Buyer question
How long does a British Shorthair live?
Our Animal Library gives the British Shorthair a lifespan of 12–17 years.
Source: the British Shorthair page in the Everybarn Animal Library. British Shorthair in the Animal Library
The detail
A stocky, dense-coated cat descended from Britain’s street and farm cats and refined for the show bench. It is calm and self-contained, happy near its people but rarely on them, which suits owners who work.
- Origin
- Great Britain
- Best fit
- Working owners, quiet homes
- Temperament
- Calm, independent, steady
What to weigh
A British Shorthair gains weight easily and often dislikes being carried. Lines outcrossed to Persians can carry kidney disease, so testing matters more than coat color.