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British Shorthair Breed Facts and Information
Updated on June 17th, 2025
Temperament
Affectionate, loving, calm and easygoing
Coat Color
Most colors, with the most popular being blue
Weight7 - 17 Pounds
Height12 - 14 Inches
Life Expectancy12 - 20 Years
Maintenance Level
Low Maintenance
High Maintenance
Personality
Reserved
Extroverted
About the British Shorthair
Loyal and happy, relaxed and affectionate, the British Shorthair makes the perfect family pet for any home. While this particular breed isn’t likely to curl up in your lap, they are very happy to lounge right next to you and accompany you from room to room. British Shorthairs are smart and are happy to entertain themselves until their family returns home. These cats can do well in homes with other pets and children, as long as they aren’t often picked up (they like to stay firmly planted on the ground) and have the ability to pick and choose when they play.
Origin: Great Britain Other Names: Brit
British Shorthair Appearance
Easily distinguished by its chubby face and plush, dense coat, the British Shorthair comes in most colors, with the most popular being blue. They have large, round eyes that are usually deep gold or copper, and are rarely blue or green. With a weight of up to 17 pounds, the British Shorthair is a medium to large cat with a compact and muscular build.
Size & Weight
A medium to large breed, a British Shorthair male can weigh between 9 and 17 pounds, while females tend to weigh between 7 and 12 pounds.
Full Grown
Female
7 in. / 12 lbs.
Male
9 in. / 17 lbs.
Height is measured up to the shoulders.
Characteristics
- Lifestyle
- Care
- Personality
How to Care for a British Shorthair
You’ll rarely see a British Shorthair jumping through the air and they can be on the clumsy side, so the breed gravitates towards a couch potato lifestyle. Generally, British Shorthairs are affectionate, loving, calm and easygoing. They are very intelligent and train easily, and some will even learn to fetch their toys by name, says Cynthia Byrd, a Cat Fanciers’ Association certified British Shorthair breeder. Their personalities make them a great match for homes with other pets or calm children.
While the British Shorthair is affectionate and friendly, they aren’t lap cats, per se, and they don’t love to be held or carried. Instead, provide your cat the attention she craves by letting her curl up next to you on the couch for some scratches. Female British Shorthairs tend to be quite intelligent and more serious, although still warm, while males are more ostentatious in their affection. “British Shorthairs find it their duty to supervise the home,” says Byrd. “You will find them always nearby, appearing to supervise, but never to judge.”
Cost of Owning
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Fun Facts
The Cheshire Cat in “Alice in Wonderland” was a British Shorthair.
British Shorthairs come in every color and pattern you can find in cats, says Byrd. Perhaps with the exception of the pink and purple tabby of Disney’s Cheshire Cat!
The British Shorthair is one of the oldest breeds of English cats.
Brits are said to have more hairs per square inch than any other breed of cat.
History
According to The International Cat Association (TICA), the British Shorthair history began with cats from Egypt that accompanied the Romans when they invaded Great Britain. Over the centuries, the breed has evolved, and a longhair gene was introduced between 1914 and 1918. After World War II, most of the original British Shorthair lines disappeared and breeders were forced to cross domestic shorthairs, Russian Blues and Persians together to sustain the breed. In June 1979, the British Shorthair gained TICA championship status, with CFA recognizing the British Shorthair in 1980.