| Country of Origin: | United States |
| Colors: | chocolate, sable, lavender, lilac, silver tabby |
| Average Size: | Weight: 8-12 lbs (3.6 -5.4 kg) Length:Medium-large |
| Life Span: | 15 years or longer |
| Coat: | Short |
| Personality: | easy going good-natured, affectionate with owners and social with strangers |
| Characteristics: | Energy: medium Talkative: Moderate Kid Friendly: Less Allergic: No |
On the first cat shows held in the northeastern states in the 19th century, the long-haired Maine Coon cats were a dominant cat breed. However, the difficult conditions and the working environment of many American shorthair cats meant that they were – the same as the people who lived there – strong, durable and very clever animals .
Back in the early days of this cat breed, lineage was created by mating with British Shorthair pedigree cat and today the American Shorthair breed is a very widespread breed of strong and durable cats. Since the United States has more natural predators than the Europe, American Shorthair cats have evolved into larger animals than their counterparts in the continent .
The history of American Shorthair cats apparently starts around 1900. , when the red striped male pedigree cat – with a very feminine name ‘ Belle ‘ – was sent from England to America, and was the first Shorthair registered as pedigree animal in CFA. So, the first American Shorthair is actually a British Shorthair who has migrated !
But U.S. farmers also began to register their own cats. The first recorded American Shorthair was Buster Brown, black male cat that was reportedly born on 15 January in 1904.
The breed was originally just called shorthaired, but it soon became known as the domestic shorthair – and so is still sometimes called, although the official name is the American Shorthair cat.
The body of the American Shorthair cat is firm, strong and muscular, the legs are of medium length, capable of high jumps, muscular and suitable for any terrain. The head is large, but slightly longer than wider, with full cheeks and big round and slightly slanted eyes. The tail is of medium length and thick at the base, and the hair is short and thick, with a rather stiff texture – in fact, the judges in the exhibitions give negative points for a soft, fluffy fur!
The best-known American Shorthair cats are undoubtedly silver striped with thick black markings on a silver background. Except for this, the American Shorthair cats are noted for their laid-back temperament, hunting ability and intelligence. They are easy to take care of and feed which makes them ideal pets.
The American Shorthair cat ranked seventh among the most popular cat breeds in the United States of America. It is also one of the most athletic cat breeds. It can grow very large and it has a strong body. Male American Shorthair cats can reach fifteen pounds while females can reach up to twelve pounds. It can take them about four years to reach their full adult size. It has all the characteristics of a great working cat. The American Shorthair cat is low-maintenance and is very sociable so there are no problems even when it is somewhere with strangers. It is also very affectionate.