British Shorthair UK: Health Tests, Lifespan and Costs
The British Shorthair is the most common pedigree cat in UK homes. This guide sets out what the breed's governing body and International Cat Care say about its health, what UK vet records show about lifespan, and what one costs to feed.
The short answer
In UK vet records, British cats had a life expectancy at birth of 9.58 years, against 11.89 for crossbred cats (Teng et al. 2024 (VetCompass)). Ask for both parents' PKD DNA results; the GCCF says there is no DNA test for HCM in the breed. A breed-specific dry food costs about £0.51 a day for a 4 kg cat.
British Shorthair at a glance
- GCCF section
- Section 3, British
- Size (GCCF)
- 7–17 lb
- Coat
- Short and dense
- Grooming
- Extra grooming when moulting
- Activity
- Calm; can live indoors with stimulation
- Life expectancy at birth
- 9.58 years
Size, coat, grooming and activity: GCCF British Shorthair breed page (adult weight males 4.1–7.7 kg, females 3.2–5.4 kg). Life expectancy: Teng et al. 2024 (VetCompass), UK vet records of cats that died in 2019. Checked 21 October 2026.
What health problems do British Shorthairs have?
The GCCF names two inherited conditions in the British: polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which it says is now under control because breeders use the DNA test, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart muscle disease with no DNA test in the breed yet. International Cat Caresays inherited disorders are more common in pedigree cats, and that a DNA result should be linked to the cat's microchip, with a vet collecting the sample.
| Condition | What the source says | Test breeders use |
|---|---|---|
| Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) | The GCCF says PKD was once a problem in the breed and is now under control because responsible breeders use the DNA test. International Cat Care says PKD can be found with an accurate DNA test on a blood sample or cheek swab. (GCCF; International Cat Care) | PKD DNA test on both parents |
| Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) | The GCCF says HCM can be a problem in the breed and that there is no DNA test for HCM in the British yet. (GCCF; International Cat Care) | No DNA test. Ask whether the parents have had a heart ultrasound (echocardiogram), the test International Cat Care says identifies the type of heart disease. |
| ALPS | Since 1 March 2025, British Shorthairs imported from another registry must have a valid negative ALPS test before the GCCF registers them for breeding. (GCCF) | ALPS DNA test (required for GCCF breeding registration of imports) |
| Weight gain | The GCCF says the British has a slow metabolism and owners must not let its padding turn from muscle to fat. (GCCF) | No test. Weigh food and check body condition with your vet. |
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
The GCCF says PKD was once a problem in the breed and is now under control because responsible breeders use the DNA test. International Cat Care says PKD can be found with an accurate DNA test on a blood sample or cheek swab.
Test: PKD DNA test on both parents
Source: GCCF; International Cat Care
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
The GCCF says HCM can be a problem in the breed and that there is no DNA test for HCM in the British yet.
Test: No DNA test. Ask whether the parents have had a heart ultrasound (echocardiogram), the test International Cat Care says identifies the type of heart disease.
Source: GCCF; International Cat Care
ALPS
Since 1 March 2025, British Shorthairs imported from another registry must have a valid negative ALPS test before the GCCF registers them for breeding.
Test: ALPS DNA test (required for GCCF breeding registration of imports)
Source: GCCF
Weight gain
The GCCF says the British has a slow metabolism and owners must not let its padding turn from muscle to fat.
Test: No test. Weigh food and check body condition with your vet.
Source: GCCF
Health tests to ask a British Shorthair breeder for
- PKD DNA test results for both parents
- Heart ultrasound (echocardiogram) results, if the breeder screens for HCM (there is no DNA test for HCM in the British)
- An ALPS test result for any parent imported from another registry
- Test results that carry the cat's microchip number, from a sample a vet collected (International Cat Care's advice)
This is general information. Pawwala is not a vet. If you are worried about your cat's health, contact your vet.
How long do British Shorthairs live?
