Appearance
The American Shorthair is a medium
sized to large cat, with strong hind legs and paws. The muzzle
is wider than many other breeds, giving a square look to the
face. Males have a pronounced jowl. They are full grown at
three or four years old. The coat is thick although a little
thinner than the coat of the British shorthair. It thickens
in winter and sheds in spring. There are over 100 recognized
varieties of color including black, white, silver, cream,
red, brown, blue, tabby, calico or tortoiseshell, and bi-colored
cats. Their eyes are round. Eye color, nose and pad depend
on the color of the coat. Some varieties may have each eye
a different color. The silver tabby is the most popular.
The tail must taper to a blunt tip without
any kinks.
Temperament
The American Shorthair is a gentle,
affectionate cat that makes a marvelous pet. They get on well
with children and most other pets, being even-tempered and
quiet. For that reason they are always one of the most popular
breeds of cat.
They are easy to train and are also the most popular choice
for film and advertising directors when they need a feline
star. American Shorthairs are happy to be either an indoor
or an outdoor cat. If allowed outdoors they will indulge their
hunting instincts and often bring home their prey.
They are a healthy, long-lived breed with
an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years. However, the American
Shorthair cat easily gains weight and owners have to be careful
not to allow this to endanger their pet's
health or happiness.
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History
The American Shorthair cat is
believed to be descended from British cats who began
emigrating to the New World with the early pioneers.
They were carried on board ship to kill the rats that
were a constant menace, eating the precious food supplies
and spreading disease. History records that cats even
came along on the Mayflower. They were kept and allowed
to breed by the early settlers for the same reason,
to protect food supplies. Originally they lived mostly
as working farm cats, highly valued for their hunting
abilities.
In the early 20th century, other breeds
of cat began to be imported to the USA as pets.
They mixed with the working cats and so kittens were
born with different coat lengths and temperaments. At
this time, breeders who wished to preserve the original
breed began to identify fine examples of what was then
called the Domestic Shorthair and breed from them. These
breeders have concentrated on maintaining the beauty
and affectionate nature of these cats while perfecting
their coat patterns and colors. The name was changed
to American Shorthair in the 1960s.
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