Cat Breeds UK: Moggy or Pedigree, Health and Costs
Most UK cats are moggies: 53% of 10.2 million owned cats, against 36% pedigree or purebred (Cats Protection, 2025). Yet 51% of cats acquired in the last year were pedigrees. In UK vet records, crossbred cats had a life expectancy at birth of 11.89 years, against 10.41 for purebred cats (Teng et al. 2024). Our breed guides set out the health tests to ask a breeder for.
Cat breed guides
- Life expectancy 9.58 yearsBritish Shorthair7–17 lb (GCCF). Short and dense coat; grooming: extra grooming when moulting. Breeder tests: PKD DNA test; heart scan (no HCM DNA test).Read the British Shorthair guide
- Life expectancy 9.71 yearsMaine Coon10–20 lb (GCCF). Undercoat with a glossy topcoat coat; grooming: weekly; heavy spring shed. Breeder tests: HCM, SMA and PK-Def DNA tests; heart scan; hip X-rays.Read the Maine Coon guide
- Life expectancy 10.31 yearsRagdoll10–20 lb (GCCF). Medium length, silky and dense coat; grooming: weekly; mats if left. Breeder tests: Ragdoll HCM DNA test; heart scan; blood typing.Read the Ragdoll guide
- Life expectancy 8.51 yearsBengal8–15 lb (GCCF). Short, soft, spotted or marbled coat; grooming: low: a light brush weekly. Breeder tests: PRA and PK-Def DNA tests; heart scan (no HCM DNA test).Read the Bengal guide
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Open the calculatorMoggy or pedigree: what UK data shows
- 53%of the UK's 10.2 million owned cats are moggies (domestic shorthair or longhair)Source: Cats Protection CATS Report 2025
- 36%are pedigree or purebred; 5% are cross-breedsSource: Cats Protection CATS Report 2025
- 51%of cats acquired in the last 12 months were pedigrees (moggies: 38%)Source: Cats Protection CATS Report 2025
- 11.89 yrslife expectancy at birth for crossbred cats, against 10.41 years for purebred catsSource: Teng et al. 2024 (VetCompass)
In Teng et al. 2024, which used 7,936 deaths recorded at UK vet practices in 2019 (88.2% of them crossbred cats), purebred cats had 1.83 times the odds of dying before the age of three. The study also linked being unneutered and being under or over a healthy weight with shorter lives. Moggy and pedigree shares are from the Cats Protection, CATS Report UK 2025.
Four popular breeds compared
| Breed | Size | Coat and grooming | Activity | Life expectancy | Tests breeders use | Share of new cats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Shorthair | 7–17 lb | Short and dense; extra grooming when moulting | Calm; can live indoors with stimulation | 9.58 yrs | PKD DNA test; heart scan (no HCM DNA test) | 9% |
| Maine Coon | 10–20 lb | Undercoat with a glossy topcoat; weekly; heavy spring shed | High energy; needs room to play | 9.71 yrs | HCM, SMA and PK-Def DNA tests; heart scan; hip X-rays | 3% |
| Ragdoll | 10–20 lb | Medium length, silky and dense; weekly; mats if left | Laid-back; needs play for fitness | 10.31 yrs | Ragdoll HCM DNA test; heart scan; blood typing | 4% |
| Bengal | 8–15 lb | Short, soft, spotted or marbled; low: a light brush weekly | Very active; needs climbing and play | 8.51 yrs | PRA and PK-Def DNA tests; heart scan (no HCM DNA test) | 4% |
| Crossbred cats | Varies | 11.89 yrs | Not applicable | 38% (moggies) | ||
- British Shorthair
- Size
- 7–17 lb
- Life expectancy
- 9.58 yrs
- Coat and grooming
- Short and dense; extra grooming when moulting
- Tests breeders use
- PKD DNA test; heart scan (no HCM DNA test)
- Share of cats acquired in the last 12 months
- 9%
- Maine Coon
- Size
- 10–20 lb
- Life expectancy
- 9.71 yrs
- Coat and grooming
- Undercoat with a glossy topcoat; weekly; heavy spring shed
- Tests breeders use
- HCM, SMA and PK-Def DNA tests; heart scan; hip X-rays
- Share of cats acquired in the last 12 months
- 3%
- Ragdoll
- Size
- 10–20 lb
- Life expectancy
- 10.31 yrs
- Coat and grooming
- Medium length, silky and dense; weekly; mats if left
- Tests breeders use
- Ragdoll HCM DNA test; heart scan; blood typing
- Share of cats acquired in the last 12 months
- 4%
- Bengal
- Size
- 8–15 lb
- Life expectancy
- 8.51 yrs
- Coat and grooming
- Short, soft, spotted or marbled; low: a light brush weekly
- Tests breeders use
- PRA and PK-Def DNA tests; heart scan (no HCM DNA test)
- Share of cats acquired in the last 12 months
- 4%
- Crossbred cats: life expectancy at birth 11.89 years (Teng et al. 2024 (VetCompass)). Checked 21 October 2026.
