At first glance, it’s easy to fall in love with a British Shorthair. They embody everything we love about house pets. They’re good-looking, very pleasant to the touch, and look like a cuddly toy. This is mainly due to their “teddy bear” build. It’s hard not to want to hug them, right? However, what is one of the British Shorthair’s main selling points can quickly turn into a serious problem for both the animal and its owner. Unfortunately, “Brits” have a tendency to gain weight. That’s all the more reason to know what a British Shorthair’s healthy weight is and to be vigilant about maintaining it. You can learn more about this in our guide.
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How much does a British Shorthair weigh?
We need to rely on the breed standard and the experience of breeders. A British Shorthair cat’s proper weight varies depending on gender. It looks like this:
- A female should weigh between 3 and 4 kg, with a body length of around 28 cm.
- A male’s weight range is much wider, as an adult male measuring around 30 cm can weigh between 5 and 8 kg.
Pet Facts
British Shorthairs are one of the slowest breeds to grow. They don’t reach full physical maturity until they’re 2 years old.
The theory is simple, but unfortunately practice shows that many British Shorthairs suffer from obesity. This is always the owners’ fault, who spoil their pets and give in to their enormous appetites.
The Consequences of Overweight in British Cats
weight is often seen as a trivial problem. After all, a British Shorthair with a bit of extra weight looks so cute… However, owners are often not aware of the consequences of this. obesity is just one step away from obesity, which is a direct threat to the health, and even the life, of a British Shorthair (or any other cat).
A “Brytyjczyk” with excess weight is strongly prone to diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The excess of kilos also causes that the animal which is already little active loses interest in any form of movement at all. It will have a negative impact on its mental health. The cat may become drowsy, apathetic, and over time even completely indifferent to the owners.
Another consequence of obesity in British cats is overloading of the kidneys and the cardiovascular system. Yes, a cat can also have a heart attack and such situations are not an exception.
As a responsible owner of a British Shorthair cat, it is important to monitor their weight. Weigh your cat regularly to get an understanding of their weight situation. If you notice that they are gaining weight, don’t ignore it. Work with a veterinarian to come up with a diet plan that eliminates all snacks.
How to keep your British Shorthair from getting fat
The most important thing is not to give in to his natural gluttony. British cats are terrible gluttons and could basically just eat, sleep, eat, sleep… The lack of desire for physical activity doesn’t help either. So when deciding to own a “Brit,” you have to be aware of the need to carefully monitor his diet.
It’s best to introduce a simple rule right away: the cat eats only main meals, proportionately and compositionally matched to its current developmental needs. From time to time, of course, you can give it a treat, like raw beef or boiled fish. But that can’t be the basis of its diet.
Owners of British cats should be particularly careful about their weight after castration / sterilization, as they have an even greater tendency to gain weight due to serious changes in the work of the hormonal system.
Additionally, it’s worth encouraging your cat to be active – even if they don’t want to be. Helpful in this situation will be various kinds of games which will almost force your kitty to move around (for example, chasing a rubber mouse – this is a favorite game of British cats who have a strongly developed hunting instinct).
