20 years, depending on background and circumstances
• Coat: short, extremely dense and plush, with a crisp feel
• Grooming: a weekly comb, with extra attention in spring and fall
• Temperament: gentle, slightly reserved, quiet, content on its own
• Health to watch: HCM, dental disease and weight gain; the breed is also listed by UC Davis as appropriate for PKD1 testing

Where does the British Shorthair come from?

According to The International Cat Association (TICA), the breed descends from cats that traders imported from Egypt and that came to Britain with the invading Romans in 43 CE. Those cats worked as hunters and protected food supplies for Roman soldiers. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) describes the breed as probably the oldest English cat breed, and says British Shorthairs may have started out as street cats in the United Kingdom.

VCA Animal Hospitals notes that British Shorthairs were shown at the first formal cat show, held at the Crystal Palace in London in 1871. In those early years, blue shorthairs of two types competed together: the sturdy, round-headed British and the long, elegant, triangular-headed Russian. Breeders interbred them before the two were separated into distinct breeds.

The 20th century was hard on the breed. TICA records that breeders crossed it with Persians between 1914 and 1918, which introduced the longhair gene. After the First World War, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) allowed judges to show only third-generation offspring of Persian and British Shorthair crosses. That shrank the breeding stock, and after the Second World War the British Shorthair lines were all but lost. Breeders rebuilt them with domestic shorthairs, Russian Blues and Persians, among others.

TICA records that the breed gained championship status in June 1979, and the CFA says it was recognized as a breed in May 1980. It reached the United States around the turn of the 20th century. TICA also recognizes the British Longhair, which is the same type of cat with a longer coat. Historians think the breed’s round, smiling face may have inspired Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat.

How big does a British Shorthair get?

TICA lists adult females at about 8 to 11 pounds and adult males, which it calls large, at about 10 to 16 pounds. It also describes the breed overall as ranging from 9 to 18 pounds. The CFA gives averages of 9 to 17 pounds for mature males and 7 to 12 pounds for mature females.

The breed is slow to mature. The CFA says British Shorthairs do not reach full size until about three years old, and VCA says physical maturity can take up to five years. A one-year-old may still have a lot of filling out to do.

The body is compact and powerful, with a broad, full chest, short strong legs, and a short, thick tail with a rounded tip. The head is round, with chubby cheeks, a short nose and prominent whisker pads that give the face its “smiling” look. TICA describes the neck as almost invisible.

What colors and coat does a British Shorthair have?

The coat is short but extremely dense and plush. TICA says it has a crisp feel, and VCA says the coat breaks over the body’s contours. VCA also reports that the breed has more fur per square inch than any other cat breed.

Classic blue is still the most popular color, but VCA counts more than 30 colors and patterns. The CFA points out that not every blue cat is a British Shorthair. Eyes in most colors run from deep gold to copper. Pointed cats have blue eyes, and silvers have deep green eyes.

How do you groom a British Shorthair?

Grooming is simple. TICA says the coat does not tangle, and that a weekly combing with a wide-toothed metal comb removes loose hair. VCA also recommends at least a weekly combing, with a metal or curry comb. Both advise a little extra attention in spring and fall, when the coat changes and loose hair can turn into mats.

TICA’s other care advice is to trim the nails every two weeks, clean the ears, and brush the teeth regularly with a vet-approved cat toothpaste. It also suggests a tall scratching post for the breed’s natural scratching instinct. Most healthy adults wash themselves, so baths are rarely needed unless the coat gets soiled with something harmful to lick off.

What is the British Shorthair’s personality like?

British Shorthairs are calm, quiet and slightly reserved, though affectionate once they know you. The CFA describes them as easygoing, very attached to their people, and not talkative. TICA adds that males tend to be happy-go-lucky and welcome attention from everyone, while females are more serious and more particular about who gets their attention.

TICA says they are not lap cats and prefer to snuggle beside you on the sofa. VCA says they love to leap on laps but tend to leave again, because a thick coat plus body heat makes them overheat. Most dislike being carried. TICA says they like gentle, firm handling with support when picked up, and prefer to keep all four feet on the floor.

They are not very active, and TICA says they look before they leap and avoid acrobatics. They do have occasional “mad moments” when they act like kittens. The CFA says they are usually good with all members of a household whatever their age, and have lived with dogs of all sizes, rabbits and birds. TICA says they tolerate children and dogs, and that they are content to amuse themselves while you are out.

What health problems do British Shorthairs have?

TICA considers the breed very robust, but names heart disease, dental problems and weight as things to watch. The CFA’s breed profile takes a different view and says no breed-specific, health-related problems plague the British Shorthair. The sections below cover HCM, PKD1 testing, dental care and weight.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Cornell’s Feline Health Center calls HCM the most common heart disease in cats. It thickens the muscular wall of the heart’s left ventricle and makes the heart less efficient. Cornell lists the British Shorthair among the breeds where it is more prevalent, which suggests genetics play a part. The Merck Veterinary Manual says HCM is familial in British Shorthairs and is not present at birth. It develops over time and has been seen in cats from 6 months to 17 years old.

