British Shorthair Cat lying down

British Shorthair Cat Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Sweet-tempered, affectionate and with that unmistakable “teddy bear” face, falling in love with the British Shorthair is pretty much the easiest thing in the world! These moggies are super easy-going, and like a true Brit… reserved at first, but loyal and devoted once they get to know you.

At home in the town or the country, the British Shorthair suits all lifestyles. The Shorthair was first put to work hunting down mice in barns - but these days, they’re happy chasing toys or chilling out on the sofa with their buddy.

British Shorthair Cat Facts

Cat breed type icon
Type
Domestic
Cat breed lifespan icon
Lifespan
14 - 16 years
Cat breed size icon
Size
Medium to large
Cat breed weight icon
Weight
4 - 8 kg
Cat breed height icon
Height
30 - 46 cm
Cat breed temperament icon
Temperament
Intelligent, easy going, affectionate
Cat breed exercise icon
Exercise
15 mins 2x a day
Cat breed grooming icon
Grooming
Low maintenance

Is a British Shorthair Right for Me?

British Shorthairs are pretty much right for any cat lover! You don’t get to be one of the country’s most popular cats unless a lot of people love you. ‘Happy-go-lucky’ sums up a British Shorthair’s approach to life. If there’s other cats in the house, chances are your Shorthair will make friends easily. Even with dogs, they’ll usually find a way to get along.

If you live in the town, a Shorthair will pick up life as an indoor cat quite happily (just make sure he has lots of toys to play with). If it’s safe, a Shorthair loves the great outdoors too.

If you’re at work all day, this breed definitely deserves a place on your shortlist. A Shorthair loves attention - but they’re pretty happy mooching around on their own until everyone gets back home.

British Shorthair cat lying down

What Are British Shorthair Kittens Like?

Shorthair kittens are lots of fun. They love to play and get up to mischief. Like most breeds of cat they have endless energy and are very inquisitive. A kitten will take up a lot of your time and energy. Shorthairs love scratching posts and playing with toys, so if you introduce these early on, your kitten will have plenty to keep them occupied.

British Shorthair Cat yawning and stretching

Life with a British Shorthair Cat

Life will be lots of fun living with a Shorthair. They love nothing more than to play but are also just as happy lazing around on the sofa if you’re out. They can be really loyal and make great companions, especially if you live on your own. You wouldn’t class the Shorthair as a lap cat, but they still love to be picked up for a cuddle. Shorthairs don’t mind chilling out with other pets either, even dogs.

Caring for Your British Shorthair

When your new buddy arrives, make sure you get a feeding schedule from the breeder. At this age, they love a routine - so give the same food at the same times each day to avoid tummy upsets. Even as they get older, new foods should be introduced slowly to make sure they agree.

Males especially are pretty sturdy - but that build should come from natural muscle tone and not from overeating! Most shorthairs are happy lazing around the house for most of the day. They also love their food, so follow the advice of your vet on feeding frequency and portion size. Plenty of playtime can also help burn some calories. Remember that keeping a close eye on that waistline is one of the best things you can do to ensure your buddy stays happy and healthy for as long as possible.

On the grooming front, living with a British Shorthair couldn’t be easier. A close-lying coat means no matting, so all that’s needed is a weekly brush to keep it in top condition. You’ll probably notice some shedding during Spring and Autumn, so brush a little more often.

Check your Shorthair’s ears on a weekly basis. If there’s any dirt in there, wipe them with a cotton swab and cleanser recommended by your vet. Redness, crustiness and a bad smell are signs of infection - in which case, see you vet early on to get it sorted. Teeth-brushing and nail-trimming should also be carried out regularly.

When it comes to litter training, your kitten will soon know what to do. There’s not really much training involved, and they’ll soon get the hang of what to do. You could even try teaching your cat some tricks. They’re very intelligent so would soon learn how to fetch or come to call.

Shorthairs love nothing more than lazing about on the sofa, but they do like to play too. It doesn’t matter what toy you go for, they’ll be happy to play with you which is a great way to get them exercising. A good 15 minutes of exercise a couple of times a day is all they need to keep them fit and happy.

British Shorthair Cat Insurance

British Shorthairs can live well into their teens. This is great - but you want your buddy to enjoy a happy and healthy old age. Everypaw’s Cat Insurance can help make it easier to make sure your Shorthair gets the right treatment when they need it most. Everypaw are in it for the long haul too, that’s why here we’re all about the Lifetime British Shorthair insurance cover.