- 9.58 yrsBritish Shorthair life expectancy at birth (95% CI 8.73–10.43; 194 deaths)
- 11.89 yrsCrossbred cats (moggies and mixes)
- 10.41 yrsAll purebred cats in the study
These figures come from 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), which built life tables from 7,936 deaths recorded at UK vet practices in 2019. Life expectancy at birth is an average across every cat, including those that died young, so many British Shorthairs live well beyond it. The study reports a group called British cats (the study's group, which includes British Blue and British Longhair records).
The British Shorthair figure rests on 194 deaths, so the range around it (the 95% confidence interval, 8.73–10.43 years) is wide. Breed clubs often quote longer lifespans; we use only figures from published studies of UK vet records.
What does a British Shorthair cost to keep in the UK?
Each line says how it was worked out. Our food figures are for a 4 kg adult cat; the GCCF gives a British Shorthair adult weight of males 4.1–7.7 kg, females 3.2–5.4 kg.
| Cost | Figure | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Food: Royal Canin British Shorthair Adult (dry), 4 kg cat | £0.51 a day (£15.30 a month) | £39.39 ÷ 4,000 g × 52 g = £0.51 a day; × 30 days = £15.30. £39.39 for 4 kg and 52 g a day from the feeding guide, at zooplus UK, checked 21 October 2026. |
| Food: complete dry foods, 4 kg cat | £0.46–£0.52 a day (£13.80–£15.60 a month) | The three complete dry foods in our cat food comparison, using zooplus UK prices and each maker's feeding guide for a 4 kg cat, checked 21 October 2026. A month is 30 days. |
| Food: all complete foods we compared, 4 kg cat | £0.46 to £3.17 a day | From James Wellbeloved Adult Cat Turkey & Rice (dry) (£13.80 a month) to Bozita Chunks in Jelly, salmon (wet) (£95.10 a month). Wet food costs more per day than dry. |
| Insurance | Get quotes | Premiums depend on your cat's age, breed, postcode, excess and cover level, so we do not show a figure. Our cat insurance guide explains cover types and limits. |
Food: Royal Canin British Shorthair Adult (dry), 4 kg cat
£0.51 a day (£15.30 a month)
£39.39 ÷ 4,000 g × 52 g = £0.51 a day; × 30 days = £15.30. £39.39 for 4 kg and 52 g a day from the feeding guide, at zooplus UK, checked 21 October 2026.
Food: complete dry foods, 4 kg cat
£0.46–£0.52 a day (£13.80–£15.60 a month)
The three complete dry foods in our cat food comparison, using zooplus UK prices and each maker's feeding guide for a 4 kg cat, checked 21 October 2026. A month is 30 days.
Food: all complete foods we compared, 4 kg cat
£0.46 to £3.17 a day
From James Wellbeloved Adult Cat Turkey & Rice (dry) (£13.80 a month) to Bozita Chunks in Jelly, salmon (wet) (£95.10 a month). Wet food costs more per day than dry.
Insurance
Premiums depend on your cat's age, breed, postcode, excess and cover level, so we do not show a figure. Our cat insurance guide explains cover types and limits.
- Checked 21 October 2026. Prices change; confirm on the retailer's page.
Feeding a British Shorthair
The GCCF says the British is slow to mature, so kittens should eat kitten food for at least their first year; see our kitten food comparison. It also says the breed has a slow metabolism, so weigh food rather than scooping it and check body condition with your vet.
Royal Canin British Shorthair Adult is the only breed-specific food in our cat food comparison. At £0.51 a day for a 4 kg cat it costs about the same as the other two complete dry foods we compared (£0.46–£0.52). For a full monthly budget, see our cat food cost guide.
