British Longhair

Temperament

The British Longhair would rather sit next to you than in your arms. It settles on the sofa right beside its people and likes to know where everyone is, but it dislikes being picked up and carried around for long. It is patient with children who know how to handle it gently and usually accepts a dog without trouble. It rarely speaks up, and when it does, it is a short, quiet sound. It watches new people from a distance, then either comes over for a sniff or goes back to its nap. When young it can be surprisingly playful, but with age it values routine and a warm bed more and more. It is not a cat for learning tricks; on the other hand, it copes well with being alone during the workday and does not wreck the place out of boredom. It takes household changes with stoic calm.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Talkativeness

quietchatterbox

Indoor-only life

needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the British Longhair for?

This is a good cat for people who work outside the home, for seniors and for families with calm children who want a gentle companion for apartment life. It works for a first-time owner who accepts daily combing. Choose another breed if you want a cat for active play and learning tricks, a cuddler you can carry around, or if you have no time for regular care of a dense coat.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The British Longhair's coat has a dense undercoat that, if neglected, quickly forms mats behind the ears, under the legs and on the belly. Ideally, comb it every day for a few minutes with a comb that has both wide and fine teeth, and reach for a deshedding tool or a rubber curry brush during shedding season. A bath is needed only before a show or if the cat gets very dirty. Older cats that groom themselves less well may need help around the tail. The breed has a slow metabolism and a low need for exercise, so measure portions and treat play with a wand toy or ball as a way to keep it fit, not an extra. Two or three short sessions a day are enough. It grows slowly and reaches full size at around five years old.

Health and breed-related conditions

British Longhairs share their health profile with the shorthaired variety. The GCCF lists hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as a real problem in the breed. There is no genetic test for it, so responsible breeders regularly screen the parents' hearts with echocardiography and remove affected cats from their programs. Polycystic kidney disease, which came into the breed along with Persian genes, is now under control thanks to DNA testing, but it is worth seeing the parents' results. The biggest everyday risk is excess weight: a calm, inactive cat gains easily, and the thick coat hides a widening waistline. Mats from neglected grooming can irritate the skin. With good care, cats of this breed live long lives, up to 14–20 years according to some sources.

• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)Occurs in British cats; there is no DNA test, so the parents are screened with heart ultrasounds.
• polycystic kidney disease (PKD)Inherited from Persians; thanks to DNA testing, the problem is under control in catteries.
• obesityA slow metabolism and a laid-back lifestyle make weight gain easy.
• mats and hairballsWithout regular combing, the dense undercoat quickly felts.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

Longhaired kittens in British litters are nothing new. After World War II, breeders who wanted to rebuild the breed's massive type and strong bone crossed British cats with Persians. That brought the recessive longhair gene into the gene pool, and it shows up whenever both parents carry it. For decades these kittens were sold as pets, and in Britain they were called British Shorthair variants. Some breeders, however, began breeding them on purpose. TICA granted the breed championship status in 2009, the GCCF officially approved the name British Longhair in 2017 and gave it full championship status in November 2021.

Fun facts

• The longhair gene entered British cats after World War II, through crosses with Persians.
• The GCCF officially approved the name British Longhair only in 2017.
• The most popular color is still the classic blue, the same as in British Shorthairs.
• Two British Shorthairs can have a longhaired kitten if both carry the recessive gene.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Long-haired cat breeds
• Calmest cat breeds

Sources

1. 1GCCF – British (Shorthair and Longhair)gccfcats.org
2. 2TICA – British Longhair breedtica.org
3. 3CFA – British Shorthaircfa.org
4. 4FIFe – Breedsfifeweb.org
5. 5WCF – Breed standards longhairwcf.de

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.