Type the name of the breed you're looking for below
[wpdreams_ajaxsearchlite] Don't see the breed your're looking for? Click here and let us know!
Breed Characteristics
1 paw - breed exhibits the least amount of this characteristic
5 paws - breed exhibits most amount of this characteristic
[fbcomments]
American Shorthair
| Origin And History | When settlers sailed from Europe to North America, they carried cats on board (ships' cats) to protect the stores from mice, for instance, the cats that came over on the Mayflower with the Pilgrims to hunt rats on the ship and in the colony. Many of these cats landed in the New World, interbred, and developed special characteristics to help them cope with their new life and climate. Early in the 20th century, a selective breeding program was established to develop the best qualities of these cats. Their beauty and loving nature came to be valued as much as their rat-catching skills. Late in the 19th century, there was an interest in developing and showing a shorthair cat representative of the North American working cat. One brown tabby American Shorthair was even offered for sale for $2,500 at the Second Annual Cat Show at Madison Square Garden in 1896. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) chose to officially recognize this lovely cat (then called the Domestic Shorthair) as one of its first five registered breeds in 1906. |
| Personality | American Shorthairs are intelligent cats who are interested in their surroundings. They will watch birds, other animals and any outside activity from a window perch. These cats are calm, yet playful and some enjoy sitting in laps. They get along with children, so they make good family pets. Even though they are social cats, they are still independent. These cats continue to use their hunting skills to catch insects or pests that come into the house. When describing the American Shorthair, the expression 'happy medium' springs to mind. These all-American cats are medium in size, build, type, and temperament; neither too big nor small, not overly cuddly nor distant, neither couch potatoes nor hyperactive. Breeders note that the American Short-hair is the perfect breed for the person who wants a cat that enjoys being in your lap but not in your face. American Shorthairs are known for their quiet voices and adaptable personalities; they are sociable, easily trained, and adapt well to other animals and children. They generally do not like to be picked up; like their Pilgrim companions who left England to find independence, they cherish their freedom. |
Physical Attributes
| Appearance | Although it is not a extremely athletic cat, the American Shorthair has a large, powerfully-built body. According to the breed standard of the Cat Fanciers' Association, the American Shorthair is a true breed of working cat. According to the CFA, American Shorthairs are low-maintenance cats that are generally healthy, easy-going, affectionate with owners and social with strangers. Males are significantly larger than females, weighing eleven to fifteen pounds when fully grown. Mature females weigh eight to twelve pounds when they achieve full growth at three to four years of age. These cats have solidly built, powerful, and muscular bodies with well-developed shoulders, chests, and hindquarters. The American Shorthair is recognized in more than eighty different colors and patterns ranging from the brown-patched tabby to the blue-eyed white, the shaded silvers, smokes and cameos to the calico van, and many colors in between. Some even come in deep tones of black, brown, or other blends and combinations. Generally, only cats showing evidence of crossbreeding resulting in the colors chocolate, sable, lavender, lilac, or the point-restricted pattern of the Siamese family are disqualified from being shown. |
| Health | Because of the American Shorthair's history as a working cat, they make great companions in terms of health, strength, and vitality. With proper care Americans enjoy long life spans, generally between 15 and 20 years, requiring annual vaccinations and veterinary checkups. |