Insuring a British Shorthair
Pawwala is not authorised by the FCA. We explain how cover works and do not give advice or recommend insurers. Pawwala earns a fee when you get a quote through a link marked Ad. Always read the policy wording. How we make money
Premiums for your cat depend on age, breed, postcode, excess and cover level, so compare real quotes. Because PKD and HCM are inherited, the main thing to check is how a policy treats hereditary conditions. Our guide to whether pet insurance is worth it sets out the trade-offs.
| Check in the policy wording | Why it matters for a British Shorthair |
|---|---|
| Hereditary and congenital conditions | The conditions in the health table above are inherited. Check whether the policy covers them and from what age. |
| Policy type | Heart and kidney conditions are long-term. Lifetime cover renews the vet-fee limit each year you renew; per-condition and time-limited cover stop paying once their limit or period ends. |
| Pre-existing conditions | Anything diagnosed or showing signs before cover starts is usually excluded, so insure before any symptoms appear. |
May suit you if
- You want a calm, patient cat: the GCCF describes the British as tolerant of other pets such as dogs and rabbits
- You plan to keep your cat indoors and can give it play and enrichment, which the GCCF says the breed needs
- You are happy to weigh food and keep an eye on weight
May not suit you if
- You want a cat that enjoys being carried: the GCCF says the British prefers all four paws on the ground
- You cannot groom more often during the moulting seasons
- You want a small cat: the GCCF gives males up to 7.7 kg
Getting a British Shorthair responsibly
Ask to see both parents' PKD DNA results, and ask how the breeder screens for HCM. A GCCF-registered breeder on the GCCF Breeder Scheme has signed up to the GCCF's code of ethics. If you would rather adopt, search rescue centres such as Cats Protection.
The British Shorthair made up 9% of cats acquired in the last 12 months and 9% of cats acquired at any time in Cats Protection, CATS Report UK 2025. Of owners who said their cat was not a moggy, 50% were given paperwork confirming the breed and 40% were not.
- Ask to see the kitten with its mother and littermates, and ask for the parents' test results before you commit (International Cat Care).
- The GCCF's kitten checklist asks whether the kitten is at least 13 weeks old, fully vaccinated, registered and insured (GCCF).
- Be prepared to walk away rather than buy an ill or scared kitten out of pity (International Cat Care).
Can British Shorthairs go outside?
The GCCF says the British is unlikely to roam far but should be supervised outside, because its trusting nature can leave it vulnerable. It says the breed is suitable as an indoor-only companion if it gets enough stimulation. For an indoor cat, a water fountain can encourage some cats to drink.
Further reading
How we checked this page · checked 21 October 2026ShowHide
What we did
What we did not do
Prices and terms change. Confirm on the retailer's page before you buy.
Sources
- GCCF: British breed page · 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
- Cats Protection, CATS Report UK 2025 · checked 21 October 2026
- International Cat Care: inherited disorders in cats (updated 18 Dec 2025) · checked 21 October 2026
- International Cat Care: cardiomyopathy (heart disease) in cats (updated 26 Sep 2025) · checked 21 October 2026
- Pawwala cat food comparison (zooplus UK prices) · checked 21 October 2026
Other cat breeds
- Maine CoonLife expectancy 9.71 years
- RagdollLife expectancy 10.31 years
- BengalLife expectancy 8.51 years
Frequently asked questions
Is a British Shorthair a pedigree?
The British Shorthair is a breed recognised by the GCCF (Section 3). Cats Protection defines a pedigree as a cat registered with a governing body with its ancestry recorded, so a British Shorthair kitten is a pedigree only if it is registered. Ask for the registration papers: in the CATS Report 2025, 40% of owners who said their cat was not a moggy had not been given paperwork.
How much should a British Shorthair weigh?
The GCCF gives adult males 9–17 lb (4.1–7.7 kg) and females 7–12 lb (3.2–5.4 kg). It says the breed takes up to five years to reach full physical maturity. Ask your vet to check your cat's body condition rather than aiming for a number.
Why are British Shorthairs prone to getting fat?
The GCCF says the British has a slow metabolism, and owners must be careful not to let its well-padded build turn from muscle to fat. Weigh food, use the feeding guide for your cat's ideal weight, and ask your vet if your cat is gaining weight.
Can British Shorthair cats go outside?
The GCCF says the British is unlikely to roam far but should be supervised outside because its trusting nature may leave it vulnerable. It says the breed is suitable as an indoor-only companion, with enough stimulation and weight control.