The American Shorthair Cat

The American Shorthair is a robust cat with full cheeks, broad ears, a muscular body and full, round paws. It is more long in the leg and a little leaner than the British Shorthair, and though the face is somewhat flat and round it is without the pronounced dish of the British breed. The coat is short, dense and hard. This is a cat of average activity level that enjoys a good mouse hunt indoors or out.  It is the classic American cat with a hearty build and personality and a long history of domestication that can be traced back to the Mayflower. Irreplaceable as the ideal form of rodent control, the ancestors of todays American Shorthair were surely very similar in type and temperament to todays cats and the breed has stood the true test of time with a people pleasing personality, no-frills good looks and business-like attitude.

 Cool Cat Facts...
American  Shorthair cats came across the ocean from Europe with the pilgrims. Good companions and excellent at controlling vermin, they were selectively bred and became a purebreed in the early 1900's                                                                        

Is An American Shorthair Cat Right For You?

The American Shorthair cat is recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the world's largest cat organization. and is one of the most popular pure-bred or "pedigreed" domestic cat breeds. The breed can be traced back to the Mayflower where British type stock first stepped foot on American soil, but the American and British shorthairs are now two distinct breeds. The American Shorthair comes in any color or pattern with classic "tabby" or "tiger cat" patterns being most common. The coat is short and stiff with a plush undercoat. Shedding may be high and regular grooming is desired. These are sturdy medium-sized cats that have few breed-related health issues. Because it is reletively active and enjoys moderate interaction the American Shorthair cat is a nice family cat that does well with considerate children. They do like their own space occasionally and greatly enjoy the outdoors.

American Shorthair Cat Breed Standards

Head: The head should be large, round, broad and well-developed. The cheeks should be full presenting a powerful look. There should be a slight concave or "dished" quality to the face. The muzzle is squarish but never compressed, with a strong, well-formed chin.
Ears: The ears should not be unduly large, but medium in proportion to the head, broad at the base with rounded tip and good space between.
Eyes: The eyes should be large and round, widely spaced and bright and clear. In general, the eye color may be any, but there are specific eye color requirements for a few of the many coat colors which are important for show specimens.
Body and Tail: This should be a medium to large size cat that is slightly longer than it is tall with a powerful , broad body and deep, well-formed chest. A pad of fat on the abdomen is common for this breed and completely acceptable. The neck is short and stout. The legs are medium in length and well boned with a meaty quality. The feet are medium to large in size and round with five toes in front, four in back. The tail should be of medium length, tapered, and is usually carried level with the top line.
Coat:The coat is short and close-lying with moderate undercoat. A detailed and somewhat complicated number of colors and pattern varieties are accepted in the show ring, with corresponding requirements of markings and eye color, but in general, all patterns and colors are accepted, ticked or agouti type coats are not desirable.
Overall Appearance: This should be a robust, broad-faced and attractive animal with a natural, only slightly refined appearance, calm, sometimes reserved, but not timid. A lovely, classic domestic cat.

Inside Cat or Outside Cat?

Wondering if you should allow your cat to go outside unsupervised? Well there are definitely some pure breeds that should never be outside cats. Hairless breeds like the Sphynx are extremely vulnerable and should always be supervised outdoors. Docile breeds like the Burmese may not be able to defend themselves. All cats allowed outdoors are exposed to diseases and parasites that they would not otherwise encounter. Fred Flintstone put his saber-tooth out every night, but the cat jumped right back in the window - and he was a saber-tooth! Still, most of us feel a little envy when we see our domestic companion out on some high perch, sniffing the breeze of liberty, and there is no doubt that cats love their freedom. So what do YOU think ....Inside Cat or Outside Cat? Comment Here...

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