The question of how long a domestic animal will live is relevant because none of us can predict the future. I don’t know what will happen in 5 or 10 years, so we want to have at least a general idea of how long we are tying our lives with a new family member. Given the huge popularity of the breed, there are many threads on the Internet created by people who want to know how long a British Shorthair lives. There is no single answer to this question – too many factors influence the lifespan of a “Brit”. However, you can use the experience of breeders and approximately determine how long a British Shorthair can live. You can read more about it in our guide.
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Developing your British Shorthair cat
Before we answer the question of how long a British Shorthair lives, we’ll take a look at the developmental specifics of this breed. You may have heard that British Shorthairs mature relatively late – and this is very true.
It is estimated that the average representative of this noble, ancient breed reaches full physical and emotional maturity only after 2 years of life. However, this is not a rule. Some British Shorthairs need even more time to grow up and this happens to them around the age of 5.
Taking this into account, one can assume that British Shorthairs belong to long-lived breeds and this is indeed the case. When deciding to buy a “Brit”, you should be aware that there is a high probability that he will be condemned to our care for many years. How many exactly?
The average lifespan of a British Shorthair cat
- The average lifespan of a British Shorthair cat in optimal home conditions is 7 to 12 years. Of course, this is not a certainty. There are documented cases of representatives of this breed living even up to 20 years old. Much here, however, depends on the cat’s genetic conditions (features inherited from their parents) and on such factors as:
- Diet
- Living conditions
- The owner’s diligence in performing preventive examinations
- Diet supplementation
- Caring for the cat’s physical activity
How to make your British Shorthair cat live the longest life possible?
It is of course essential that you do not let the cat out of the house. British cats rarely have the need or desire to beg their owners to let them outside and are content with a comfortable sofa and full food bowl.
It’s worth remembering that cats who stay indoors statistically always live to a ripe old age, than their completely free cousins. This is because they are not exposed to road accidents and infectious diseases transmitted between animals, such as catarrh. They also can’t have contact with ticks and other parasites that are vectors of dangerous diseases.
We obviously don’t forget about diet, which has a particularly big impact on the lifespan of a British cat. It should be rich in animal-based protein, but not in carbohydrates and fats. British cats tend to put on weight, and obesity is the main factor shorten their lives.
In addition, we advise every owner of a British Shorthair who does not intend to set up a breeding farm, to decide on castration or sterilization of their pet. This can contribute to extending the life of a kitten, as it eliminates the risk of typical diseases of the reproductive organs, including prostate enlargement, testicular cancer, mammary gland cancer or pyometra.
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