British Longhair is an aesthetically attractive breed with a balanced temperament. Its friendly demeanor also extends to children and other pets, which deeply encourages harmonious relationships in the family.

The British longhair cat can be compared to everyone’s favorite cartoon character, Garfield. These important members of the family love to sleep and eat just like Garfield. Although the British Longhair isn’t as demanding as the Garfield, due to its sensitive personality, failure to meet their needs in certain cases may lead to behavioral problems.

Obesity

Being overweight can lead to a variety of health problems, including diabetes, arthritis, and even reduced life expectancy. Monitoring the weight of a British Longhair requires a balanced diet, portion control, and regular exercise.

High-quality cat food and avoiding excess calories can help keep your furry friend at a healthy weight. Regular health monitoring, promoting an active lifestyle, and consulting a nutritionist will greatly support preventing obesity and ensuring a happy life for your companion animal.

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder that causes the formation of fluid-filled cysts and loss of kidney function. To prevent the spread of the disease, it is essential to identify companion animals carrying the polycystic gene and declare them unfit for the breeding process.

Blood tests, frequent veterinary check-ups, and competent companion animal care practices can help manage the disease and adjust the treatment strategy. A specialized diet may be necessary to support kidney function, but remember to conduct any alteration only in collaboration with an experienced nutritionist.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart disease characterized by thickening of the walls of the ventricles. Companion animals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have arrhythmias and chest pain. Medicines that reduce the heart’s contraction force are often used to treat the disease.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may appear both in infancy and adulthood. You will be able to effectively manage the disease not only by actively communicating with the veterinarian but also by arranging a proper exercise schedule and avoiding obesity.

An adult British Longhair is a quiet companion for a less active lifestyle and that’s exactly why they require less food than it seems when considering their size. It’ll be wise to feed these important members of the family twice a day on a regular schedule as adults. As for the kittens, the frequency of feeding should be much increased, and the portion size should be significantly less.

Ideally, British Longhair cats need a balanced diet that combines high-quality proteins, essential fats, vitamins, and minerals. Protein is crucial for maintaining muscle mass and overall body function. Therefore, choose a commercial cat food that lists a high-quality source of protein (chicken, turkey, or fish) as the main ingredient.

To ensure healthy skin and fur, British Longhair cats also require a moderate amount of fat in their diet. Another important component of a companion animal’s diet is high-fiber food to aid digestion.

When choosing a food, it’s important to decide on an option that is specifically designed for your furry friend’s life stage and activity level. Due to the tendency of British Longhair cats to gain excess weight, follow the instructions on the food label and make changes to the diet only on the recommendation of a nutritionist.

To get the modern British Longhair, with its characteristic round face, short nose, and long, voluminous coat, at various times, breeders mated the British Shorthair with the Persian cat and the Turkish Angora. The result appeared to be a companion animal with a strong build and a friendly temperament, adorned with a distinct shape of ears and a spectacular long coat.

The British Longhair gained the recognition it deserved only in the middle of the 20th century. All this time, breeders continued to refine the breed and take care of its health and temperament along with its distinctive appearance.