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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+14
Cats
# The British Shorthair: temperament, price, health, and breeders
United Kingdom
A round, calm and affectionate cat, as reassuring as it is elegant.
Size MediumLife expectancy 15–20 yearsBudget ≈ €65/monthKitten €400 – €1,800
[Find a breeder 185](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-cat-breeds?races=british-shorthair)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Which cat is right for you?](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-cat)
Families and children Very good
Daily exercise needs Moderate
Apartment living Very good
First-time owners Excellent
Other pets Very good
Tolerance of being alone Fair
Vocalization Quiet
Strengths and weaknesses
- Balanced temperament: It combines calm, sociability and independence, which makes it pleasant on a daily basis.
- Good adaptation to the home: It adapts well to a comfortable indoor life if its environment is enriched.
- Solid constitution: The breed is generally robust when selection and lifestyle hygiene are good.
- Tendency to be overweight: Its appetite and moderate activity level require strictly monitoring portions.
- Need for screening: Some lines may be affected by PKD or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- Shedding to monitor: Its dense coat requires increased brushing during shedding periods.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- Calm families: Its stable and affectionate temperament is well suited to a peaceful home life.
- Motivated beginners: It is generally easy to live with if you respect its pace and its need for routine.
- Indoor life: It appreciates the comfort of the home provided it has toys, scratching posts and interactions.
Not recommended for
- Homes often absent: Even independent, it needs regular presence and stimulation.
- People neglecting weight: An uncontrolled diet quickly exposes it to being overweight.
- Adopters without requirements regarding tests: Choosing a reputable breeder is important to limit hereditary risks.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
25 cmBritish Shorthair
- Height at the withers
- 22–28 cm
- Weight
- 4–8 kg
- Coat
- Short, dense
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Grooming
- Moderate grooming needs
## Photos and videos
See the British Shorthair in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The British Shorthair descends from cats long established in the British Isles, selected over time for their robustness and their dense coat suited to the climate. The breed was highlighted by Harrison Weir, a major figure in English felinophilia, then presented as early as the first major cat show held in London in 1871. Weakened by the two world wars, it was reconstituted thanks to rigorous breeding programs involving in particular the Persian, before regaining stable lines and becoming one of the most popular cat breeds in the United Kingdom.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
The British Shorthair is a powerful, compact and very harmonious cat, built entirely of roundness. Its semi-cobby body is short and muscular, with a strong neck, a broad chest and sturdy limbs. The head is large and round, the cheeks very full, the ears small to medium and the eyes wide and expressive. Its coat is short, very dense, standing off and endowed with a thick undercoat that gives it a characteristic plush appearance.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
The British Shorthair is renowned for its balanced, calm and endearing temperament. It enjoys the company of its family, shows its affection with restraint and retains real independence. Neither intrusive nor nervous, it is composed, sociable and generally at ease with children as well as with visitors.
Affectionate Intelligent Sociable
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
On a daily basis, this cat readily alternates between periods of comfortable rest and moderate play sessions. It likes to observe its environment, explore calmly and take part in household life without being its permanent center. Rather discreet in its vocalization, it keeps a stable temperament and copes well with a peaceful routine provided it benefits from regular interactions and an enriched environment.
Training
## Training and socialization
The education of the British Shorthair is based mainly on gentleness, consistency and environmental enrichment. It understands the habits of the home well and easily assimilates simple rules when they are put in place early and without brusqueness. Play sessions, rewards and stable reference points are preferable to any constraint, because this cat cooperates better when it feels confident.
Budget
## Price and budget for the British Shorthair
The pedigree British Shorthair registered with the LOOF is often priced between €800 and €1,600 depending on the color, type and tests. The maintenance budget remains that of a calm indoor cat, sometimes prone to being overweight.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/cat-breed/british-shorthair/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
The British Shorthair generally has robust health and good longevity, provided it benefits from regular veterinary follow-up, an appropriate diet and a lifestyle limiting overweight. Like other selected breeds, it nevertheless remains predisposed to certain hereditary conditions that justify the vigilance of both the breeder and the owner.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/cat-breed/british-shorthair/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The British Shorthair needs a complete, digestible and well-balanced diet in energy in order to support its muscle mass without promoting overweight. The quality of proteins and the control of fat intake are particularly important in this breed with a compact build and often very greedy.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/cat-breed/british-shorthair/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
The British Shorthair is often compared to a teddy bear because of its round silhouette and dense coat. Its blue variety, combined with copper eyes, has greatly contributed to the breed’s fame, but many other colors are accepted. Historical crossbreeding with the Persian also contributed to the emergence of the British Longhair, the long-haired version stemming from the same breed heritage.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the British Shorthair
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Is the British Shorthair suitable for apartment living?
Yes, it generally adapts well to apartment living if the environment is calm, enriched, and compatible with its need for moderate play and comfort.
### Is the British Shorthair affectionate?
Yes, it is attached to its family and enjoys the company of those close to it, while maintaining a certain independence that makes it not very intrusive.
### Does it shed a lot?
Shedding often remains moderate outside of shedding season, but its dense undercoat requires more frequent brushing during seasonal changes.
## Find a British Shorthair breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most British Shorthair breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
[British Shorthair breeders in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes33](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/auvergne-rhone-alpes) [British Shorthair breeders in Île-de-France27](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/ile-de-france) [British Shorthair breeders in Nouvelle-Aquitaine17](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/nouvelle-aquitaine) [British Shorthair breeders in Hauts-de-France17](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/hauts-de-france) [British Shorthair breeders in Occitanie16](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/occitanie) [British Shorthair breeders in Grand Est14](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/grand-est) [British Shorthair breeders in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur13](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/provence-alpes-cote-dazur) [British Shorthair breeders in Centre-Val de Loire12](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/centre-val-de-loire)
### British Shorthair breeders by country
[636 breeders of British Shorthair in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/germany) [185 breeders of British Shorthair in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair) [113 breeders of British Shorthair in Austria](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/austria) [77 breeders of British Shorthair in the United Kingdom](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/united-kingdom) [50 breeders of British Shorthair in Italy](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/italy) [34 breeders of British Shorthair in Denmark](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/denmark) [29 breeders of British Shorthair in Spain](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/spain) [17 breeders of British Shorthair in Belgium](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/belgium) [15 breeders of British Shorthair in Croatia](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/croatia) [5 breeders of British Shorthair in Slovenia](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair/slovenia)
[All breeders of British Shorthair in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair)
## Ready to welcome a British Shorthair?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-british-shorthair)
## Compare British Shorthair with other breeds
- [British Shorthair vs. Chartreux](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare/british-shorthair-vs-chartreux)
## Discover other breeds
[British Longhair
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/cat-breed/british-longhair)
[Scottish Fold
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/cat-breed/scottish-fold)
[Chartreux
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/cat-breed/chartreux)
[Russian Blue
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/cat-breed/russian-blue)
[Exotic
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/cat-breed/exotic)
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