American Shorthair - Uncomplicated, Healthy, & Robust Mouse Catcher
01.01.2024 - Reading time: 3 minutes
When you get right down to it, the American Shorthair is actually a British cat. When the settlers emigrated from Great Britain to North America, they were always accompanied on the ships by cats, who made sure that the mice did not get their paws on the valuable supplies. These were the ancestors of today’s American Shorthair. The friendly mousers have an even-tempered character, love to play, but are also really aggressive huggers when they feel like it.
NewsletterAmerican Shorthair
Breed | American Shorthair |
Origin | USA |
Size | medium |
Weight | Females 3 to 4.5 kilograms on average, males between 3.5 and 4 kilograms |
Physique | smart, sleek, good musculature, broad ribcage, average length legs, average tail |
head shape | broad and round head, large nose |
Eyes | round: in many colours, however, it should match the colour of the fur |
Coat and colour | short, thick; large variety of colours |
Coat care | occasional brushing |
Nature | curious, agile, sociable, affectionate, intelligent |
Special features | friendly, gentle, even-tempered, playful, affectionate |
Owning | very healthy and robust, life expectancy between 15 and 20 years |
American Shorthair: Nature
The athletic American short hair is a very uncomplicated cat that is a good average in every personality characteristics. It is playful and curious, but also needs its quiet and cuddly phases. When interacting with people, other cats, or dogs, it is relaxed and even-tempered. In other words, this sly mouse catcher is an ideal companion for family as well as for singles or couples. Commonly seen in almost all colours, the American Shorthair has proven itself to be a faithful family companion that forms a close bond with its family.
American Shorthair: Keeping and care
This cute short-haired cat is also very uncomplicated in terms or care and keeping, assuming it comes from reputable breeders who have done well socialising the cat. Because their original job was as a mouse catcher, they are happy to play and ideally enjoy being outdoor cats. If this is not possible, it is recommended that you provide your cat with companions of the same species and spend time with your animals. Regular play periods with its human, enhanced with cosy snuggle time, helps the American Shorthair to establish an close relationship with you and it will prove to be a faithful, lifelong partner.
Colours
The short hair of the aptly named American Shorthair is easy to care for, and this frisky feline can be seen in almost all colours and markings. Most breeding associations accept almost all colour variants. The following colours are seen frequently: chinchilla, red, blue, black, white, cream, two-tone, tabby (striped), smoke, shaded and calico (tortoiseshell). For every colour there are certain standards, such as with red colouring that does not contain any white only just a bit of white.
History of the American Shorthair
The ancestors of today’s American Shorthair first conquered their new homeland as mouse catchers in the villages. At that time they were called Domestic Shorthair. Starting in 1906, people started to intentionally breed the cat as the bloodline of the breed had been continually diluted by other newly imported cat breeds, and it was now renamed the American Shorthair The new name was used to emphasize the American origin of the breed. Probably because of the similarity with normal house cats, until the 1960s the animals received little notice at cat shows compared with other breeds.
Special features
Due to their origin, the American mouse catcher is considered a decidedly uncomplicated, healthy, and robust breed. They have a very long life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. If you choose an American Shorthair, you should consider that you must also take care of your animal for its entire life. In return, you will find a loyal and affectionate companion in this diverse feline.
