British Shorthair cats are usually not that eager to be picked up and hugged. They may enjoy affection from their owners, but they also appreciate it when it’s subdued.
You can tell if they’re uncomfortable through the movement of their tails when you’re about to interact with them. If they relax their tails with a gently swishing tip, it means they trust you. However, a swishing tail that’s positioned low to the ground indicates that they’re annoyed!