Keeping a British Shorthair as a Pet – Basic Things to Keep in Mind

Anyone who is considering keeping a pet, can’t go wrong with a British Shorthair. Besides the fact that they are one of the loveliest looking cats, and their demeanor is similar too, they are also one of the easiest to get along with, and they get along with just about anyone and any other pet in the home, incredibly well.

Although to keep them happy, you will need to give them plenty of attention, but this comes easy with them, as they have a thick coat of hair that just needs to be hugged and kept on your lap at all times.

Because they are a friendly bunch, many people want one. find out what they’re all about from The Cat Fanciers website. Besides this information, there are a few things you should take note of when thinking about picking him up from the breeders to spend the next few years with you and your family.

From choosing the kitty to what to feed them, we look at a few basic, yet important things below.

A Reputable and Registered Breeder

This may sound obvious, but it is always recommended to get your pet (no matter which one), from a reputable and registered breeder. Some are known as ‘backyard breeders’ and they would sell you a kitty for a cheaper price, however in the long run, it may not be worth it.

There are a few things reputable breeders do for you and are registered to do, before they can sell their kittens, such as giving them the right vaccinations, and the initial medical expenses, neutering and spaying the kitty as well as the early tests and costs thereof. If you buy them from some other cattery, you may not be getting this but rather a sickly and unattended kitty from a mom who is overbred, only leading to problems later on in their lives.

Besides this, you will be supporting an unethical industry of kittens born with serious defects and this may not be as obvious when you take them home, but you would see the effects after a few weeks as they get older, and in many cases, you will not be able to take them back. Pedigree kittens are not cheap and you can find more information about their typical traits and pure characteristics here: https://www.holistapet.com/cat-breeds/british-shorthair/ and the ones the backyard breeders sell are either retired show animals or ones that have been overly inbred, suffice to say, stay clear of these.

Their Health Problems Are Few

In general, they have excellent health repour, and although some may get the same conditions as other cats, they have no breed-specific conditions to worry about. There are, however, those that can suffer from hypertonic cardiomyopathy, which is frequent in males. If you take them to the vet regularly, they can be detected and medicated correctly.

Another condition that has been seen as a genetic one is ‘Hemophilia’ and they could perhaps even suffer from polycystic Kidney Disease or PKD, but in recent times this has become a less common problem amongst them.

Their Long Lifespan

If you are not ready to live with a cuddly cat for the next few decades, these may not be the perfect ones for you. Their lifespan can extend to almost 20 years. The average is 12 years. If you make sure you look after them, feed them well, and take good care of them, they can outlive most pets.

The right diet consists of, mainly animal protein, and as most vets recommend, should be as close to their natural prey as possible. There may not be a need to place them on a vegetable diet unless recommended by the vet and avoid grains and dairy at all costs. also, make sure there is always fresh water provided for them, as opposed to milk.

Take them to the vet for regular checkups, brush their teeth as they could be at risk of Gingivitis, change their litter box frequently, groom them by giving them a gentle brush once every week so they do not shed too much, clean their ears and make sure the food you give them from the pet store is age-appropriate and of the highest quality.

Size Doesn’t Matter, or Does it?

In most cases they typically don’t get too big, however, some pet owners are lucky to find, that they can grow up to be larger than normal. Anywhere over 8 kilograms, is considered big for this breed. This is helpful to know, as when it comes times to buy their litter boxes, and other relevant equipment, just in case you are one of the lucky few.

Some cats continue to grow even after their 3rd year and can weigh over 7kgs. They would grow outwards as well as upwards. The females, however rarely grow bigger than normal. One issue to be wary of is to not let them eat too much, as they may be prone to obesity, and it is hardly fair to overfeed them just because you’re looking to make them fat and cuddly, which they already are, to begin with.

The best way to keep their size average is, instead of leaving their bowl filled with food throughout the day, to give them small portions instead. The recommendation is for three-modest portions of wet food per day. Also, do not give them your food. Not all human food is good for cats, or any pets for that matter.

Besides this, enjoy your happy and healthy cat for as long as they’re around and treat them well.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *