Family-friendly:2/5Playfulness:2/5Intelligence:3/5Tendency to Vocalise: 4/5Likes Other Pets:5/5Grooming needs:4/5Shedding:3/5

British Shorthair

One of the oldest recognized cat breeds, the British Shorthair, or the British Blue cat, is generous, dynamic, and as attention-loving as a cat can be. If you’re in the vicinity of a British Blue cat, be sure that they’ll do anything in their power to grab your attention and get some much-appreciated affection from you.

Lifespan

12 - 17 years

Weight

3 - 7.7kg

Colours

Comes in solid colours, with or without white markings, tabby patterns, and Siamese patterns, but the most recognisable is the blue with striking orange eyes.

The need-to-know

Great for first-time cat owners
Quiet and sedate cat
Highly active and inquisitive cat
Sociable and dependent cat

Slightly talkative cat
Average build cat breed
Requires grooming once a week
Needs extensive outdoor space

Great family cat
Can be regularly left for a few hours
Great for a relaxed home

Generally healthy breed

The British Shorthair cat breed can be prone to:
- Polycystic kidney disease which is an inherited condition where cysts form in the kidneys. This affects kidney function and can eventually lead to kidney failure.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which is a disease were the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick which means the heart cannot beat effectively.
- British Shorthair autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome which is a serious condition where an abnormally large amount of immune cells are produced which leads to organ enlargement, anaemia and general illness.

Testing available:
- DNA testing for British Shorthair autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome which tests whether or not a cat has the potential to be affected by this condition.

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Woman is holding her pet - British Shorthair cat

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British Blue Cat Appearance

The British Shorthair is a medium to large sized, compact, chunky cat, known for their attractive features and thick, plush fur. 

Short coupled and robust, the British Shorthair is instantly recognisable by their rounded face and large round eyes, giving this cat an adorable expression and bags of character. 

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British Shorthair cat is having a nap on the sofa

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British Blue Cat Personality

Affectionate, playful, and loyal, the British Shorthair is a very companionable cat with family and close friends, although like many cats they may take a little time to warm up to strangers. A relatively quiet cat, and surprisingly gregarious, the British Shorthair gets on well in multi-cat households and will befriend other household pets too, particularly cat-friendly dogs. 

Vet Rating

Family-friendly:	2/5
Playfulness:	2/5
Intelligence:	3/5
Tendency to Vocalise:	4/5
Likes Other Pets:	5/5
Grooming needs:	4/5
Shedding:	3/5

History and Origins

Likely to be the first selectively bred cat breed, despite its name, the British Shorthair traces its roots back to Rome, and the cats brought here with the Romans, as mousers, ratters, and probably sneaky stowaways! Cats brought by Roman invaders would have had to be tough, clever, weather-proof, and hardy, to survive the journey and to breed with the native wildcats! Once on British soil, they made themselves at home and eventually began to be selectively bred for their rounded and appealing appearance, and affectionate nature. First recorded as the British Shorthair in 1870, the breed has been popular ever since.

Outdoors or Indoors

Happy indoors with sufficient entertainment, or outdoors providing a safe, cat-secure garden is available, the British Shorthair is more inclined toward short bursts of activity, interspersed with long naps, than lengthy periods of exercise. To provide the best of both worlds, free access to an outdoor cat secure area or ‘catio’ will meet the British Shorthair’s needs nicely. 

Enrichment and Specific Needs

The British Shorthair does need company and this is a very human-oriented breed. They like their people, and they like to spend plenty of time with them.  

Not quite so curious and active as some, the British Shorthair can be a bit of a couch-potato, so it is wise to encourage some exercise in the form of food dispensing toys, and chasing games. Cat trees can be used cleverly and by hiding little piles of food on each level rather than feeding from a bowl, you can encourage your British Shorthair to move around to ‘hunt’ for food — as they do have a tendency to put on weight. 

Nutrition and Feeding

Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle, and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic British Blue kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in their diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes. 

Grooming British Shorthair Cats

Although a shorthaired cat, the British Shorthair has a very dense coat, so a comb through once a week will help get rid of dead hair, and will serve as a good check over for any parasites or injuries. By doing a quick groom regularly, you’ll be able to spot if a cat is unwell, one of the first signs is often a greasy coat where a cat is unable to reach, or not feeling well enough to make the usual effort. 

As with all cats, regular vaccination and parasite control is recommended and this should be discussed with your vet, as well as an annual veterinary cat health check. 

Suitability for Family Life

Friendly, loyal, and people loving, the British Shorthair is ideal for child-free homes and homes with older children, however they are not particularly forgiving of very small children who haven’t yet learned to respect a cat. Their wide-eyed, round-faced appearance is often mistaken by very young children as being that of a toy or doll, so caution should be exercised.

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British Blue Cat Fun Facts

Famous owners of British Blue cats include fashion designer Stefano Gabbana, actress Sadie Frost, and singer Sam Smith.
They are highly popular in the UK, being the most popular pedigree cat in the country since 2001.
British Shorthairs may have served as inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat in the 1865 ‘Alice in Wonderland’ novel. The way the cat is described in the book as ‘smiling’ best resembles the peculiar shape of a British Shorthair’s mouth.
There’s no saying for sure, but many agree that the cat from ‘Puss in Boots’ is also based on a British Shorthair, given his chubby cheeks and the adorable big eyes that could melt anyone’s heart. The fact that he’s speaking Spanish, though, doesn’t do much to prove this theory.

FAQs

Are British Blue cats friendly?

Yes, they can be very friendly with anyone, however, can sometimes be less forgiving of children, especially those who are not used to cat behaviours. So, best to introduce them slowly, and make sure children respect their space needs.

Are British Blue cats lazy?

British Blue cats are known to be very placid and easy going so they prefer spending most of their time lounging around and napping, rather than being highly active.

Are British Blue cats talkative?

In general, they can be slightly chatty, especially when they want something and need to get your attention.

Why do British Blue cats not like being picked up?

Although they love getting attention, British Blue cats are not big fans of being picked up and mostly prefer a hands-off approach when interacting with humans. Picking them up puts them in a vulnerable and uncomfortable situation, so it’s best to keep pick-ups and hugs to a minimum.