Life expectancy at birth averages every cat in the group, including those that died young, and the breed figures rest on 69 to 194 deaths each, so their ranges are wide. Each breed guide gives the confidence interval.
How to choose a cat breed, or a moggy
- Start with the cat, not the label. International Cat Care says a pedigree is not better than a non-pedigree (moggie), just different. It also says inherited disorders are more common in pedigree cats (inherited disorders in cats).
- Match the coat to your time. International Cat Care advises taking on a long-haired cat only if you are prepared to groom it regularly. Of the four breeds here, the GCCF lists weekly grooming for the Maine Coon and Ragdoll.
- Match the energy to your home. The GCCF describes the Bengal as very active and the Maine Coon as high energy, and the British Shorthair as calm. International Cat Care says some personality traits are more likely in some breeds, but there is no guarantee.
- Avoid extreme features. In the CATS Report 2025, 7% of cats acquired in the last 12 months were breeds with characteristics that can cause health and welfare problems, such as the Scottish Fold, Persian, Munchkin and Sphynx. Cats Protection reports that the GCCF will not register the Scottish Fold or Munchkin because of these concerns.
- Ask for test results and paperwork. Each breed guide lists the DNA tests and screening to ask a breeder for. Of owners who said their cat was not a moggy, 50% were given paperwork confirming the breed and 40% were not.
- Consider adopting. 23% of the UK's owned cats were adopted from a UK rescue or rehoming centre, but only 16% of cats acquired in the last 12 months were adopted, against 44% bought (CATS Report 2025). International Cat Care says pedigree kittens are usually over 12 weeks old when rehomed and domestic kittens around 8 weeks.
For running costs, see our cost of owning a cat guide, the cat food cost guide and, before a kitten comes home, kitten insurance explained. If you are worried about your cat's health, contact your vet.
Sources
- Cats Protection, CATS Report UK 2025 · checked 21 October 2026
- Teng et al. 2024, life tables of annual life expectancy and risk factors for mortality in cats in the UK (Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, VetCompass) · checked 21 October 2026
- GCCF: cat breeds · checked 21 October 2026
- International Cat Care: inherited disorders in cats (updated 18 Dec 2025) · checked 21 October 2026
- International Cat Care: position statement on the breeding of pedigree cats · checked 21 October 2026
- International Cat Care: choosing a kitten (updated 26 Sep 2025) · checked 21 October 2026
- Pawwala cat food comparison (zooplus UK prices) · checked 21 October 2026
Every cat breed guide
Frequently asked questions
Is the Maine Coon the largest cat breed?
The GCCF describes the Maine Coon as the largest domestic breed it recognises, with a size range of 10–20 lb. The GCCF gives the Ragdoll the same 10–20 lb range and calls it one of the largest breeds.
Is a British Shorthair a pedigree?
The British Shorthair is a breed recognised by the GCCF. Cats Protection defines a pedigree as a cat registered with a governing body with its ancestry recorded, so a British Shorthair is a pedigree only if it is registered. In the CATS Report 2025, 40% of owners who said their cat was not a moggy had not been given paperwork.
How we research this topic
Breed facts (size, coat, grooming, activity and health) come from each breed's page on the GCCF website and its registration policy. Inherited-disorder guidance comes from International Cat Care. Life expectancy comes only from Teng et al. 2024, a VetCompass study of 7,936 UK cat deaths, never from breed-club ranges. Food costs come from our dated cat food comparison. We do not publish kitten prices.
All sources were checked on 21 October 2026.