How Big Does a British Shorthair Get (With Growth & Weight Chart)

British Shorthairs are one of the largest breeds of cats. These felines are very bulky, with muscular bodies and broad chests. They were originally created by domestic cats naturally breeding with the native cats of Britain. Over time, this led to larger felines than your average domestic cat.

However, these felines don’t get huge. They’re still obviously domestic cats and don’t get nearly as large as most wildcats. Still, you shouldn’t underestimate how large a British Shorthair can get. Let’s take a look at how quickly they grow and how big you can expect them to get.

Facts About British Shorthairs

British Shorthairs are one of the oldest cat breeds. They came about naturally after the Romans brought domestic felines to the British Isles. These domestic cats got loose on the island and bred with the wild, native cats there. Eventually, this led to a unique breed.

The breed was also one of the first to be shown in cat shows in Britain. In the 19^th century, the breed was standardized, and breeders began purposefully breeding the cat as a companion animal. The breed was well-loved due to its unique blue coat. They are also very laidback and healthy, making them easy cats to own.

Most of today’s British Shorthairs also have the genetics of other breeds, such as the Persian. During the World Wars, the breeding stock of British Shorthairs was decimated. Therefore, breeders were forced to use other cats to prop up the breed. Eventually, this led to the creation of the British Longhair. However, at the time, longhaired kittens from these pairings were considered Persians, while shorthaired kittens were considered British Shorthairs.

It wasn’t until the 1970s when the breed was again established, and crossbreeding largely ceased.

British Shorthair Size & Growth Chart

Because these cats were bred with other breeds, they can vary a lot in size. However, they are considered to be medium to large. Females weigh around 9–15 pounds, while males can weigh as much as 20 pounds. As you can imagine, males are almost always larger than females (but not always).

How big a particular kitten gets will depend primarily on genetics. Therefore, if you want a larger or smaller cat, look for a breeder with larger or smaller breeding cats. You can ask a breeder how big the kitten’s parents were to get a good idea of how big the kitten will grow.

When Does a British Shorthair Stop Growing?

Cats on the larger end of the spectrum will also spend more time growing than smaller cats. A small female may be full size at around 3 years, while a male may continue putting on muscle for another couple of years.

Cats also tend to grow in height and length faster than weight. Therefore, your cat may stop growing in length and height but still put on quite a bit of weight. Cats may develop muscle for months after reaching their final height.

For this reason, it isn’t uncommon for cats to appear slightly on the skinnier side before they are full-grown. As long as your vet isn’t concerned, this isn’t a reason to increase their food intake. It’s just how cats are designed to grow.

Factors Affecting the Size of a British Shorthair

Genetics play a huge role in how big a British Shorthair cat gets. You’ll get a good idea of the potential size of a kitten by looking at both of the kitten’s parents. You can ask the breeder how big the parents were to guess how big the kittens would probably get. However, this isn’t an exact science, and several other factors must be considered.

Female British Shorthair cats are typically much smaller than males. Males tend to be almost twice as large as females. Beyond that, nutrition also plays a role. Cats must consume all the necessary nutrients to reach their full size.

If a kitten is malnourished, it may become stunted. In most homes, this isn’t an issue. Cats are often overfed more than they are underfed. However, for feral cats, nutrition plays a key role in their size.

Ideal Diet for Maintaining a Healthy Weight

British Shorthairs love to eat. Therefore, they are prone to becoming overweight and obese. These health issues can cause many complications, such as cardiovascular disease. It’s vital to keep your cat at a healthy weight to avoid these problems.

Most British Shorthairs do just fine on quality commercial food. However, be sure to measure out each meal, and don’t overfeed your cat. It isn’t odd for British Shorthairs to try and consume far more than they need, so don’t be surprised if your cat scarfs down its bowl and asks for more.

If your cat becomes overweight, your vet may recommend putting them on a diet. In this case, purchase a diet cat food. Do not just lower the amount of regular cat food your feline is eating. Diet food is more nutritionally compact to ensure your cat is still getting the proper nutrients while eating fewer calories.

How to Measure Your British Shorthair

Weighing a cat can be challenging. Weighing a cat as big as a British Shorthair can be even more troublesome. Vets are trained to weigh cats accurately, so taking your cat for regular checkups is the easiest way to track its weight. If your cat becomes overweight, your vet can help you devise a plan to return them to normal weight.

If you want to monitor your cat’s weight at home, a scale designed for a human is the best option. First, weigh yourself like you usually would. Then, pick up your cat and step on the scale. The difference is how much your feline weighs.

This method isn’t the most accurate. However, it is a good option for those that want a rough estimate.

Conclusion

British Shorthairs are a larger breed of cat. Not only are they simply bigger cats, but they are also prone to obesity. Even healthy cats can reach 20 pounds, especially if they are males.

With that said, their weight does vary a lot. Some British Shorthairs are only around 9 pounds. Females tend to be much smaller than males, and certain bloodlines tend to be different sizes. If you want a particular size of cat, we highly recommend looking for a breeder that breeds similarly sized cats. Much of a cat’s size is determined by genetics, after all.

British Shorthairs aren’t born particularly big, so they often spend more time growing than other felines. Larger males may not reach their total weight until they’re almost 2 years old.

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