British Shorthair

Temperament

The British Shorthair shows affection with dignity. It enjoys company and usually stays in the same room as its people, but it rarely demands a lap and tolerates being carried mostly out of politeness. It bonds with the whole family rather than one person. It is patient with calm children and often gets along with a cat-friendly dog. It plays in bursts: a few minutes chasing a wand toy, then a long nap. It quickly learns the household routine, knowing when dinner is and who comes home from work when, and it may tap you with a paw to protest a change in the schedule. It uses its voice sparingly. Noise and chaos, such as a loud party, are more likely to send it under the bed than to make it complain. For many people, this predictability is the breed’s greatest strength.

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 Shorthair for?

The British Shorthair is a good fit for someone who works away from home, for apartment living and for first-time cat owners. It suits calm families and homes with a gentle dog. If you dream of a cat that will cuddle for hours or learn tricks, choose a more social, active breed. It is also a poor match for homes that are noisy all the time.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The short but very dense coat only needs combing once a week with a metal comb or a rubber grooming glove. During shedding season, usually spring and fall, comb every other day, as there is a lot of undercoat. British Shorthairs mature slowly and reach their full weight only at 3–5 years old. The biggest challenge is weight: they love to eat and move little, so portions need to be measured and treats counted as part of the daily ration. Puzzle feeders, short play sessions twice a day and a sturdy scratching post help keep them in shape. Because the thick coat makes them overheat easily, they often prefer to lie next to you rather than on you. They are happier indoors than roaming free, as they are neither agile nor fast and cope poorly with outdoor dangers.

Health and breed-related conditions

British Shorthairs are considered robust, but they have a few known inherited problems. The breed is regarded as at risk of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), for which there is a simple DNA test. In a Danish screening study, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was found in 20.4% of males and 2.1% of females, so breeding males should have regular heart ultrasounds. A rare autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) has also been described in kittens and can be detected with a DNA test. Many lines have type B blood, so mating with a type A cat risks neonatal isoerythrolysis. In a UK study by Teng et al. (2024), the life expectancy of British Shorthairs at birth was 9.58 years, well below the 12–17 years given in breed profiles.

• polycystic kidney disease (PKD)The breed is considered at high risk of PKD; a DNA test lets breeders exclude carriers from breeding.
• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)In a Danish study of more than 329 cats, HCM was found in 20.4% of males and 2.1% of females.
• autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS)A severe disease of young kittens with enlarged organs and anemia; a DNA test exists.
• blood type incompatibility (type B)Many lines have type B blood, which matters for breeding and transfusions.
• obesityThis stocky, not very active cat puts on weight easily.

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

Breed history

The British Shorthair descends from domestic cats brought to the British Isles before the Roman conquest. Deliberate breeding began in the second half of the 19th century, and at the first cat show, organized by Harrison Weir at London’s Crystal Palace in 1871, British Shorthairs were among the stars. Persians later became the fashion, and both world wars nearly exhausted the breeding pool. Breeders saved the breed with crosses to Persians, Russian Blues and Chartreux, which fixed its sturdy build and dense coat. In the 1950s, a blue male named Brynbuboo Little Monarch became the first Grand Champion in the British GCCF and the ancestor of many modern lines. Full recognition by the CFA, FIFe and TICA came in the late 1970s.

Fun facts

• The British Shorthair was one of the stars of the first cat show at the Crystal Palace in 1871.
• It reaches full maturity only at 3–5 years old.
• Brynbuboo Little Monarch, the first GCCF Grand Champion, is an ancestor of most modern British Shorthairs.
• In the US, the first cats of this breed were registered as “British Blues.”

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Calmest cat breeds

Sources

1. 1Purina UK – British Shorthairpurina.co.uk
2. 2VCA Animal Hospitals – British Shorthairvcahospitals.com
3. 3CFA – British Shorthair breed profilecfa.org
4. 4Wikipedia – British Shorthairen.wikipedia.org
5. 5Teng i in. 2024, Life tables of annual life expectancy… in cats in the UK (JFMS)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6. 6FIFe – Recognised breedsfifeweb.org
7. 7WCF – Breed standards shorthairwcf.de

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