Best cat food for a British Shorthair in Australia (2026)
By Catstuff Editorial · Updated 2026-05-13
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Feeding a British Shorthair well in Australia comes down to three decisions: wet-vs-dry split, portion control, and breed-specific risk management. The British Shorthair sits at medium size with low energy — its calorie ceiling is 333 kcal/day, and its biggest food-related risks are Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and Polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Here's what to feed, how much, and what to skip.
Top picks for a British Shorthair
#1 Royal Canin British Shorthair Adult
Buy: Pet CircleCurated for British Shorthairs — balanced for the breed's typical size, energy and coat needs.
#2 Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor
Buy: Pet CircleCurated for British Shorthairs — balanced for the breed's typical size, energy and coat needs.
#3 Advance Adult Chicken
Buy: Pet CircleCurated for British Shorthairs — balanced for the breed's typical size, energy and coat needs.
#4 Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor
Buy: PetbarnReduced phosphorus relative to standard adult — good preparation for the kidney-aware mature switch.
#5 Fancy Feast Classic Pâté (one pouch/day)
Buy: PetbarnCheap daily wet feed alongside kibble. Establishes the hydration habit that genuinely lowers FLUTD risk.
#6 Petzyo Tailored Fresh (the premium tier)
Buy: PetzyoPersonalised fresh recipes delivered chilled. Vet-formulated, AU-made. Worth considering for British Shorthairs if you're moving away from kibble entirely — subscription resets portions automatically as the cat's weight changes.
Daily portion for a British Shorthair
A medium cat at 4–8 kg with low energy needs 198–333 kcal/day. Indoor, neutered, low-activity adults sit at the low end; intact or outdoor-access cats sit at the high end. The right split for most:
- One 85g wet pouch (Fancy Feast Classic or Advance Wet) — ~70 kcal — once daily, ideally morning or evening.
- Measured dry kibble for the remaining ~128–263 kcal. Most AU dry foods are 3800–4200 kcal/kg, so that's 32–66g of kibble daily.
- Fresh water available 24/7 — a moving fountain genuinely increases intake.
- Weight check monthly. Cats hide weight gain under fur. A bathroom-scale-yourself-then-with-cat is enough.
Run your exact numbers in our cat food cost calculator.
British Shorthair-specific watchouts
- Lower phosphorus mature/senior formula from age 7. Bloods at every annual vet visit.
- Measured portions, not free-feeding. Indoor neutered formulas help; the size is the discipline, not the kibble.
- Avoid grain-free legume-heavy diets — DCM/HCM linkage research is still active, default to grain-inclusive formulas.
- Mix in dry kibble for mechanical abrasion or include a VOHC-accepted dental treat. Wet-only diets accelerate plaque.
Where to buy in Australia
Pet Circle and Petbarn carry every food on this list. Pet Circle is consistently cheapest on autoship + bulk; Petbarn wins on click-and-collect from 200+ stores. For parasite prevention specifically (which is part of the monthly cat budget even if not strictly "food"), VetSupply usually beats both.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a British Shorthair eat per day in Australia?
A typical British Shorthair (4–8 kg) needs around 198–333 kcal/day. That's roughly 3–5 ×85g wet pouches OR 0–1 dry-cup equivalents of an average kibble (~4000 kcal/kg). Indoor neutered cats sit at the low end of the range; outdoor or intact at the high end.
What food do most AU vets recommend for a British Shorthair?
In Australian vet clinics, Royal Canin and Hill's Science Diet are the most-recommended brands for adult cats — both have breed-aware or condition-specific lines suitable for British Shorthairs. Black Hawk and Advance are the strongest Australian-made alternatives.
Is grain-free food good for a British Shorthair?
Not necessarily. The FDA's 2018 grain-free DCM warning was for dogs, but recent feline research has flagged possible HCM linkage in cats fed legume-heavy grain-free diets long-term. Cats need taurine, methionine, arachidonic acid — not "no grain". For breeds with hereditary HCM risk (Maine Coon, Ragdoll), default to grain-inclusive formulas unless a vet specifically prescribes otherwise.
How much does feeding a British Shorthair cost per month?
Budget around $45 – $75 for a British Shorthair on a wet+dry mixed diet using mid-range AU brands (Royal Canin / Hill's / Advance / Black Hawk). Premium air-dried (Ziwi Peak, Prime100) doubles that; cheap supermarket-only diets cut it in half but with documented long-term cost in vet bills.
When should I switch a British Shorthair from kitten to adult food?
Most British Shorthairs switch at 12 months. Transition over 7–10 days by gradually mixing increasing proportions of adult food.
Related reading
Care, temperament, health, insurance.
Breeder, adoption, and 5-year total cost.
All-breed ranking with AU pricing.
Hydration matters more than brand prestige.
Similar breeds
Updated 2026-05-13 · Not veterinary advice — always consult your vet, especially before changing diets for a cat with diagnosed conditions.