British Longhair Cat Breed Information - Everything You Want To Know

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The British Longhair is loving, sweet, and loyal.

This breed is known for its relaxed attitude and loving nature towards its family.

They make incredible family pets as they’re good around children and other pets.

They are also fairly self-dependent, so they make a good pet for singles.

This article will explore more about this breed in detail, including its personality, history, and other interesting things.

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British Longhair History

The British Longhair is a loving breed developed from the beautiful British Shorthair.

During the mid-20th century, the British Shorthair became less popular when long-haired breeds like the Turkish Angora and the Persians took over.

In an effort to save the British Shorthair, breeders started Crossing the long-haired cats with the British Shorthair.

This crossbreeding gave rise to semi-longhaired cats, which were usually not wanted. These semi-longhaired cats then went on to become the British Longhaired.

This breed eventually went worldwide, and people from across the globe started breeding them.

Two major Cat associations currently recognize the British Shorthair in the UK.

British Longhair Key Facts

The British Longhair is a relaxed and chill cat that often spends hours in its bed or on its owner’s lap.

They love interacting with their owner, and their general lack of motivation to move around too much helps them sit with their owners for long periods.

So, if you are working on a project or watching your favorite TV show, your British Longhaired will most likely accompany you through it.

The British Longhair is a silent cat, they don’t usually vocalize a lot, so if you notice them talking a little too much, it might be a sign that there is something wrong.

Another fact about this breed is that they like to be on the ground at all times (except when they are napping on your lap), so try to avoid picking them up.

How Big Do British Longhairs Get?

The British Longhair is a medium-sized cat. The males generally weigh between 10 – 18 pounds, while the females weigh 8 – 16 pounds.

Their average height is between 11 – 14 inches.

The weight or height of your cat can vary depending on the breeder you buy from, so ensure that you are getting your cat from a reputable breeder.

British Longhair Lifespan

The British Longhair is a healthy breed, and they also have strong immune systems.

This blesses them with a long life span that ranges from 12 to 16 years.

You can ensure that your cat lives towards the upper end of this scale by taking proper care of them and providing them with the necessary accessories.

How Much Does A British Longhair Cost?

The British Longhair is not a common cat, although many breeders have started breeding them recently.

Their average prices range from $500 – $5,000, depending on the breeder you buy from. Reputable breeders usually sell for a higher price.

You may also want to include the price of the bed, litter, and food.

British Longhair Personality

The British Longhair is loving, affectionate, and friendly.

They love forming deep bonds with their owners and interacting with them by playing and spending quality time with them.

Their favorite thing is curl up in their owner’s lap for a comfortable and long nap.

The British Longhair is intelligent, so it is important to keep it mentally stimulated by providing play time and toys.

The best types of toys are usually interactive toys.

You can also take them out for walks, but ensure that they are always on a leash or harness, or else they may run away and never come back.

Caring For A British Longhair

Caring for the British Longhair is not the easiest task as they have long coats that require constant attention.

But this is not all you need to keep in mind, and you also have to keep their nutrition and activity needs in mind.

Providing adequate nutrition and physical activity is essential to a healthy life.

British Longhair Nutrition

The British Longhair is not an active cat, so it doesn’t require much to survive.

Although you need to ensure that they are getting enough nutrition, they may develop deficiencies that can lead to serious health problems.

On the other hand, you can also overfeed your cat, leading to obesity. So, ensure that you are feeding them according to their weight.

How To Groom A British Longhair?

Grooming the British Longhair requires constant attention and care.

Their long coat requires brushing at least 3 – 4 times a week using a metallic or hard-bristled brush, and this ensures that proper blood supply to the scalp, which carries all the essential nutrients to keep the coat healthy.

Another important thing to include in their daily or weekly grooming routine is to brush their teeth and clip their nails.

Cats usually lick themselves to keep their coat clean, resulting in them swallowing a large amount of hair, leading to the development of hairballs.

The best way to counter this is to feed them cat grass in addition to their normal feed.

British Longhair Activity Levels

The British Longhair is a lazy cat that likes to sit on its owner’s lap and nap throughout the day.

This makes them naturally less active than most other cats.

So, it is your responsibility as an owner to encourage some type of physical activity, which can be in the form of walks or play times.

You can also install a scratching post or cat tree to encourage movement.

British Longhair Health Concerns

The British Longhair is a healthy breed and usually doesn’t suffer from many diseases. But several health issues are common in them.

Neonatal Isoerythrolysis is one such disease in which the colostrum from the mother causes an autoimmune attack in the kittens and leads to the destruction of red blood cells.

Renal Polycystosis is another type of genetic disease common in the British Longhair.

This disease is very painful and involves the development of cysts in the kidney.

The best way to ensure that your pet doesn’t have to deal with these diseases is to ensure that you are buying them from a reputable breeder.

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