The American Shorthair is a breed of cat historically regarded for its ability to hunt, however, contemporary American Shorthairs have generally traded in the life of a hunter for one of a domesticated companion for families, a job it performs quite well.
This intriguing cat breed is very common but is also interesting to learn about. Let’s explore some of this history and characteristics of the American Shorthair.
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American Shorthair Cat Breed
The Origins And History Of American Shorthair cat
Natural selection has long favored expert hunters and those capable of surviving in tough climates. For this reason, the shorthair cat has led such a longevously existence. The weather of the North American continent certainly required an avid survivalist mentality. While not native to the continent, it is believed that the ancestors of the American Shorthairs arrived alongside America’s early settlers.
Keeping cats onboard ships was a common practice to act as vermin control. Rats got into the food supply and brought disease, leading people to keep some well-known rat hunters on ships to keep their activities at bay. While hardly mentioned in historical manifests, there is little doubt that cats accompany the settlers of Plymouth in 1620, Jamestown colony arrivals, Spanish exploration parties, and going back centuries from that, even seafaring Viking Explorers who landed on the shores of Newfoundland back in the 900 A.D’s.
The cat’s usefulness as a hunter was not limited to ship, of course. People continued to utilize their vermin control prowess on farms, settlements, and eventually erected towns to keep pests out of food storage. The shorthair cats fit the bill perfectly and have been documented as being near-imperative to settlement survival. A 1634 publication even hailed them as being the primary reason that New England’s crops’ saviors from chipmunks and squirrels.
As the settlement of North America moved west, the shorthair cats, which over time would come to be known as the American Shorthairs, followed. They certainly made their mark on the life of Americans known in those early days. In fact, in 1895 the shorthairs were featured in an American cat show for the first time and recognized formally as an established cat breed just 11 years later by the Cat Fanciers Association.
The American Shorthair Cat specifically would be dubbed as such 60 years later to differentiate them from the domesticated shorthair breeds. Ironically, the first American Shorthair was part British, given its lineage.
It was also at the onset of the 20th century that the shorthair cat number began to dwindle. It was around this time that breeders interested in preserving the shorthair began to formally put in effort into preserving the shorthair cat breeds.
Some breeding attempts were more successful than others, but the American Shorthair Cat strived through and is now among the top ten most popular cat breeds in the United States and Canada, as well as Japan. Ironically, many European regions refuse to recognize them as a breed. Not coincidentally, the breed is pretty rare on the European continent to this day. They do, however, host the European Shorthair breed, while England recognizes the British Shorthair.
While they are still skillful hunters, shorthair cats have moved from the arena of vermin-related assistants to delightful family companions. While cats were kept in barns and storages in the past, humans increasingly took them into their homes and assimilated them as members of the family.
| Origin: | United States |
| Length: | 12 to 15 inches |
| Weight: | 7 to 12 pounds |
| Life Span: | 15 to 20 years |
| Price: | $500 to $800 |
American Shorthair Cat Physical Attributes
An adult American Shorthair Cat breed can grow up to the age of 3 or 4 years, with the average weight of the cat being between 7 and 12 pounds. True to their name they have a short hair coat that is patterned as either solid, striped, calico, or bicolored, and an assortment of colors including black, blue, red, white, cream, silver, and golden.
The cat’s eyes are typically harmonized with their coat. The coat’s thickness has been the reason for their adaptability to the American climates, guarding them against cold weather as well as serving as protection against minor injuries.
Their overall constitution makes them durable in wet, cold, and overall tough conditions. They are partially stocky and partially athletic. The powerful legs stem back to the shorthair’s hunting days, allowing them to be both excellent stalkers, as well as powerful jumpers and climbers. Their average bone structure is covered by tough muscles, with their extremities and head being proportional to their size.
Their slanted, spaced-out eyes adorn their broad, square heads, as do their round-tipped, significantly separated ears. Their look is gentle on the eyes, with their open and sweet expression, which is a big draw for humans who take them into their homes.
American Shorthair Cat Personality And Temperament
The American Shorthair Cat is a good-natured cat, which is a big reason why the breed is so popular in American homes. It’s even-tempered and not overly energetic, though the breed certainly loves the attention and physical activity in the form of play as most cat breeds do. A cat can certainly not be a worthwhile hunter if it is too docile, unaware, and lacks intelligence.
The American Shorthair is a smart breed that enjoys playing with interactive toys and dabbles in puzzle resolution. After all, hunting is in the breed’s genetic code, so the American shorthair will not turn down an opportunity for intelligent entertainment forms.
The American Shorthair Cat is a well-mannered cat in terms of social interactions. If strangers arrive in the home, this is not a breed that will take off nervously and hide, willing to be social to an extent. However, being handled and carried around is not the shorthair’s favorite. Though not particularly fond of handling, the American Shorthair Cat does enjoy time with their people and often enjoys a spot on the couch or even the lap of their owners. This breed also enjoys affectionate interaction like stroking.
Its hunting prowess provides another interesting measure of the breed’s character: calmness. The American Shorthair Cat is both measured and playful in its temperament. Besides the intelligence stemming from their hunting backgrounds, this breed is also generally lively, alert, and aware of the goings-on in their surroundings.
While they do have an independent streak, the cat is rather socially amicable more than a stubborn, independent creature. Of course, much like people, every cat will have its own personality, so the descriptions play the averages, but certainly may not apply to every individual American Shorthair.
Their intellectual curiosity will likely drive them to exploration. They may be tempted to venture outside, but many cats of this breed are happiest indoors. While you may hear the American shorthair purr some, they are not overly vocal otherwise.