There are a range of Lifetime Cat Insurance cover levels to choose from, and all come with a range of extra benefits as standard. If your cat goes walkabouts one day, we can help with help finding your cat, plus a theft or straying benefit if you can’t find them. And for those times when you want a little advice, Petcall is there 24/7 to help with your cat’s health.

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Common British Shorthair Health Problems by Vetstream

There are several common health problems that Shorthair owners need to be aware of. Everypaw has teamed up with veterinary experts Vetstream to explain a few of them and what you need to keep an eye out for.

Feline Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (FALPS) is an inherited condition currently only seen in British Shorthair and Shorthair cross breeds. The syndrome affects kittens and causes lymph node and spleen enlargement due to the abnormal build-up of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) in the blood. Kittens will be lethargic and loose weight. They might also have a swollen belly. Unfortunately there aren’t any treatments for this condition. Affected kittens often die or need to be put to sleep to prevent them from suffering.

Luckily it isn’t a common problem, but it’s a condition to be aware of, especially if you’re thinking of breeding from your Shorthair. There’s a genetic test that cats can have to check if they’re affected. Cats carrying the gene mutation shouldn’t be used for breeding to prevent the genes from being passed on to future generations.

British Shorthairs are one of many breeds considered to be predisposed to this serious condition, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). The heart muscle becomes abnormally thick which prevents the heart from working properly. This reduces the amount of blood that flows through the heart. It commonly affects cats in their teens and is more common in male cats.

If the condition is diagnosed early enough, treatment can slow it down, but unfortunately won’t stop it completely. Cats don’t often look like they’re ill, even when they are, so you might not know your cat has a heart problem until it is too late.

Although relatively rare, Neonatal Isoerythrolysis is commonly found in British Shorthairs. It’s a result of mating blood type B queens (the mother) with blood type A or AB toms (the dad). The condition leads to the destruction of red blood cells in new-born kittens. This happens because of the difference in blood type between the queen and her kittens.

Affected kittens will be normal when they’re born but as soon as they start to suckle, they start to absorb the antibodies in their mother’s colostrum (first milk), which is where the problems start. Some kittens may just slowly start to become weak or show signs of jaundice, causing their skin to look yellow. But others might not show any signs at all and can just die suddenly. As treatment isn’t really possible, it’s really important to make sure the blood type of cats being used for breeding are tested before they’re mated.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), also known as autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease or AD-PKD is inherited in British Shorthairs. Kittens are born with kidney cysts that gradually get bigger, stopping the kidneys from working properly. Signs of disease usually develop between 3 to 10 years of age, but most cats will start to show signs when they’re about 7. An ultrasound scan can be used to confirm if your cat has PKD.

A genetic test is available, and breeders should only breed from cats that test negative. If you buy your kitten from a reputable breeder, make sure that their cats have been tested for the condition. The International Cat Care runs an AD-PKD Negative Register - this lists cats that have been tested and found to be negative for the condition.

Quick British Shorthair Q&A

Unfortunately, no cat breed is completely hypoallergenic because they all shed their coat to a degree. Shorthairs, as their name suggests, have a short close-lying coat, and shed much less than other breeds. This means if you do suffer from allergies, your Shorthair shouldn’t cause you too many problems.

Shorthairs are known for living long and healthy lives. They generally live well into their teens and have been known to reach 20 years of age. With a healthy lifestyle, plenty of exercise and regular vet health checks there’s no reason why your Shorthair shouldn’t live to a ripe old age!

This breed isn’t known for being a lap cat, but they do still love a cuddle and are very friendly. With a Shorthair you get the best of both worlds, as they also love their own company too so don’t mind if you have to go to work all day. When you get back, they’ll be ready for cuddles on the sofa. They’re also happy in the company of other pets too, even dogs!

Due to their short close-lying coat, Shorthairs shed much less than other breeds. You won’t have to worry about finding cat hair all over the place. And you won’t be having to get the hoover out every five minutes!

That’s All You Need to Know About British Shorthairs

Home-loving, affectionate and laid-back, it’s no surprise that British Shorthairs are the most popular pedigree cat breed in the UK. These chunky cats are happy to lounge about all day indoors and their soft, dense coats are easy to care for. They can put weight on easily though, so make time for some interactive play every day to keep them in good condition. They make purrrfect family pets!

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis.

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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