American Shorthair cat breed: from a former respected hunter to a popular pet

The adaptable and good-humoured American Shorthair has retained its hunting ability to this day, but nowadays it is more of a family companion.

The American shorthair is often referred to as the overseas equivalent of the British and European Shorthair. However the British Shorthair is slightly lighter and more elegant in appearance, but the American Shorthair is larger than the European Shorthair.

History

When Europeans first sailed to the New World, there were undoubtedly cats among the passengers and crew when the Mayflower arrived in America in 1620. Because of their rat-catching talents, the cats were appreciated by the crew. In fact, some sources suggest that the American Shorthair ancestors may have been on boats even earlier. Some of the descendants of these sea cats were simply called Shorthairs or Domestic Shorthairs, now known as American Shorthairs.

Cats were appreciated on land and at sea. Farmers, shopkeepers and farmers all needed good cats to protect their food stores from mice, rats and other pests. Shorthairs were balanced, hardy stock, well adapted to the harsh conditions on the untamed continent. So good were they as hunters that a document from 1634 says they saved a New England colony’s crops from squirrels. With the settlers, the cats headed west and were extremely popular.

By 1895, the Shorthairs had gained enough recognition to be exhibited at the first cat show in the United States. A kitten in 1896 sold for $2500 at Maddison Square Garden, which was a fortune at the time. This shows how much this cat was appreciated back then. It was officially recognised as a breed by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1906. The American Shorthair was among the first five cat breeds registered by the organisation. To distinguish them from randomly bred cats, also known as Domestic Shorthairs, the pedigree cats were given the name American Shorthair in 1966. The breed is particularly popular in the USA today.

Breed standard

The American Shorthair is an active, athletic and slender cat of medium stature. Thanks to its flexibleness, it moves almost silently. The head is relatively large, slightly ovoid. Somewhat longer than it is wide. His cheeks are a little full. Its powerful bite makes it one of the most feared cats by rodents. Nose straight, short in the facial region. The ears are spreading, broad-based, moderately large and rounded at the tips. Its eyes are round, large and their colour depends on the colour of the coat. His eyes are bright and attentive. The neck is medium long, muscular and powerful. The trunk is slender and broad. Chest deep, back straight. The length of the tail is in proportion to the body, straight, slightly stout. The limbs are slightly short and muscular. The coat is dense, thick and short, less dense in summer. Colours include black, white, red, blue, cream, tabby, bicolor and turtle. It weighs about 3.5-7 kg. Expected lifetime 15-20 years.

Character

The adaptable and good-humoured American Shorthair has retained his old hunting talents, but nowadays he spends his days as a family member. His temperament is characterised by a happy medium. It is neither too fidgety nor a lazy idler. The American Shorthair is moderately active and enjoys playtime as much as most cats, but doesn’t require too much attention or activity. He is not demanding, but clearly does not mind being pampered by his owner. As befits a good working class cat, he is smart and intelligent, and enjoys playing with puzzles or interactive toys. She has a sociable nature and is not the type to hide under the bed when visitors arrive. He is a loving and affectionate character who is never a burden to his owner. Not very talkative, and even when he wants to communicate by meowing, his voice is soft and pleasant to the human ear.

Ideal environment

The American Shorthair is a hardy, adaptable cat. It’s as comfortable in an apartment as it is on a farm in the countryside. He usually gets on well with other cats and dogs, and he likes children, especially if they play with him. This cat doesn’t upset his owner’s life, he doesn’t disturb too much, but that doesn’t mean he’s boring to live with. He demands love and care, but he is not a willful cat. It could be ideal for almost anyone who wants a lovely companion. He doesn’t really like to be carried and lifted, he prefers to explore on his own four feet.

Care

Grooming her coat is not a time-consuming task, just comb through it once a week and she takes care of the rest. In winter, the American Shorthair grows a thicker coat. When shedding, the undercoat is the most likely to fall out. She rarely needs bathing. You should check the cleanliness of the ears every week. If they look dirty, wipe them with a cotton pad or a soft, damp cloth moistened with a 50-50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water.

You should also wash her eyes occasionally with a soft, damp cloth. To avoid infections, use a separate area of the cloth for each eye. Claws should be cut if they become too long, and it is also a good idea to clean their teeth regularly.

Common health problems

The American Shorthair is a generally healthy cat, but one problem that may affect the breed more often is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This is the most common form of heart disease in cats. It causes thickening of the heart muscle.

(Literature: János Szinák – István Veress: Macskakalauz, Jean-Luc Renck: A macska)