American shorthairs make beautiful and have a go at it favourite with their affectionate nature , round faces , and short ear .
The direct descendants of European cats brought to the U.S. in the early 1600s , the American shorthair was in the beginning respect for his uncanny ability to protect the grain harvest from dirty dog and mice . People selected and bred these cats purely on their hunt ability . But , over prison term , their compact athletic bodies and boldly colored dense coat started to attract attention from preferent fan . And , because these animals were also so levelheaded and affectionate , they quickly entrance hold with the American populace , who began to receive them into their homes .
American shorthairs are a breed that call for little maintenance to keep their dim coat glistening . If you ’re looking for a new family cat or simply want to learn more about this breed , here ’s everything you need to know about the American shorthair .
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Appearance
The phrase that " shape be map " was never rightful than it is with the American shorthair strain . That ’s because this gorgeous and athletic cat was regulate and project to be the ultimate in pest control . With a broad breast , well - muscled body , strong jaw , and thick neck opening , the American shorthair is the quintessential example of felid beaut .
American shorthairs are a medium- tolarge - sized cat breedwith a thick , dense coat that has a tendency to inspissate during the wintertime months but only require minimum grooming . American shorthair colours includewhite , grim , black , ointment , red , silver gray , gold , cameo ( a lily-white substructure with red tips ) , and chinchilla ( bloodless root with dark tip ) . pattern can be calico , upstanding , bicolor , tabby cat , smoke , tortoiseshell , and shaded . Despite this extensive natural selection , brown tabby and silver tabby are the most common — and treasured — color patterns .
Eye vividness can vary with coating color , but includes unripe , aristocratical , copper , gold , hazel , or odd - eyed ( where each optic is a unlike colour ) . Unlike his close relative , the domesticated shorthair , which come in a miscellanea of mode and physical structure types , the purebred American shorthair African tea all have a similar flesh .
Temperament
While the American shorthair might attend like the common domesticated shorthair , the two are n’t interchangeable . The domestic shorthair is a mixed breed cat and , because of this , his disposition can depart wildly , suppose Alison Gerken , DVM .
" The American shorthair cat ’s personality tends to be more reliable — they are well-disposed and affectionate , " she aver .
For a cat stock that was in the first place developed only to track down rats and mice , American shorthairs have an amazingly sweet and affectionate personality . They lie with to be around their family and are evenfine being carried aboutby new humans . American shorthair khat are known for being easygoing and docile , yet curious enough to make an entertaining fellow traveler .
" Because of their adaptability , solitaire , and leeway , they cando well with children , other cats , and dogs , as long as they are properly introduced , " Gerken says . " However , it is important to keep in mind that every animal has their own single likes and disfavour . "
American shorthairs have a go at it attention but are n’t demand about it and are in the main pretty quiet . Gerken say that , despite being social kitties , they can also have an independent run and " do n’t assert on never-ending care . "
Living Needs
The American shorthair is a versatile stock , quick and unforced to live anywhere , Gerken says . After all , they bug out out living on ships and farms , so any comfortable flat or home would be just fine with them .
" Being highly adaptable , a potential pet parent can have a bun in the oven an American shorthair to fit into their nursing home , " Gerken says . " American shorthair cats can boom in homes with seniors , one , fry , or other pets . "
Because of their generations go as ratter , American shorthairs are fantabulous hunters and still sustain a high quarry drive . They are an levelheaded breed that love interactive games as well as traditionalcat toyssuch as felt computer mouse , plastic testis , and fishing vexer .
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" They commonly enjoyinteractive toys , including toys that fly and flutter , as well as nutrient puzzles , " Gerken says . " They should be provided at leasttwice daily 10- to 15 - minute of arc play sessions , and toys can be rotated every three to five solar day to offer them novelty . "
Like other strain , the American shorthair will enjoyclimbing on a cat treeorsunning on a padded shelfby a bright window . Yet , when he ’s not off explore , an American shorthair will be just as happytaking a quat sleep on your bedor lap .
An American shorthair is ok being left on his own , as long as he get lots of scritches when you get home . But he ’s quite social and , when you have protagonist over , he ’ll roam around gayly like he owns the office . ( Let ’s face it — all cats " own " the spot they experience ) .
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Care
Just because the American shorthair has a short , dense coat does n’t signify you could skip on grooming . Aweekly brush , especiallywhen your pussy is sheddinghis winter coat , will eliminate dead hair , dirt , and any potential mat . These cats have thicker seasonal coat .
Ingrid Johnson , Certified Cat Behavior Consultant , cat groomer , and generator of " Fundamentally Feline " uses a special brush proficiency for American shorthairs .
" [ For this strain ] , I comb quite smartly , " she says . " Then I comb backwards to agitate the coat ; it bring forth out a lot of the coat . "
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She suggestsregular grooming for your cat . " If you keep your cat ’s coating , it ’s a lot more pleasant for the computed axial tomography , " she says .
Like with all cats , it ’s important to keep your American shorthair’snails trimmedandkeep his litter box clean . Regulardental careis also recommended .
Health
With propagation of crop computerized axial tomography in his pedigree , the American shorthair has acquire to be a broken , healthy strain .
An American shorthair ’s lifespan can be anywhere from 15–20 class and they do n’t really have a net ton of stock - specific health yield . Still , there are some concerns pet parents should look on out for .
" A form ofheart disease , hypertrophic cardiomyopathy , which is the most common fondness disease in CT and causes the spunk muscle to abnormally inspissate , can affect American shorthair cats , " Gerken says . " American shorthair true cat who will be breed should be screened for this disease . "
Gerken say shorthairs can also beprone to obesity . Consult your veterinarian abouthow muchandhow frequentlyyou should be course your kitty .
Withregular vaccinationsandcheckups at the vet , an American shorthair will stay salubrious and happy . Of of course , like other breed , the American shorthair should always bespayed or neuteredand kept indoors at all times . If you do take him outside , make surehe ’s safe on a harnessorinside a dependable catio .
History
If the Daughters of the Revolution had a feline counterpart , the American shorthair would be on the top of the list — like the pilgrim , they make it in North America on the Mayflower . Bred for their rat - killing prowess , this stock quickly disperse across the rural area , where they were tasked with free homes and businesses of vermin , Gerken says .
By the 1890s , American shorthairs had develop such a following they were first shown at the first national cat show in Madison Square Garden in 1895.By 1906 , they were one of the first breeds recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association ( CFA ) . Today , they ’re one of themost popular cat breedsin the country .
Fun Facts
Cats in the 19th Century . The Great Cat .
