British Shorthair Cat: Personality, Weight and Care Guide

Round face, round cheeks, a thick plush coat and a calm, easy-going nature: the British Shorthair is a quiet, loyal family cat [1][2]. It's also the most popular pedigree cat in the UK [3]. Its one real weak spot is weight, so here's the quick guide.

British Shorthair quick facts

What is a British Shorthair's personality like?

Calm, loyal and a little lazy, in the words of the UK breed registry [2]. It bonds with the whole family rather than one person [1]. It isn't very vocal, and it prefers to keep "all four feet on the floor" [1][2]. That quiet nature makes it an easy fit for apartment life.

Are British Shorthairs good with children?

Generally, yes. The breed is described as patient with children [1]. One thing to teach kids: most British Shorthairs dislike being picked up and carried [1]. Sitting beside the cat works better than a cuddle in the air.

How much should a British Shorthair eat?

Ask a licensed vet which food and portion suit your cat. How you feed matters too: measured meals (often two a day) are better than a bowl left full all day, which is a known cause of overeating [9].

Why it matters for this breed: in an Australian study of about 2,000 adult British Shorthairs, 40% were overweight and 7% were obese [8]. Kittens that were heavier at 12 months also tended to live shorter lives, though that is a link, not proof of cause [8]. Extra weight adds strain on the joints, heart and blood vessels and raises the risk of diabetes [9].

Because this breed isn't very active, encourage play every day: toys, climbing furniture and food puzzles [1][2].

How do I groom a British Shorthair?

Easily. Brush at least once a week [4]:

• Start with a flea comb to check for parasites.
• Brush from head to tail with a bristle brush.
• Finish with a rubber grooming glove to lift loose hair.

This cuts down on hairballs and hair around the house [4].

How do I keep a British Shorthair cool in the Saudi summer?

Any cat can get heatstroke [5]. This breed has a dense coat, a stocky build and a slightly short, round face [11]. So during the summer:

• Keep it indoors in a cool, air-conditioned room.
• Offer shady spots, good airflow and several water bowls or a fountain [5].
• A damp towel or a frozen water bottle wrapped in a towel can help it cool down [5].

Contact a vet right away if you see heavy panting, drooling, unusual tiredness, vomiting or collapse [5].

What health problems do British Shorthairs get?

• Heart disease (HCM): the most common heart disease in cats, and it appears more often in British Shorthairs [6]. Many cats show no early signs. Fast or laboured breathing, open-mouth breathing or tiredness need a licensed vet promptly [6].
• Weight gain: the breed's best-documented everyday risk [8].
• Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): best known in Persians, but it has also been found in British Shorthairs, likely through Persian ancestry [10].
• Blood type B: more common in this breed than in most cats [12]. This matters if a cat ever needs a blood transfusion, and for breeding [12].

An honest word on the round face: research classes the British Shorthair's skull as mildly flat-faced, far less so than a Persian's [11]. The study was small, but it's worth asking your vet about heat tolerance at check-ups [11].

Did you know? In the 1950s, a blue British Shorthair named Brynbuboo Little Monarch became the first Grand Champion of any breed with the UK's Governing Council of the Cat Fancy. Many of today's British Shorthairs trace back to him [1].

What should I check before buying a British Shorthair?

• Ask whether both parents had heart screening (an echocardiogram) for HCM [6].
• Ask about the kitten's growth and feeding plan [8].
• Ask about PKD in the family line, especially with Persian ancestors [10].
• Book an independent vet health check, not just the breeder's word.
• Ask for the health record, vaccination card and microchip [13].
• Plan for costs: food, litter, a brush and flea comb, vet check-ups and vaccinations, heart and kidney checks, and an emergency fund [4][6][10].

Can I bring a British Shorthair into Saudi Arabia?

Yes, with planning. This is general guidance only; rules change, so confirm with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) through the Anaam platform, and with your airline, before you travel [13].

• Permit: register on Anaam and get an import permit, valid for 30 days, from a permitted country [13].
• ID: an ISO microchip, plus a passport or vaccination record showing the chip number [13].
• Health: a valid rabies vaccination, no external parasites, and an original government health certificate from the exporting country [13].
• Limits: up to 2 cats every 6 months per person, each at least 4 months old [13].

No cat-breed restrictions were found in the MEWA document [13].

Ask your airline: some airlines restrict flat-faced (snub-nosed) breeds because of heat stress. The British Shorthair is only mildly flat-faced compared with more extreme breeds [11], and we couldn't confirm whether it appears on any airline's own list, so check your airline's current breed list before booking.

British Shorthair FAQ

How long do British Shorthairs live?

A large UK study listed the British Shorthair among breeds with shorter lives than other cats in the sample. Overall, crossbred cats lived a median of 14.0 years and purebreds 12.5 years [7].

How big does a British Shorthair get?

Males usually weigh about 4.1–7.7 kg and females about 3.2–5.4 kg [2]. They take 3 to 5 years to fill out fully [1][2].

What's the difference between a British Shorthair and a Persian?

The British has a short, dense coat that needs weekly brushing, and a much less flat face [3][4][11]. Persians were among the breeds used to rebuild the British Shorthair after the World Wars [1][2].

What colours do British Shorthairs come in?

Many: solid colours like blue, black, white and cream, plus tabby, tortoiseshell, bi-colour, colourpoint and tipped. The grey-blue "British Blue" is the classic [1][2].