How big is the Average British Shorthair? Everything to Know About Weight, Body Shape, and More
An excellent question! While the size of the average British Shorthair will vary slightly based on sex and genetics, particularly by color, you can expect these cats to be on the larger side of the cat size spectrum, both in terms of weight and actual size.
British Shorthair kittens tend to be the size of your average kitten of any breed–however, once they start to grow you’ll definitely notice a difference! The classic roundness of the British Shorthair kicks in a few weeks into life for the fluffy little ones, which will be most noticeable in the face as they develop the classic jowls and Cheshire smile that has come to represent the breed overall as their most distinctive feature. As the weeks progress and the kittens become more independent and larger with the passage of time, their bodies will soon take on the distinctive round shape of the British Shorthair as well–soon enough, they’re full grown adults!
The adult British Shorthair is absolutely larger than your average cat, and indeed more so than most other breeds–second perhaps only to the Maine Coon, which is known to be the largest domesticated cat breed. The British Shorthair is quite similar in size to the Persian and Ragdoll breeds, however the difference in fur texture sets them apart. While the aforementioned breeds tend to have much fluffier coats, the British Shorthair’s shorter coat (while still quite fluffy, soft, and overall lovely) makes their roundness much more pronounced, and also makes it easier to see their overall shape–whereas fluffier cats can be deceptively small in reality beneath their coats. In terms of picturing a British Shorthair most easily, we’ve found that comparing them to a “small dog” tends to do the trick–this also works well when it comes to buying pet accessories and supplies that can span either kind of pet.
The largeness of the British Shorthair tends to be carried primarily in the head and torso. Their legs are of typical cat size, but can present as slightly shorter and stubbier with rather dainty paws. Their tails tend to be on the shorter, stubbier side as well, and tend to hold a fair amount of fluff. While the British Shorthair’s head is extremely round and large, it is mostly fluff as well–not to be confused with the contents of the head itself, which is filled with a particularly cunning, sharp brain (though of course tending towards love and affection as one would hope). Regardless, the head is one of the larger body parts of the British Shorthair–however, their cobby bodies are indeed the largest piece of the puzzle! The “cobby” body type is truly onomatopoeic in nature–longish, and extremely round, effectively a fluffy soft cylinder. As British Shorthairs are prone to easy weight gain, their cobby bellies are where most of their weight will reside, with the secondary location being their face and jowls.
British Shorthair Average Weight
Though we’ve been discussing how large British Shorthairs are in comparison to other cats, what does that look like strictly in terms of weight? We’re glad you asked–the long answer is that their weight truly depends on genetics–including the sex of the cat and even their specific fur color and pattern! On this latter point, at certain junctures other breeds such as Persians and Russian Blues have been crossed with the British Shorthair line in order to introduce specific variations in color and patterns in the fur. Due to these differences in genetic makeup introduced by other breeds, weight can differ slightly in these cases, resulting in a slightly smaller version of the classic British Blue Shorthair.
For the sake of this exploration, we’ll base average weights off of the classic British Blue Shorthair to keep things consistent. Overall, you can expect the average female British Shorthair to weigh between 7 and 12 pounds, and the average male to weigh between 9 and 17 pounds. Clearly there is quite a range to be found here! With this in mind, we do advise taking these ranges with a grain of salt alongside the aforementioned propensity for weight gain. Our own British Shorthair, Kiwi, for example, weighed roughly 16 pounds when we first brought her into our home–over the past two or so years, she has lost weight and come down to roughly 13.5 pounds. The vet does recommend we continue to trim her down a bit more to hit that “ideal” upper limit of 12 pounds for her to be in tip-top shape. While we do enjoy her at her roundest, we do want to ensure that she has a long and healthy life–with this in mind, we are striving to hit that goal in a healthy way for her, including well-portioned food and lots of play-based exercise.
What kind of animal does the British Shorthair look like?
One of our favorite activities has evolved from our own British Shorthair’s evolution and body shape, which is comparing her to other animals. We’ve had a shocking number of friends and family remark upon seeing her that she looks like one animal or another–we’re always delightfully surprised to hear what comparisons they come up with! Without further ado, please enjoy this non-exhaustive list of animals you may find your British Shorthair compared to at some point or another, due to their extremely specific body shape and weight:
1. Chinchilla
While this is mostly due specifically to the British Blue color, and even more so due to the specific, extremely plush and soft British Shorthair coat texture, the roundness of the chinchilla is undoubtedly similar to the roundness of the British Shorthair. Their eyes are similarly quite large and void-like, so the comparisons between the two are truly endless.
2. Koala
This comparison can be drawn due to both body size and somewhat to temperament, however definitely not with regard to wittiness and intelligence. The roundness of both the koala and the British Shorthair is indeed quite similar, as is the stumpy nature of the limbs. Both quite enjoy perching atop high vantage points, and sleeping for long hours during the day–however, when it comes to smarts there is no comparison. The British Shorthair will win out in that department every time.
3. Wombat
In the same vein as the koala, the wombat is another fan favorite due to overall roundness of the body and general aura–somewhat threatening but overall loveable. This comparison is really apt due to the distinctive compact roundness, rather than the pure, overwhelming fluffiness of the chinchilla or the koala. Both wombat and British Shorthair are absolute units, and there’s really no arguing that point and outstanding similarity between the two.
4. Sheep
This is by far our favorite we’ve heard from those who have experienced our own British Shorthair in real life–no joke, we’ve had multiple people independently compare her to a sheep, which has delighted us to no end. The fluffiness, stubby limbs, short tail, and general shape all allow for quick comparison to be made, however there has to be something about a British Shorthair feeling somewhat larger than they truly are–perhaps due to the size of their personality–and turning out to be quite a bit smaller, that feels absolutely on par with the same vibe one receives from a sheep. Is that vibe vaguely threatening, but overall enjoyable? Perhaps.
And lastly, but certainly not least, you must be asking yourself which dog breeds a British Shorthair could be most easily compared to with regard to size and weight? The answer may surprise you:
5. Pug
First of all, it’s important that we get intellect out of the way here–British Shorthairs are known for their quickness and wit, and therefore comparison on this front is out of the question. However, we have seen quite a number of comparisons drawn between the two with regard to facial features and general size. The two share a somewhat flattened face, distinct teddy bear-style nose, and large luminous eyes. With heavier pugs come the size and weight comparisons–similarly to the points with the wombat above, the two share a cylindrical, dense body that is relatively similar in size. However, the Pug cannot hold a candle to the sheer fluffiness of the British Shorthair.
6. Corgi
Speaking of cylindrical body shapes, enter the corgi! The British Shorthair and the Corgi certainly share similarities here, even more so with the slightly longer body and shorter legs. The British Shorthair’s belly, alongside weight gain, tends to hang lower and make their legs appear even shorter–leading to further comparison between the two. The similarities beyond body type, and perhaps the overly dignified and even diva-like attitude, stop there.
Overall, when it comes to your decision on bringing a British Shorthair into your home, there is no contest. They are simply the best. Their little bodies are delightful in proportion and size, and offer plenty of squish and fluff to inspire awe, love, and perhaps cuddles if you’re lucky.
Whether you’re just embarking on your search for a British Shorthair or are simply more curious about the specificities of this member of the breed, we wish you luck in your journey to learn more and acquire your own British Shorthair!
