Buyer question
Is a British Shorthair good for beginners?
Yes: our Animal Library rates the British Shorthair 5 out of 5 for beginners (low-drama, self-reliant).
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.
- Temperament
- Calm, independent, steady
- Best fit
- Working owners, quiet homes
- Energy
- 2 out of 5 (Low; play keeps weight off)
- Grooming load
- 2 out of 5 (Weekly brush, more in spring)
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.