British Shorthair rescue cats and kittens for adoption and rehoming in the UK

As of 8 November 2026, 7 British Shorthairs are listed for adoption in the UK on LocalPetFinder, from Three Counties Dog Rescue, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, StraySafe Rescue and TAG Pet Rescue. Each profile links to the rescue, and you apply to adopt with them directly.

As of 8 November 2026, Three Counties Dog Rescue (at Bourne): 4, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare (at Ringmer): 1, StraySafe Rescue (at Greater Manchester): 1 and TAG Pet Rescue (at Margate): 1. By age, that is 2 kittens and 5 adult cats. The newest was added on 7 November 2026. Each profile links to the rescue, which handles the adoption.

With the rescue that has the cat. Today the British Shorthairs on this page are with Three Counties Dog Rescue (4), Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare (1), StraySafe Rescue (1) and TAG Pet Rescue (1). Open a profile and apply to that rescue: each one runs its own application, home check and adoption fee. We don't rehome animals ourselves.

Not usually. The GCCF says the short, dense coat needs grooming during the moulting seasons to remove loose hair, and PDSA says it should not need daily brushing outside them. An older cat may need more help to stop mats forming. The British Longhair needs daily grooming.

Yes. The British Blue is the blue-coated British Shorthair, which the GCCF calls the "flagship" of the breed. British Shorthairs also come in many other colours and patterns, including tabby, tortoiseshell, colourpointed and tipped.

Yes, according to the GCCF, which says the British is suitable as an indoor-only cat but needs suitable stimulus and care to stop it putting on weight. International Cat Care says indoor cats are more likely to become overweight and need climbing space and daily play. Ask the rescue how this cat has lived so far.

Often not. The GCCF says the British prefers to have all four paws on the ground and may not wish to be carried about as an adult, and PDSA says they may not enjoy being picked up but should happily sit on your lap.

It depends on the cat. PDSA says British Shorthairs can be tolerant of dogs and rabbits but are not so happy sharing a house with other cats unless they have grown up with them. The rescue's notes on this cat are the best guide.

The GCCF calls the British Shorthair a long-lived cat, with a life expectancy of 14 to 20 years. It also says the breed takes up to five years to reach full physical maturity.

The GCCF says PKD is now under control thanks to DNA testing by responsible breeders, but HCM, a heart condition, can be a problem and has no DNA test in the breed. It also says to watch their weight, as the breed has a slow metabolism. Ask the rescue what vet checks this cat has had.

We only list cats with rescues, so there is nothing to buy here: every British Shorthair on this page is adopted for the rescue's fee. If you decide to buy a kitten, Cats Protection names the British Shorthair as a pedigree to research first, and suggests a breeder registered with a breed association such as the GCCF, which provides certificates of a cat's pedigree and parentage. It warns against sellers who offer to post the certificate after you have paid. With an adult rescue cat, the rescue can tell you about its personality and vet history.

It depends on the cat, not the breed. Most of the 7 British Shorthairs listed in the UK today don't say either way, so ask the rescue. Where a profile says nothing, ask the rescue what age of children the cat could live with.

Each rescue sets its own adoption fee. Battersea charges £100 for a cat over six months and £130 for a kitten, Cats Protection says you can expect to pay £80 to £120 on average for an adult cat and £100 to £120 for a kitten, varying between its branches, and Blue Cross fees start from £150 for cats aged 4 months to 7 years. The fee usually covers neutering, microchipping and first vaccinations, and each rescue confirms its own fee.

No. We don't list animals for sale. Every British Shorthair on this page is with a rescue or rehoming centre. Rescues rehome animals rather than selling them, usually for an adoption fee: for example, Battersea charges £100 for a cat over six months and £130 for a kitten. The fee usually goes towards vet work already done, such as neutering, microchipping and first vaccinations. If you searched "british shorthair kittens for sale", the British Shorthairs here are the rescue route: you apply to the rescue and pay its adoption fee, not a sale price.

Usually not. UK rescues normally ask for an adoption fee, which pays towards neutering, microchipping and vaccinations. At the large cat charities, fees for one cat are under £200: Battersea charges £100 for a cat over six months and £130 for a kitten, and Cats Protection says £80 to £120 on average for an adult cat. An animal offered "free to a good home" is usually a private advert rather than a rescue.

Yes: 2 kittens of the 7 listed in the UK are 12 months or under by their listed age.

Not right now: none of the 7 listed in the UK is aged 10 or over by its listed age. Older British Shorthairs do come into rescue, so check back. Some rescues charge less for older cats: Blue Cross fees start from £100 for cats aged 8 or over.

This page lists every British Shorthair with the rescues we list across the UK, each with its town. For a city, see British Shorthairs in Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Canterbury, Cardiff, Carlisle, Dumfries and Galloway, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Ipswich, Kendal, Kingston upon Hull, Leeds, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northampton, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent, Swansea, Truro and Worcester. You can also search by postcode with the pet finder on our home page to see what is closest to you.