The Birth Of The American Shorthair
America’s cat, the American Shorthair, was once known as the Domestic Shorthair.
Earlier settlers brought Shorthair ancestors to America from Europe. On her famous voyage to the new world, the famous Mayflower was home to several working cats.
It’s also documented in written records that the colonists at Jamestown in 1609 also had cats living with them.
As members of those early settlements, these cats played an important role in their communities’ well-being. Since then, these breeds have been patrolling farms, stables, and sheds for mice and rats all over the country.
The shorthair breed came under threat from foreign species in the early 20th century.
American Shorthair admirers began to collect the finest examples of the breed that they could find. To preserve this beautiful and unique cat breed, they developed selective breeding programs based on these individuals.
The American Shorthair was among the first five breeds recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA) in 1904. Buster Brown was the name of the very first American Shorthair to be registered.
Breed Characteristics
Since 1966, the breed registry has been called American Shorthair instead of Domestic Shorthair. By making the change, the breed emphasized its all-American heritage and distinguished itself from other shorthair breeds.
The American Shorthair cat breed is playful with a sweet, open expression and short, shiny fur, thus reflecting the feline appearance of its hunting ancestors. American shorthairs are good-natured, laid-back cats. Due to their playful nature and patience with children, they are very popular with families.
In general, it is an intelligent cat, and it is very interested in everything around it. It enjoys the company of people but has retained its independence.
This breed is known for its longevity, robust health, friendly personality, and patience with dogs and other pets.
American Shorthairs develop slowly and are not fully grown until 3-4 years of age. The males are usually significantly larger than the females, with an average weight of about 4.5-7 kilos for the males and approx. 2.5-5 kilos for the females.
An American Shorthair is a robust and powerful cat that is slightly longer than it is tall.
The face is broad and oval with a sweet, open expression. The ears are medium-sized and sit wide. The eyes are large and almost round, with bright colors and an alert expression. The muzzle is short and square, with strong jaws and a firm chin.
The body is massive, heavy, and muscular, with a broad chest and good width over the back.
The cat may appear thick, but it must not be thick; you must feel firmness and muscle when you touch it. The breed has medium-length legs with round paws that point directly ahead. The tail is thick, medium-long, and ends in a rounded tail tip.
The coat is short, smooth, and dense. The cat’s coat should be thick enough to protect it from all types of weather. The fur pattern is entirely sharp, and the fur colors are clear and deep.
American Shorthairs are recognized in a broad palette of colors, and especially the silver tabby is popular. The only colors not allowed are purple, chocolate, and masked varieties.
The American Shorthair cat is a sturdy American original with a winning attitude. They are lively cats and remain playful into old age.
Over the years, the American Shorthair has contributed to countless lives being a loyal, gentle companion and a fierce mouse hunter.
The American Shorthair is consistently ranking high in published lists of the US’s top ten most popular cats.