The best breed-specific figures come from a study of 329 British Shorthairs. It screened the cats with echocardiography (a heart ultrasound). Twenty-eight cats (8.5%) had HCM and another 14 (4.3%) were equivocal. Males were far more affected: 20.4% had HCM, against 2.1% of females. The median age at diagnosis was 2.7 years, and some cats were diagnosed before their first birthday. The authors strongly recommended echocardiographic screening for the breed, especially for cats used in breeding.

Many cats with HCM show no signs. Cornell says others develop congestive heart failure, with labored or rapid breathing, open-mouthed breathing and lethargy. A blood clot can also form and lodge elsewhere in the body. In cats with HCM this most often blocks blood flow to the hind limbs, causing sudden severe pain or paralysis. Sudden death is relatively rare. The prognosis varies a lot. Cornell says cats without clinical signs can often live for years with only mildly reduced heart function.

The Merck manual notes that a heart murmur is absent in at least one-third of cats with HCM, and that definitive diagnosis needs echocardiography. The charity UFAW, in its genetic welfare summary for the breed, adds that there is no genetic test for HCM in British Shorthairs. It says the condition is thought to be inherited, though the mode of inheritance is unknown, and that only kittens with healthy parents should be bought. TICA says breeders should screen with an echocardiogram performed by a veterinary cardiologist. Because HCM does not always appear in the first years of life, TICA also advises owners to screen their cats.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

PKD1 is an inherited form of polycystic kidney disease. The UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory says it is commonly seen in Persians and cats with Persian ancestry, and lists the British Shorthair among the Persian-derived breeds appropriate for PKD1 testing. It also says that any breed that has used Persians in its foundation or propagation “should have concerns for PKD1”.

Affected cats develop kidney cysts, often before 12 months of age, but kidney failure usually appears much later. The condition is autosomal dominant. A cat with one copy of the variant has or will develop PKD and passes it to about half its offspring. The laboratory offers a cheek-swab DNA test. A cat that tests normal does not have this form of the disease and cannot pass it on.

Dental disease and weight

TICA recommends yearly vet visits because untreated dental problems can lead to other health issues. Weight is covered in the next section.

What should you feed a British Shorthair?

Weight is the everyday health issue you can control. TICA says these cats love food and, being sedentary, can quickly gain weight. It notes that a British Shorthair is a heavy, solid cat, but the weight should come from muscle, not excess food. VCA agrees that portions should be measured, given the breed’s size and moderate activity level.

TICA’s feeding guidance for adults:

• Feed adults twice a day on a regular schedule, preferably with wet food high in meat content. Kittens need more frequent meals.
• TICA does not recommend free feeding, since it discourages cats from eating when they are bored. Use only treats and food without sugar.
• Keep fresh water available daily, with the bowl at least three feet from the food. A strong food smell may put cats off drinking.
• Use play to burn calories and tone muscle. TICA suggests teaser toys, teaching the cat to fetch, and chasing a laser pointer.

Your vet can assess body condition and advise on a feeding plan for your individual cat.

When to see a vet

Cornell’s Feline Health Center recommends a thorough checkup, with close attention to the heart, at least once a year for cats under 10 and twice a year after that. Cornell’s cardiologist lists these signs of heart disease in cats: difficult or rapid breathing, weakness, lethargy, exercise intolerance and collapsing episodes. The Cornell tip sheet gives a normal resting breathing rate of 15 to 30 breaths per minute for cats. A rate above 35 while the cat is relaxed or asleep should prompt a call to your vet.

Open-mouthed breathing, or sudden hind-leg pain or weakness, needs a vet straight away. Cornell says these can point to heart failure or a blood clot.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice. Your own vet can examine your cat and answer questions about its health, diet and screening.

How do you choose a British Shorthair kitten?

The CFA says breeders usually release kittens between 12 and 16 weeks of age. By then the kittens have had their basic inoculations, have been weaned and have had time to become well adjusted. Most breeders require the cat to stay indoors and be spayed or neutered, and the CFA and most breeders disapprove of declawing.

Ask about heart screening. TICA says breeders should screen for HCM by echocardiogram performed by a veterinary cardiologist, and UFAW says kittens should come from healthy parents, ideally screened by ultrasound before mating. TICA’s website lists member breeders who have signed the TICA Code of Ethics.

Is a British Shorthair the right cat for you?

TICA calls the breed a great family pet, and VCA says it suits apartment living. VCA also recommends keeping it indoors, because its docile nature leaves it poorly equipped against predators or other animals outdoors, and says to supervise any outdoor time.

It suits people who want a quiet, steady companion that tends to settle beside them, and who will measure meals and play with it daily. It is a poorer match if you want a cat to carry around or a lively climber.

Other shorthair breeds on this site include the European Shorthair and the Oriental Shorthair. The Selkirk Rex appears on the same UC Davis list of Persian-derived breeds suited to PKD1 testing.