Veterinary surgeon Graham Lewis — author of a companion piece on the “7 unhealthiest cat breeds” — scored cat breeds on a 1‑to‑10 health scale using lifespan, hereditary disease burden and welfare considerations. In his November 3 2026 Countryfile article he placed six breed groups at 6 or higher, labeling them the healthiest options for prospective owners.
How the Scores Were Determined
Lewis, a BSAVA‑certified small‑animal specialist with more than a decade at Paragon Veterinary Group, weighted three factors:
- Average lifespan – noting that many healthy cats reach their late teens and occasionally surpass 20 years, while some breeds die markedly earlier.
- Hereditary or genetic health conditions – number of recognised disorders and their clinical severity.
- Wider welfare issues – such as conformational deformities or behavioural stress linked to breed standards.
A rating of 6 or above placed a breed on the “healthiest” list; 5 or below fell into the “unhealthiest” category in his earlier 2025 piece.
The Six Breeds Scoring 6 – 9 /10
| Breed (or group) | Health rating | Key characteristics | Typical health profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Shorthair / Domestic Longhair (DSH / DLH) – “Moggies” | 9/10 | Mixed‑breed cats of any colour or pattern; male tortoiseshells extremely rare (≈ 1 in 3 000). | Benefit from a broad gene pool, giving them life expectancies equal to or longer than pedigree cats. Age‑related problems such as chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism are common, but breed‑specific genetic defects are rare. DLH cats may need grooming assistance as they age. |
| Russian Blue | 9/10 | Slate‑grey short, silky coat; quiet, routine‑loving temperament; reputed to trigger fewer human allergy reactions. | Generally live into their late teens. Health issues align with typical geriatric cats (hyperthyroidism, renal disease, dental wear). Slightly higher risk of obesity, diabetes and lower‑urinary‑tract disease, but no major breed‑specific disorders. |
| Burmese | 7/10 | Small‑to‑medium, muscular build; glossy short coat; highly energetic and often plays fetch. | Lifespan often reaches the teens. However, the breed has low genetic diversity, leading to a higher prevalence of diabetes and Feline Orofacial Pain Syndrome (severe oral discomfort when adult teeth erupt). |
| Manx | 6/10 | Tail‑shortened or tailless; strong hunters; originated on the Isle of Man. | The “Manx syndrome” mutation can cause spinal and neurological defects ranging from mild hind‑end weakness to complete paralysis, which lowers overall welfare and lifespan for affected individuals. |
| Persian | 6/10 | Long, dense coat; large round eyes; brachycephalic (flattened) face. | Despite the 6/10 rating, Persians suffer from several conformational problems: brachycephalic airway syndrome, dental malocclusion, corneal ulcers, and a genetic predisposition to polycystic kidney disease. They can live into their teens if managed carefully, but the health burden is substantial. |
| Norwegian Forest Cat | 6/10 | Large, double‑coated longhair adapted to cold climates; vocal and exploratory. | Prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia and a rare inherited glycogen‑storage disease. Lifespan averages around 10 years, similar to other large pedigree breeds. |
Why These Breeds Stand Out
- Genetic diversity – Mixed‑breed cats (DSH/DLH) score highest because the wide gene pool dilutes recessive disease alleles.
- Moderate breed standards – Russian Blues and Burmese retain distinct looks without extreme physical modifications, limiting conformational stress.
- Managed hereditary risks – Manx, Persian and Norwegian Forest cats each have a known genetic issue, but the overall disease load remains lower than in many other pedigrees, allowing them to meet the 6/10 threshold.
The Bigger Picture: Pedigree Cats on the Rise
The health‑focused rankings appear against a backdrop of shifting ownership patterns in the UK:
- Cats Protection’s 2024 “CATS Report” surveyed over 10 000 owners and found that, for the first time, pure‑bred/pedigree cats (≈ 715 000) outnumbered mixed‑breed moggies (≈ 685 000) in the 12‑month period March 2023 – March 2024.
- Historical contrast – In 2020‑2021, moggies comprised 51 % of acquisitions versus 35 % purebreds, indicating a rapid demographic reversal driven largely by younger buyers and social‑media influence.
- Rescue trends – The RSPCA recorded a dramatic rise in pedigree cats entering its shelters from 2018‑2024: Maine Coons (+300 %), Persians (+92 %), Ragdolls (+61 %) and Bengals (+22 %). These spikes suggest that many owners may be under‑estimating the long‑term care demands of designer breeds.
Supporting Data from Large‑Scale Studies
- VetCompass UK mortality analysis (May 2024) examined 7 936 confirmed cat deaths from 2019. Overall life expectancy at birth was 11.74 years; females outlived males by 1.33 years. Purebred status, being unneutered and abnormal body condition were each linked to reduced lifespan.
- Breed‑specific life expectancies (VetCompass) – Burmese (14.42 years) and Birman (14.39 years) topped the list, while Sphynx (6.68 years) was the shortest‑living breed. Crossbred “moggie” cats averaged 11.89 years, comparable to the DSH/DLH rating of 9/10.
- Dental disease prevalence – A 2023 PubMed‑indexed study reported tooth‑resorption in 70 % of purebreds versus 38 % of mixed‑breed cats, underscoring the dental advantage of the latter group.
Points of Contention
Lewis’s inclusion of the Persian at a 6/10 rating raises debate. Most UK welfare organisations, including Cats Protection and the RSPCA, flag Persians among the most problematic breeds because of persistent brachycephalic airway obstruction, ocular disease and polycystic kidney disease. Conversely, Lewis argues that, when managed proactively, Persians can reach their teens, justifying the borderline score.
A similar divergence exists for the Ragdoll. UK VetCompass data place the breed’s average lifespan at just over 10 years, supporting Lewis’s “unhealthy” rating of 5/10. Yet Swedish pet‑insurance data (Lassie) list Ragdolls as a breed that “rarely visits the vet,” suggesting regional variations in health outcomes or reporting practices.
Implications for Prospective Cat Owners
The healthiest breeds identified by Lewis share two common threads: genetic breadth (as seen in mixed‑breed cats) and moderate physical standards (as seen in Russian Blues and Burmese). As pedigree cat purchases continue to outpace mixed‑breed adoptions, owners should weigh the long‑term health costs of extreme conformations against the appeal of distinctive looks.
Unresolved question: If the trend toward pure‑bred ownership persists, will breeding practices evolve to prioritize health over appearance, or will the surge in designer breeds exacerbate the prevalence of hereditary diseases across the UK feline population?