American Shorthair
The American Shorthair is the most popular and most
prevalent breed of American cat. The breed is believed to be
descended from English cats (the forebears of today's British
Shorthairs) brought to North America by early European settlers
to protect valuable cargo from mice and rats.
American Shorthairs are medium to large sized cats, with
powerful legs and strong paws.
Their muzzle is squarish. Their coat is short, with the fur
being thick, dense, and stiff to protect them from cold,
moisture, and superficial skin injuries. Their coat thickens up
in the winter and sheds in the spring but still remains lighter
and slimmer than its close cousin, the British Shorthair.
American Shorthairs are very affectionate, long-living, and
disinclined to behavioral problems; they get along well with
other family members, including dogs. The American Shorthair is
also an excellent hunter, but its sunny and gentle disposition
make it ideal for families with small children. Shorthairs tend
to get overweight very easily.
An American Shorthair is not considered fully grown until 3-4
years old, when it attains the true strong athletic proportion
of its breed. Males are usually larger than females and whole
males have definite jowls. It is perfectly happy as an indoor
or outdoor cat.
American Shorthairs come in over 100 different varieties of
colors (blacks, whites, silvers, creams, reds, browns, blues,
bicolors, tabby or solid), but their eyes, pad color, and nose
will always match their coloring. Their tail tapers to a blunt
tip and has no kinks.
Grooming for an American Shorthair is extremely easy, all they
require is regular brushing and a wipe over with a damp chamois
will make the coat shine. During shedding seasons using a good
shedding comb weekly helps prevent hairballs.
The American Shorthair makes a great pet because of their
gentle temper, and because it gets along well with other family
members, it makes a great pet for small children
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