British Shorthairs are the most popular breed in the UK, making up 8% of cats in the CATS Report 2024 (Cats Protection 2024) and a quarter of all GCCF registrations per year. British Shorthair cats are said to be friendly and have been found to be one of the least fearful breeds of cat.
However, not all pedigree cat breeds are healthy, and British Shorthairs are not exempt from breed-related health issues. There are a few health concerns around this breed, which we’ll take a look at in more detail in this article.
Brachycephalism
British Shorthairs are considered a brachycephalic breed of cat, meaning they suffer from a distortion of their skull that leads to a flattened face and short muzzle. This change in the way the skull is designed can cause painful medical issues. Eye problems like conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers can arise more readily. Dental conditions like malocclusion (an inability to close the jaw properly) and overcrowding of teeth make it more difficult to eat properly. These issues will need to be treated by a vet when they arise, to ensure the cat’s quality of life is maintained.
In addition, brachycephalism can cause breathing problems. This happens because of the way the soft tissue in the head is compressed by the shortened skull. The nose, soft palate and larynx are affected by excessive soft tissue crowding in. This can make it more difficult to breathe through the nose. As cats are obligate nose-breathers, rarely opting to breathe through the mouth, this can be quite stressful for them. Brachycephalic cats find it difficult to recover from exercise and so they may seem quieter and more ‘lazy’ than other cats without brachycephalism. This isn’t a personality trait however – it’s because they find exercise more difficult due to their anatomy. British Shorthairs have been identified as one of the least active breeds of cat, and their body type may well have something to do with that.
Although this is rare, there has been an association made between some brachycephalic breeds like the British Shorthair, and intervertebral disc disease. In dogs, brachycephaly also disturbs sleep and affects their sense of smell, and it’s perhaps safe to assume that brachycephalic cats might be impacted in a similar way.
Dystocia
Giving birth can be more difficult for cats with brachycephaly, as the abnormal skull shape affects the kitten’s journey through the birth canal. There is also evidence that pelvic measurements may be smaller in brachycephalic cats. Dystocia is the medical term used to describe a difficult or obstructed birth. Dystocia is more common in brachycephalic breeds of dog and cat, causing pain and distress. In some cases, it can lead to the death of the kitten or the mother. It may be necessary to perform a caesarean section, and this carries its own risks of surgery and anaesthesia.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease in cats and is more prevalent in British Shorthairs. HCM causes the heart muscles to become thickened, affecting the heart’s ability to pump blood. Sometimes, HCM is apparent from an early age, detected by an obvious heart murmur. However, in many cases the condition can be silent and can have a later onset. It is possible for some cats to live a normal life with this condition, but it can also cause heart failure and lead to death.
Signs of a failing heart in cats include laboured breathing and a reluctance to eat. It’s certainly not a pleasant condition, as the lungs fill up with fluid, making breathing extremely difficult. The disease process can last weeks to months, but once heart failure begins, there isn’t a way to prevent the disease from ultimately leading to death. In some cases, cats may experience a sudden hindleg paralysis, which seems to strike out of the blue. This happens when a blood clot (formed in the abnormally thickened heart) leaves the heart and gets wedged at the point in the pelvis where the aorta splits to supply the back legs. While it may be possible to dissolve the clot and recover use of the back legs, this condition is extremely painful and distressing for the cat. Sometimes, cats experience sudden death, with the cause of death eventually established as having been due to undiagnosed HCM.
Genetic testing for HCM is available, for certain breeds, but currently not for the British Shorthair. Because the disease is thought to be inherited, only kittens from healthy parents should be purchased. It is advised that breeding cats are screened using echocardiography. However, this means breeding cats must undergo additional, potentially stressful, veterinary visits.
How to find a healthy British Shorthair
If you are thinking about getting a cat, do your research first. How long might your cat live? How much it might cost to care for them over their lifetime? Can you provide for their needs, and keep them happy as well as healthy? Many of the main animal charities in the UK have a wealth of information on their webpages to help you decide whether getting a cat is right for you, and to help you plan for your new arrival. It’s important that you fully understand the commitment you are entering into from the start.
When it comes to finding a new cat or kitten, you have three options. You may purchase your new cat from a breeder, or from a private seller. It may also be possible to adopt your British Shorthair from a cat rehoming charity or breed rescue organisation. No matter where you get your cat or kitten from, the key things to consider are their health, and their behaviour.
If you are buying a kitten from a breeder…
You’ll want to choose one registered with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in the UK. When you take your kitten home, they should be aged between 12-14 weeks, be microchipped, have had flea and worming treatments and a full course of vaccinations. You should always see the kitten with its mother to ensure the kitten has not been ‘farmed’ or imported illegally. Ask questions about the way the kitten was raised. Was the kitten socialised properly? This means the kitten will be better able to adapt to a domestic home and be a happy, well-adjusted pet. You can read more about kitten socialisation here.
You’ll also want to ask about the health of the kitten’s parents and relatives. As we’ve seen, British Shorthairs are prone to developing heart disease. As this condition may be inherited, you’ll want to check that the kitten’s family members are free from this disease. Have the parents been screened by a vet, by having a heart scan?
Brachycephaly can negatively affect the health of British Shorthair cats, but the degree of skull flattening can vary within the breed. Avoid kittens bred from parents who have needed veterinary treatment for conditions related to brachycephaly. Kittens bred from parents with a more extreme ‘look’ (very flat facial profile, nostrils sitting at the same level as the eyes) should also be avoided as they are very likely to suffer from health problems related to poor and unethical breeding practices.
Purchasing a kitten has its pitfalls
It’s therefore highly recommended that prospective owners use The Kitten Checklist to help navigate conversations with the breeder. That way, you can find a happy, healthy lifelong companion.
Further Reading
British Shorthair – International Cat Care
British – The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy
Getting a pedigree cat – Getting a Cat, Cats Protection
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