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The British Shorthair is a sturdy, round-faced cat with a dense, plush coat and a calm, easygoing nature. Adults are medium to large, often four to eight kilograms, with males the bigger ones. They like being near their people but are not always lap cats, and most cope well with a working day alone, which suits apartment life.

The short coat needs a weekly brush, and more often when it sheds. Keep a British Shorthair indoors in the UAE, where the thick coat and heavy build make hot weather uncomfortable. Offer fresh water in several places, keep the air conditioning on and never leave the cat in a parked car. They gain weight easily, so measure the food and encourage play. For weight, heart and kidney checks, ask your vet.

See the kitten in person, and its mother if you buy from a breeder. Ask for the vaccination card and pedigree papers if the seller says it is a pedigree. The cat should be microchipped, have its rabies and core vaccinations and be registered with your municipality or emirate. On AnimalMarket24, asking prices have mostly been between AED 2,500 and AED 5,000, based on a small number of priced ads, so treat that as a rough guide. Adoption is also an option, and adoption fees should be modest.