British Longhair
BRIT-ish LONG-hair
Calm, Affectionate, Independent, Easy-going. The long-haired variant of the British Shorthair with a plush, dense coat.
An adult British Longhair weighs 9-18 lbs (male) or 7-14 lbs (female), needs 250-450 calories daily, and lives 12-15 yrs. The breed's primary health watch is obesity. All numbers below come from breed standards and NRC 2006 veterinary nutrition formulas.
Nutrition and feeding
A typical adult British Longhair needs 250-450 calories per day. An average male (14 lbs) needs around 2500 kcal; a female (10 lbs) roughly 250 kcal. These estimates use the vet-standard RER/MER formula.
Estimate for a typical adult British Longhair. For kittens, seniors, or specific conditions, use the full calorie calculator.
Health profile
The British Longhair inherits most health traits from its British Shorthair parent line. Their sturdy build generally correlates with good health, though their sedentary nature makes weight management a primary concern. Life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.
Exercise and activity
British Longhairs are calm, indoor cats that prefer lounging to leaping. They need daily play sessions (10-15 minutes twice daily) to prevent weight gain, but don't expect the acrobatics of more athletic breeds. Wand toys, laser pointers, and food puzzles that make them work for treats are the best tools for keeping a British Longhair active. Their low energy makes them excellent apartment cats.
Care and traits
British Longhairs have a dense, plush, semi-long coat that is softer and less prone to matting than many long-haired breeds. Origin: United Kingdom, developed from British Shorthair lines carrying the recessive longhair gene.
Brush two to three times weekly to prevent mats, especially behind the ears and under the legs. During spring and fall shedding seasons, daily brushing reduces hairballs and keeps the coat manageable. Their round, cobby body type and placid expression give them a teddy bear appearance that has driven their rising popularity. They are quiet, even-tempered cats that tolerate other pets and children well.
Tools for British Longhair owners
Frequently asked questions
Adult British Longhairs need 250 to 450 calories daily, depending on weight and activity level. Their calm, sedentary nature means they burn fewer calories than active breeds, so feed toward the lower end of the range unless your cat is unusually active. Measured meals twice daily, rather than free-feeding, are essential for weight management in this breed.
Males: 9-18 lbs (4.1-8.2 kg). Females: 7-14 lbs (3.2-6.4 kg). British Longhairs are naturally stocky and heavy-boned, so they carry more weight than their size suggests. The key assessment is body condition, not just scale weight. You should feel ribs with gentle pressure through the dense coat, and see a waist when viewing from above. Their thick coat can hide weight gain, so hands-on checks are important.
Obesity is the breed's primary health risk because of their low activity level and love of food. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) appears in the breed line, and breeding cats should be screened with echocardiograms. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) occurs in some lines, inherited from Persian ancestry in the breed's background. DNA testing can identify PKD carriers.
The only structural difference is coat length. British Longhairs carry the recessive longhair gene that occasionally appeared in British Shorthair litters and was eventually bred as a separate variety. Temperament, body type, size, and health profile are essentially identical. The Longhair's coat requires more grooming (2-3 times weekly vs. weekly for Shorthairs) and sheds more visibly.
Disclaimer: General breed information based on TICA/CFA standards and veterinary sources. Individual cats vary. Calorie estimates use the RER/MER formula (NRC 2006). Consult your veterinarian for advice specific to your cat. See our sources.
Last reviewed: April 1, 2026