British Longhair

British Shorthair numbers collapsed during the Second World War, and breeders rebuilt the population using Persians among other breeds. That outcrossing introduced the recessive long-coat gene, and for decades the longhaired kittens that appeared in British Shorthair litters were quietly rehomed as pets. Registries gradually recognised them as a separate breed — the British Longhair — and the GCCF now records them in their own right. Genetically and temperamentally, they remain very close to their shorthaired siblings.

Calm, even-tempered and notably undemanding. British Longhairs are affectionate but reserved about it: they prefer to sit beside you rather than on you, and many actively dislike being picked up and carried. They tolerate handling well, rarely scratch, and adapt easily to changes in household routine. They are quiet cats — you will hear a soft chirp far more often than a proper meow.

• Placid and steady — one of the calmest pedigree breeds
• Independent — copes better than most with being alone during the day
• Not a lap cat for the most part; prefers proximity to contact
• Quiet — very little vocalisation
• Prone to weight gain, which is the main welfare risk in the breed

1. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) — inherited via British Shorthair lines and the most significant concern. Echocardiogram screening costs £250-£500.
2. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) — inherited from the Persian ancestry and DNA testable; affected cats develop kidney failure, with lifelong management running several hundred pounds a year.
3. Obesity — extremely common in this breed and the gateway to diabetes, arthritis and urinary disease.
4. Hairballs and gastrointestinal obstruction — a direct consequence of the dense coat; severe cases needing surgery cost £1,500-£3,000.
5. Dental disease — the shortened muzzle crowds teeth; a scale and polish typically costs £250-£500 and extractions considerably more.
6. Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) — more likely in overweight, indoor, male cats, and a blockage is a genuine emergency costing £800-£2,000.

Insist on two things from a breeder: a PKD DNA test showing both parents are clear, and a recent cardiac ultrasound screening for HCM on both parents. A responsible GCCF-registered breeder will produce these without hesitation. Also ask about blood group testing, since neonatal isoerythrolysis is a risk in breeds with a high proportion of type B blood.

Treat rapid or open-mouth breathing at rest, sudden hind-limb weakness, or a male cat straining unproductively in the litter tray as same-day emergencies. Also seek advice promptly for increased thirst and urination, which can be the first sign of kidney disease or diabetes, and for repeated retching that does not produce a hairball.

Excellent. Their sturdy build and unflappable nature make them one of the better breeds for families with young children. The one rule worth teaching is that this cat likes to be stroked where it sits and does not enjoy being picked up and carried around.

Very tolerant. They generally accept other cats and calm dogs without fuss, and their low prey drive and low energy mean they rarely provoke conflict. Introductions still need to be gradual, but British Longhairs tend to settle faster than most.

Well suited to flats and to indoor life, being neither adventurous nor especially athletic. Provide a scratching post, a couple of low perches — they are not natural high climbers — and easy-access litter trays. Because they are heavy-coated, keep the home from overheating in summer, and give them a cool tiled or wooden surface to lie on.

Ten to fifteen minutes of wand-toy play twice a day is plenty, but it genuinely matters: left entirely to their own devices, British Longhairs simply sleep and eat, and the weight follows. Puzzle feeders are the single most useful piece of kit for this breed, slowing eating and providing mental work at the same time.

They are intelligent but not eager to please, so training works best when it is short, food-motivated and low-pressure. The most valuable thing you can train is grooming tolerance — start brushing from kittenhood, in short pleasant sessions, and you avoid a lifetime of struggles and the occasional sedated de-matting appointment.

The dense double coat needs brushing every day or two, and daily during the spring and autumn moults. Work in sections with a wide-toothed comb first and a slicker second, paying particular attention to the armpits, behind the ears, the trousers and the base of the tail, where mats form first. A neglected coat mats close to the skin and often ends in a sedated clip-off costing £150-£400.

Check ears fortnightly, trim nails every two to three weeks, and brush teeth daily — dental disease is common and expensive in this breed. Because of the long coat and heavy build, some British Longhairs struggle to keep the area under the tail clean; a trim there prevents both matting and soiling. A grooming-aware routine also reduces hairball formation, which is one of the more common reasons this breed ends up at the vet.

Portion control is the defining nutritional issue for this breed. They are food-motivated, sedentary and slow-metabolising, and free-feeding almost always leads to obesity. Weigh out a measured daily allowance of a high-protein complete diet, use puzzle feeders to slow intake, and weigh the cat monthly. Wet food helps with hydration and urinary health, and a diet formulated to help with hairball control is worth considering given the coat.

Current UK averages from our live database of veterinary practices:

Prices vary widely by region and by who owns the practice — it is worth comparing before registering.

Budget roughly £200-£400 a year for routine care: an annual booster at £72.92, a health-check consultation at £60.23 and year-round parasite treatment. Add professional grooming if you would rather not manage the coat yourself, typically £40-£70 per session, and factor in dental work from middle age, which is the most predictable large routine cost in this breed.

Routine care is predictable; illness is not. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and polycystic kidney disease are both inherited risks in this breed, and both mean lifelong monitoring and medication rather than a one-off bill; a urinary blockage or hairball obstruction can also arrive without warning at £1,500 or more. A single referral-level workup can run into four figures before treatment even begins, which is why lifetime cover is the sensible default for this breed rather than an accident-only or annual policy.

Insure from the day you bring your British Longhair home, before any condition can be recorded as pre-existing. Choose a lifetime policy with a per-condition limit you would actually be comfortable with — £7,000 or more is a realistic benchmark in 2026. Check the excess structure carefully, confirm that dental cover and behavioural treatment are included, and read the exclusions for breed-specific conditions, which some insurers list explicitly.

Not every practice charges the same, and the gap is far wider than most owners realise. Our data shows routine consultation fees across UK practices ranging from under £30 to well over £90 for the same fifteen-minute appointment, so it genuinely pays to compare before you register.

Look for a practice that runs cat-only or cat-friendly clinics, since a calm environment suits this breed's temperament, and ask whether they offer weight-management clinics — for a British Longhair, a nurse-led weight programme is one of the most cost-effective preventive services a practice can provide. Confirming access to cardiac ultrasound and in-house blood testing is also sensible given the hereditary risks.

• Compare published prices for consultations, boosters and neutering using our directory rather than ringing round one practice at a time.
• Ask about health plans. Monthly plans covering vaccinations, flea and worm treatment and a discount on other services often work out cheaper for a British Longhair.
• Check out-of-hours arrangements. Find out whether emergencies are handled in-house or referred to a separate provider, and what that costs.
• Look at independence. Independent and corporate-owned practices price very differently — our listings show who owns each one.