British ShorthairCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

No one knows how the first cats reached the British Isles; they seem to have been there before the Romans. They interbred with the European wildcat and, isolated on the islands, became large, robust cats with short but very dense coats.

Organised breeding began in the nineteenth century; some sources consider the artist Harrison Weir the father of the standard. The British cat was shown at the first cat show, at Crystal Palace, in 1871.

When Persian cats became fashionable, the breed almost disappeared. Breeders used Persian, Russian Blue, Burmese and Chartreux cats to save it. By the late 1970s, the breed was recognised by all the major associations.

How the breed developed

• Before the Romans – the first cats reach the British Isles.
• 1871 – shown at the first cat show, at Crystal Palace.
• After the two world wars – saved by crosses with Persians and Russian Blues.
• Late 1970s – recognised by CFA, FIFe and TICA.
• 2024 – the second most popular breed at FIFe, with 16.9% of registered kittens.

• Families with children and other pets. It is gentle and patient.
• People who are away part of the day. FIFe says it copes with being alone better than other breeds.
• Apartments. It is quiet and does not need much exercise.
• Watch its weight. Being not very active, it puts on weight easily.

It is a large, powerful cat with a broad chest, a short, thick neck, short, muscular legs and round paws. It only reaches its adult form at about 3 years. German Wikipedia gives 4–6 kg for females and 7–8 kg for males.

General appearance

The head is large and round, with full cheeks (especially in adult males), a short muzzle and a short nose. The ears are small to medium, broad at the base and set wide apart. The eyes are large and round. The tail is about two thirds of the body length, thick at the base and with a rounded tip.

The coat is very dense and straight, “crisp” to the touch: it visibly breaks open when the cat moves. Besides blue, there are white, black, red, cream, cinnamon, fawn, chocolate and lilac, with silver and golden variants, four tabby patterns, point, bicolour and tortie. The eye colour depends on the coat: from deep copper to intense green.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The British Longhair is its semi-longhaired “sister”, recognised separately by FIFe since 2017. The Chartreux, from France, looks a lot like the British Blue, but is not genetically related. The European Shorthair is slimmer, with a longer muzzle.

FIFe describes it as a quiet, gentle cat that is easy to live with and gets on well with children and other animals. It does not meow much; it shows its contentment by purring. It is independent and can be left alone longer than other breeds, but it seeks its owners' company for a cuddle or a nap.

French Wikipedia says it almost never scratches or bites people and becomes very attached to them, without being “clingy”.

Socialisation

Although it is independent, it can become sad if left alone for too long.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is a calm cat with low exercise needs. Daily play helps it avoid putting on weight.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The coat is easy to look after: one brushing a week. During moulting the undercoat doubles and needs more frequent, more vigorous brushing. Older cats find it harder to groom themselves, so they need help.

Common health problems

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be a problem in this breed: a Danish study of over 329 cats found it in 20.4% of males and 2.1% of females. The breed also has a high risk of polycystic kidney disease. On the other hand, a study of 190,000 records in England found diabetes half as often as in other cats.

Recommended genetic tests

In Denmark, the FIFe member association (Felis Danica) requires a heart ultrasound for all males used for breeding. For polycystic kidney disease, ask for the parents' test result.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Ask for the result of the father's heart ultrasound and the polycystic kidney disease test.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• The most popular in Britain. Almost half of the kittens registered with the GCCF each year are British Shorthairs.
• A late developer. It only reaches its adult form at about 3 years.
• On stamps. In 2022, Royal Mail featured it in a series of eight cat stamps.
• Purring instead of meowing. It does not “talk” much; it shows its contentment by purring.

The Cheshire Cat

John Tenniel's illustration of the Cheshire Cat in “Alice's Adventures in Wonderland” was inspired by this breed. The CFA profile jokes that when it does something clumsy, the British Shorthair gets embarrassed and quickly recovers with a “Cheshire cat smile”.

A star of film and advertising

Thanks to its calm character, the British Shorthair often appears in the media.

How much does a British Shorthair weigh?

Females weigh 4–6 kg and males 7–8 kg. It keeps growing until about 3 years.

Can it be left alone at home?

Better than other breeds, but it seeks its owners' company and gets sad if left alone too long.

What diseases does the breed have?

Mainly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a heart disease) and polycystic kidney disease.

How is it different from the Chartreux?

They are similar in colour, but the British has a cobbier body and a rounder head; the two breeds are not genetically related.

How long does it live?

Insurance data from Sweden give a median of over 12.5 years; 82% live at least 10 years.