This smiley feline was the inspiration for the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland, and that says a lot about this popular breed. That trademark of a smirk smile follows them ever since.
Considered to be one of the oldest known breeds, British Shorthair was brought by Romans over 2,000 years ago. British Shorthair is one aristocratic and slightly snobbish cat, with a great personality that accommodates every family, even children if they learn to respect its privacy.
This is one robust and compact feline, with a muscular body and large head. Females are a bit smaller than mails but equally sturdy. The price for the British Shorthair varies on the place and breeder, but the cost for British Shorthair kittens is around $800 to $2000 per kitten. This price might not seem that cheap, but you will get a purebred feline, that is generally easy to live with and loveable. Also, they are low maintenance and take up very little of your time.
The British Shorthair is calm and self-composed, like every true British. Their vigorous look can be deceiving, and make you think that they are more active than they are. All though playful, especially with children, this cat will rather lounge its large body somewhere. It also prefers to lie alone, then in your lap, because they despise being picked up.
Price of British Shorthair
1. Breeders
- Cost: $800 – $2000
Sometimes referred to as Blue Shorthair, this unique feline is taking the number one place on popularity charts, going over even Persians. This can be a bad thing for a breed because people will breed them just for the money and so many unlicensed breeders appear. This can lead to health problems and behavioral problems later in life.
It is the best choice to spare yourself the trouble and heartbreak and choose the licensed, but slightly more expensive breeder. This way, your cat will be coming with a pedigree, checked for health problems, and socialized. If you pay a price of $800 to $2000 for a British Shorthair kitten, you will get a well-educated and maybe even spayed or neutered kitten.
This might sound like a lot of money, but high-quality and licensed breeders take care of the heritage of each cat, making sure to eliminate diseases and to properly socialize the kitten. It’s important not to separate the kitten from its mother at least for two months, this way it will learn how to behave around people and other animals, and you will avoid behavioral problems that may appear in the future.
Cats taken from unlicensed breeders have often been kept in a confining cage their whole life, and have little to nonsocial contacts, thus they don’t know how to behave and often become feral or aggressive.
Ongoing Monthly Cost of British Shorthair
1. Grooming costs:
- Cost: $100 – $300 per year if going to a groomer
British Shorthair comes with a short, dense, and firm to the touch coat, with no undercoat. They are a breeze to groom and only require weekly brushing to maintain their coat in perfect condition. They are not hypoallergenic but they are a moderate shedder that needs basic grooming.
It’s best to find a high-quality soft brush for your feline because it will keep the fur silky and smooth. Soft brush costs around $10 to $15 and one will do the job for a very long time, so there will be no need to replace it.
This breed also needs an occasional bath with a cat specialized shampoo that costs from $5 to $20 depending on the ingredients and benefits. But it’s even more important to clean their face and ears with wet gauze, to keep it clean, especially if the cat is going outside.
If you go to a groomer, it will cost around $100 – $300 per year to groom your British Shorthair.
2. Vet costs:
- $50 for basic examination
The vet cost for British Shorthair will be the highest cost after you buy your kitten. British Shorthair is considered to be a healthy and long-living breed in general, but they do sometimes suffer from inherited conditions. Polycystic kidney disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are the most common bigger health problem that can occur and potentially be fatal for you feline.
This is why choosing the right breeder is important, but also consider buying pet insurance that will cost you from $10 to $40 per month, depending on the package and available services. This way, you will be covered not only for regular checkups but also for emergencies.
If you don’t want to buy the insurance, make sure to visit the vet regularly, every 6 to 12 months, to stay on top of any potential problems. A basic vet examination will cost around $50 but that is without ultrasound, medication, or specialized diagnostics. The overall vet can be quite an expense if you are not covered by insurance.
3. Toiletry costs
- $100 initial cost
This delightful and happy cat is also pretty smart and easy to train. That being said, they still do display a bit of aristocratic behavior, meaning they don’t want to socialize with everyone, they can be a bit condescending and they prefer a clean litterbox every day.
This robust cat is often found outdoor as well as indoors, but they love to have a clean, secluded place to do their business. So investing in a simple and cheaper option for the litterbox, averaging around $7 is a good plan. But even better and easier are new, self-cleaning litterboxes that do all the work for you for $100, a one time cost for toiletry for your British Shorthair.
You will need to top off the litter periodically, and the litter cost from $72 for basic packages, to $240, for more luxurious and scented ones.
To recap, the British Shorthair is number one on popularity charts, and this rock star is not going anywhere. They are muscular and sturdy, with a thick and short coat that comes in many variations, but the most popular is blue. They have big and round heads, with expressive amber eyes, that can also come in many more colors.
Their smirk is famous and it will cheer you up, even when it looks condescending. If you can get past that outer and harsh appearance, you will find that this cat can be perfect for snuggling and lounging around the house.
They will occasionally show energetic and kitten-like playfulness, but for a short amount of time, because they just can’t be bothered with pleasing you too much. They are a quiet, loveable, and affectionate part of the family, and they will relax you with their calm and easy-going personality.
I hope that this article on British Shorthair price was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Cat Price Category!