Moggie cat breed
Learn how to create the purfect home for moggies. Get to know your new feline friend’s temperament, feeding requirements and more in this moggie cat breed guide.
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Moggie cat breed information and advice
Ready to welcome a feline friend into your home and not sure which breed’s right for you? You can’t go wrong with a moggie cat.
A moggie (also known as a domestic shorthair) is a non-pedigree cat of mixed or unknown ancestry. They’re the feline equivalent of a mongrel dog. They’re friendly, low maintenance and generally pretty healthy. This makes them ideal pets for families with children and other pets, single households and first-time pet owners. They tend to be quite muscular cats with round faces and eyes.
It’s no surprise that moggies are the most common cat in the UK.
Moggie facts
| Lifespan | 15-20 years |
| How much | £100-£300 |
| Size | medium |
| Weight | 3.6 to 4.5 kg (males tend to be larger than females) |
| Grooming | minimal |
| Temperament | can vary but generally friendly and easy going |
| Exercise | high if kept indoors as can put on weight easily |
Insurance for your Moggie
It’s important to protect your moggie with cat insurance. This can help with the cost of any unexpected vet bills and treatment. This can include treatment, surgery as well as any ongoing medication.
Health problems can happen at any stage of life, so if you get your moggie from a kitten, you can get covered with kitten insurance. You can take this out with Sainsbury’s Bank from when your moggie is eight weeks old.
Moggie cats are generally relatively healthy, so hopefully you shouldn’t encounter too many problems. But as with any breeds they have their own health problems to be aware of:
Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance
With Sainsbury’s Bank, you can take out a cat insurance policy as long as your cat is over eight weeks and less than ten years old. But if you take out a policy before they reach their tenth birthday, they’ll be covered for their remaining years as long as you keep renewing your policy without a break.
Sainsbury’s Bank offer three different types of cat insurance, so you can choose the one that best suits you and your moggie cat.
- Lifetime – is the most comprehensive of the three, with up to £10,000 towards vet costs each year.
- Maximum benefit – offers cover for illnesses, accidents and conditions up to £6,000.
- Time limited – this insurance option can cover your feline friend for different treatments up to £3,000, or for 12 months.
Remember that pre-existing conditions aren’t covered, so it’s best to get insurance as soon as you can. Other terms, conditions, excesses, exclusions and limitations apply.
How to care for a moggie
Moggies are great for first-time pet owners as they’re pretty easy to care for. Like with most cats, your moggie needs a balanced diet and lots of exercise to keep them healthy and their coat in good condition. They’re known to enjoy their food and can easily become overweight. This is a problem especially if they’re kept indoors. They also have low grooming needs and are considered to be low maintenance.
Feeding and nutrition
Moggies like their food (and hunting for extra treats as well) so can be prone to putting on weight. Bear this in mind and stick to the feeding instructions on the packaging to help maintain their weight. It can also help to feed them at set times - instead of allowing your cat to graze all day and keep an eye on the number of tasty treats you give them.
Grooming
Moggies are good at grooming themselves. Their short coats do not shed much hair and a weekly brush is all they need to keep their coat in good condition.
Exercise
If allowed outside, moggies will get exercise by spending their time hunting. If kept as an indoor cat, they should have a perch so that they can check out their surroundings from above and practice their climbing, jumping and leaping skills. As they’re prone to becoming overweight, encourage them to play with some cat toys such as a laser pointer or a feather. Their hunting instinct will mean that they’ll enjoy this playtime. Also, you should provide them with a scratching post so they can keep their claws trim.
Training
While training may typically be associated with dogs, cats can learn tricks too. For the best luck, train your kitten from an early age. Moggies are intelligent and will pick up toilet or litter training quickly and can even be trained to walk on a lead.
Temperament and behaviour
Just as moggies come in a variety of colours, patterns and sizes, they can have a range of personalities too. Some may be shy and clingy, others more independent and adventurous. The majority are affectionate and will fit in with other family pets, including cat-friendly dogs. They are generally good with children and make great pets for first-time cat owners. If you’re lucky, they’ll be happy to curl up on your lap for an afternoon nap.
They have a high prey drive so expect them to be good hunters. They’ll happily spend their time looking for extra food so be prepared for ‘small gifts’.
Common health problems
With their mixed parentage and varied genetic makeup, moggies tend to be healthier and more intelligent than pure-breed cats. But they can be prone to obesity and the various health problems linked to this, as well as common problems associated with ageing.
Obesity
Cats can develop health problems associated with obesity, like diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis and lower urinary tract disease. If your moggie is putting on the pounds, ask your vet or weight management nurse to suggest a weight loss plan for your cat.
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a common disease in middle-aged cats – especially in moggies that are overweight. When cats are diabetic it means that their pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin – or their body has an inadequate response to it. The hormone absorbs glucose into the bloodstream after eating and transports it to cells to help them thrive and grow .
Cats with diabetes become increasingly thirsty and lose weight, despite eating normally. Most diabetic cats need regular insulin injections to control their blood sugar levels. If left untreated, it can have serious effects which can be fatal.
Urinary tract disease
Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a term used to describe the various conditions that can cause pain and discomfort when cats try to pass urine. These can include bladder stones, blockages and inflammation of the bladder (cystitis). Make sure your cat drinks plenty of water and feed them moist cat food to try to avoid these problems.
Is a moggie cat right for you?
Moggies are low maintenance, generally healthy and have good temperaments. They make great family pets and are ideal for first-time pet owners. They can be kept indoors but love to be outdoors where they can use their impressive hunting skills.
Frequently asked questions
What type of cat is a moggie?
A Moggie is a mixed breed cat and doesn’t belong to any particular breed. This means that they are a lot less expensive than a purebred cat. The Moggie shouldn’t be confused with the American Shorthair, British Shorthair or other ‘shorthair’ breeds which are recognised as separate breeds of cats.
How long do moggie cats live?
Moggies can live to between 15 and 20 years if well cared for. Moggies and non-pedigree cats tend to have a longer life expectancy than purebred cats.
Are moggies hypoallergenic?
No, unfortunately, they’re not hypoallergenic. Despite not shedding much hair, moggies still produce the allergen in their saliva that causes cat allergies. Unfortunately, no cat is completely hypoallergenic.
Are moggie cats healthier?
Thanks to their genetic variation, moggie cats tend to have less health problems compared to pure bred cats. In general, moggie cats may be healthier and stronger than pedigrees as the risk of diseased is reduced. Every cat is different though, and moggies can still get poorly.
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References
Content provided from Vetstream’s Vetlexicon
Martha Cannon, Marge Chandler, Allison German (online) In: Obesity. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/freeform/obesity
David Bruyette, Carmel Mooney, Nicki Reed (online) Diabetes mellitus. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/diabetes-mellitus.
Martha Cannon, Danielle Gunn-Moore, Ellie Mardell (online) Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/feline-lower-urinary-tract-disease-(flutd).
Terms and conditions
Important information
Sainsbury's Bank plc, Registered Office, 33 Holborn, London EC1N 2HT (registered in England and Wales, no. 3279730) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register no. 184514). Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd is an appointed representative of Sainsbury's Bank plc.
Sainsbury's Bank plc acts as an introducer to Pinnacle Insurance plc who is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register number 110866). Registered Office: Pinnacle House, A1 Barnet Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 2XX. Sainsbury’s Bank plc and Pinnacle Insurance plc are not part of the same corporate group.