While many cat breeds are great with people, not all are particular fans of other cats in the home. Luckily for owners of American shorthairs, this is a breed that does not seem to share this problem. Adapting to dogs may take some time, but this breed is sociable enough that they do fine with dogs in the home as well. If trained accordingly, they will even cohabitate with birds. Again, a lot depends on the particular cat’s personality so when introducing the animal to any new member of the household, it’s recommended to be done at a tapered pace and in a controlled setting.
American Shorthair Cat Health Attributes
The American Shorthair’s lifespan usually ranges between 13 to 15 years, but it has been reported that some outlive that by quite a bit, stretching to lifespans as long as 18 to 20 years. As with both mixed-breed and pedigreed cats, animals tend to carry certain health problems in their DNA that they are more susceptible to. Of course, these do not affect every animal, it’s important to talk to the breeder about any particular genetic afflictions from the parents of the cat or in generations past.
Overall, this is a generally healthy breed of cats, they have been known to experience hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disease relatively common to the breed. It has yet to be proven as a genetic disorder, however.
Due to them being a medium-energy breed, it is important to keep these cats engaged in exercise enough to not allow the common problem of weight gain to take over either. Shorthair breeds are voracious eaters, which makes it doubly important that they find a way to keep the weight off through exercise.
If allowed to stay too idle, American shorthairs can gain weight, developing health issues related to this effect on their bodies, so it is on their owners to stay vigilant about tracking the cats’ weight throughout their life. Besides keeping them active, it may be necessary to measure their food portions.
Caring For An American Shorthair Cat
Comparatively speaking, American shorthair cats are relatively low-maintenance in terms of the care they require. Their coat needs to be brushed about twice a week in order to distribute their skin oils and remove any excess hair. American shorthairs do shed, but the amount varies, mostly depending on the time of the year and the climate the cat is exposed to.
Another thing that must be done weekly, at the very least, is the performance of dental hygiene. If you can do so daily, it is better, but weekly will suffice for an otherwise healthy feline. Their eyes sometimes discharge fluids that can gunk up causing vision problems, so the corners of the cats’ eyes need to be wiped with a damp, soft cloth to remove it. In case the discharge contains bacterial agents that can cause infection it is important not to wipe both eyes with the same area of the cloth.
Another maintenance common to most cats is nail trimming, which should be done about once a month. Their ears can also develop build-up, so it is important to clean them out weekly, especially if they look dirty. The cleanings should be done with either a soft cloth, damped with a combination of half warm water and half cider vinegar or cotton balls. Cotton swabs should never be used for this cleaning however as they can injure the interior of a cat’s ear.
While suited for outdoors, American Shorthairs are primarily recommended to be indoor cats. To be blunt, the world is far too dangerous for them to spend time outdoors. They could meet stray cats with transmittable illnesses, get injured without a way for owners to know where they are and that they need assistance, be struck by vehicles, and be attacked by dogs or wildlife.
But the cat’s life is not the only one that is guarded by keeping the American shorthair indoors. Local birds and smaller wildlife who would otherwise be viewed as prey by this feline who is still a hunter at their core will also be kept safer. Finally, letting this cat outside would draw the eyes of fellow humans who might take the cat in as their own.
How Much is American Shorthair Cat?
Prices of American Shorthairs vary too greatly to present an average. Their pedigree is a big factor in their cost. In terms of the monthly cost of owning an American Shorthair, save the vet bills, it translates to roughly $30 (£25).
Some Other Facts About American Shorthair Cat
- Great names for shorthairs include Misty, Roger, Alix, and Echo.
- A domestic American shorthair might be an indoor cat, but it will surely lower the number of bugs in the house by hunting many of them down.
- The American shorthair can breed with its own kind as well as with the American Wirehair breed (which is also a shorthair cat but with coarse fur.
- Great rescue groups to look into for acquisition of an American shorthair are Purebred Cat Breed Rescue and Rescue Me.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, American Shorthair cats are known for their easy-going and affectionate personalities, making them great pets for families. They require regular grooming to maintain their short, dense coats and a healthy diet to avoid obesity. Keeping them mentally and physically stimulated with toys and interactive play will help prevent behavioral problems, and regular veterinary check-ups will ensure they stay healthy and happy. With proper care and attention, American Shorthair cats can be wonderful companions for many years.
Since you finished reading this article, means you are really in love with cats, for that reason we suggest to you to check this one: You won’t believe why cats don’t like their belly rubbed
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are American shorthair cats hypoallergenic?
No, American Shorthair cats are not considered hypoallergenic. While they may produce fewer allergens than some other cat breeds, they still produce the major allergen that triggers allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Regular grooming and keeping the home clean can help reduce allergens, but they may not completely eliminate the risk of an allergic reaction.
What do American shorthair cats eat?
American Shorthair cats should be fed a balanced diet of high-quality commercial cat food. Their diet should consist of a mix of wet and dry food to provide adequate nutrition and hydration. It’s important to monitor their weight, provide fresh water at all times, and avoid feeding them human food or foods that are toxic to cats.
Do American shorthair cats shed?
Yes, American Shorthair cats do shed, but they are not considered heavy shedders. Their short, dense coat requires minimal grooming, and brushing once or twice a week can help remove loose hair and prevent hairballs. Regular grooming can also help maintain their coat’s health and shine.
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Hi, my name is Idammah, and I am a huge animal lover! I have always had a special place in my heart for pets, especially cats. I currently have a rescue cat named Simba, who has brought so much joy and love into my life. In my free time, you can find me playing with my cats or watching some animal documentaries. When not spending time with my cat, I enjoy writing about my experiences as a pet owner and sharing helpful tips and advice with other pet lovers. I hope to connect with other pet enthusiasts and share our love for animals through this blog.
