Animal-World > Cats > Natural Cat Breeds > American Shorthair Cat

American Shorthair CatsDomestic Shorthair

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Felis domesticusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Justin Brough

     The American Shorthair is a friendly, hardy, mild-mannered breed. It is an excellent addition to any family. Its muscular body and refined alley cat appearance distinguish it from other breeds.

    The American Shorthair is the most popular American cat. It is a friendly, generally healthy, low maintenance breed. American Shorthairs are social, playful cats that can also be gentle and calm. Due to these characteristics, they are good cats for families with children and other pets.

Common Name(s)     American Shorthair (originally the Domestic Shorthair)

Background     This breed originated in Europe, but has resided in America for approximately 400 years. The American Shorthair, then known as the Domestic Shorthair, is believed to have been descended from rodent-controlling cats brought to America on the Mayflower in 1620. Later, selective specimens of this common alley cat were bred with other breeds, such as the British Shorthair, Burmese, and Persian, creating the Domestic Shorthair. Despite its muscular, clean-cut appearance, many cat shows would not allow this breed to enter. In 1904, Buster Brown, a male smoke, became the first registered American-bred Domestic Shorthair. By the 1960's, the Domestic Shorthair was becoming a more respected breed and was winning prizes at shows. Domestic Shorthair enthusiasts were concerned that its name was impeding the breed's potential success. As a result, they decided to give this breed the new title of American Shorthair.

Description     American Shorthairs are muscular, heavy-bodied, medium to large sized cats. Its weight ranges from 8 to 15 pounds. They have short, rounded heads, medium, rounded paws, and medium length tails. Their eyes are large and wide with almond shaped upper lids and round, circular lower lids. Males are larger than females and have defined jowls. They are a hardy breed with an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years old.
    The American Shorthair's coat is short (hence the name American Shorthair) and dense. They come in over a hundred different color forms. The basic color types are Solid, Shaded and Silver, Smoke, Tabby, Smoke and White, Tabby and White, Parti-color, and Bi-color. A short sample of some of the specific colors includes Red, Shell Cameo, Tortoiseshell Smoke, Silver Patched Tabby, Black Smoke and White, Van-Blue Cream and White, Tortie, and Calico.

Care and Feeding     American Shorthairs require no special diets or supplements. However, they are prone to becoming overweight, so you should be careful not to over feed them.

Housing Your Cat     American Shorthairs can live inside or outside. They are natural hunters, so they will enjoy having time outside, but they can be kept as indoor cats as well.

Maintenance     This breed is an extremely low-maintenance breed. Just like any other breed, a weekly brushing is beneficial to the health of their coat.

Social Behaviors     American Shorthairs are gentle, friendly, even-tempered cats that enjoy being around other people and animals, but do not require constant attention. Since they are natural hunters, it is advised that any small pets be securely kept in their cages or aquariums, unless they can be closely supervised.

Activities     This breed enjoys playing running about, and hunting to get exercise. If your cat is not getting enough exercise on its own, you should make a point to play with it at least five to ten minutes a day, in order to decrease its risk of becoming overweight. This can happen indoors or outdoors.

Breeding/Reproduction     These cats can be weaned at as early as eight weeks, but it is better to wait until they are twelve weeks old. American Shorthairs are considered to be fully grown when they are 3 or 4 years old.

Common Health Problems     American Shorthairs are generally known as healthy cats. The only health condition they are prone to is obesity. To prevent this condition, simply control the amount of food the cat consumes and play with the cat to increase its activity level. You can also feed it a diet formulated for overweight or obese cats. If your cat is obese, it is important to bring it to a veterinarian for a check-up, to rule out any thyroid or metabolic conditions.

Availability     Pure-bred American Shorthairs are sold for as little as $350 for adult cats and as much as $1300 for show-quality female kittens. These cats are readily available from breeders, which can be found in your area or on the internet.

References The Internet Animal Hospital, http://www.thepetcenter.com, referenced online 2007

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Latest Comments
Domestic short hairs make an excellent pet. Kittens can be weaned as early as 6 weeks and typically are. Outdoor lifestyles are not safe and lead to many health risks. Diets should be quality food like Nutro or Mother Hubbar (not Friskies or pet store 'junk'), and there is no point in paying hundreds of dollars when these beautiful cats are in shelters for free needing good homes! Britt 2008-02-13

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