Wonderful breed with a few things to know before you commit to a British Shorthair

I've had my British Shorthair for 4 years and overall it's been an amazing experience. beautiful teddy bear looks. good with kids. The personality of this breed really is special — calm, easygoing, dignified.

That said, there are a few realities I wish someone had been more upfront about. expensive was a real surprise. And hypertrophic cardiomyopathy risk took some adjustment. These aren't dealbreakers by any means, but they're worth knowing going in.

Health-wise, obesity. We had one scare a couple years in that cost a few thousand dollars. Pet insurance is strongly recommended. But despite these things, I'd still give the breed 4 stars — the companionship and personality far outweigh the challenges.