Adopting a British Shorthair in London: rescues, rules and costs

The count under the short answer is live: it shows every British Shorthair and British Shorthair cross listed with us in London and within about 35 miles, and each profile links to the rescue. Pedigree British Shorthairs rarely reach the general cat rescues around London, so a low count, or none, is the honest picture. The GCCF, the UK pedigree cat registry, says each of its affiliated cat clubs has a welfare officer who keeps lists of older or rescued cats that need homes, and of people willing to offer them one.

We found no published intake figures for British Shorthairs alone, but the pedigree rescue explains its intake. Strawberry Persian and Pedigree Cat Rescue says most of its cats come from homes where children or babies were present and being in that environment was causing them distress. Its adoption policy adds that some were kept in a pen in a garden and used for breeding, or left in a garden when an owner moved, and that many are simply waiting for a new home because they didn't get on with other cats, dogs or children.

Strawberry doesn't publish a set fee, so ask. What the fee buys is clear: its homepage says all its cats are neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and flea and worm treated, with 5 weeks' free insurance, and its adoption page says lifetime insurance is a requirement for every cat it rehomes.

With a bought kitten, ask the breeder what has already been done; Cats Protection gives £200 to well over £1,000 for a registered pedigree. Running costs are the same either way: PDSA puts the minimum at £79 a month.

The GCCF says polycystic kidney disease (PKD), where cysts grow in the kidneys, was once a problem in the breed and is now under control thanks to DNA testing by responsible breeders. It also says hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a thickening of the heart muscle, can be a problem in the breed, and that there is no DNA test for HCM in British cats yet. A rescue cat's parents are rarely known, so ask what the rescue's vet has checked.

• The same two conditions. PDSA lists HCM and PKD as possible health problems in British Shorthairs, and says a genetic test is available for PKD.
• What the rescue checks. Strawberry Persian and Pedigree Cat Rescue says each cat has a vet check when it is vaccinated, but that it doesn't DNA test, scan or X-ray every cat, so ask what is known about the one you like.
• Weight. The GCCF says an indoor British Shorthair needs suitable stimulus, and that care must be taken to manage any tendency to gain weight.

The breed suits indoor life. The GCCF says the British is suitable as an indoor-only companion but needs suitable stimulus and should be supervised outside because its trusting nature can leave it vulnerable. Strawberry Persian and Pedigree Cat Rescue only rehomes indoor-only cats: it is happy to rehome to a flat, but windows stay closed and there is no balcony access unless the balcony is fully cat-proofed.

They are calm cats that take their time: the GCCF says the breed can take up to five years to reach full physical maturity, and PDSA describes it as a fairly relaxed breed that may not enjoy being picked up and is not always happy sharing a home with other cats it hasn't grown up with.

Rescue British Shorthairs are adopted, not sold: you apply for a particular cat, the rescue decides which home suits it best, and you pay its adoption fee. Pedigree rescues rehome cats whose owners can no longer keep them, so expect an adult rather than a kitten.

If you decide to buy, Cats Protection suggests a breeder registered with a breed association such as the GCCF, and seeing the kitten with its mother at home rather than buying from a video or social media advert. The GCCF notes that responsible breeders DNA test for PKD, so ask to see the results for the parents. Report a suspected scam advert to Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud.