The American Shorthair is a medium-sized, lovable, very popular house cat. These American Shorthairs are very beautiful.
It has got the recognition as the state cat of the USA just like the Maine Coons. It is one of those cats who had to struggle for their recognition.
Nowadays The American Shorthair is very adorable in North America, but in the past isn’t like that. All the American cat breeds arrived from Europe and This breed isn’t apart from them.
Now we will know the details of The American Shorthair.
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Breed specialty of American Shorthair cat:
Personality: Affectionate, playful, easygoing, gentle, and curious.
Life span: 15 to 20 years.
Weight: Male- 11 to 15 pounds, Female- 6 to 12 pounds.
Length- 12 to 15 Inches.
Coat Length: Short
Coat patterns– The most common pattern is Tabby. Other patterns are Tortoiseshell, Bi-color, Calico, and solid.
Coat color: Available in many colors such as Silver, White, Black, Red, Blue, Brown, and Cream.
Eye color: Green, Blue, Gold, Hassle, and copper.
Not hypoallergenic
Hails from the USA and Europe as well.
Origin of the American shorthair cat breed:
The origin isn’t very interesting of the American shorthair cat. As we know that the British founded their Colonies all over the world.
so, they came to the USA with their cats in 1609. Obviously, they came by ship and cats worked on the ship the rodent controllers. So, American Shorthairs are their descendants.
Some experts believe that the breed originally came over the Mayflower and some cats made a trip a little earlier than this.
The cats passed their traits to their kittens. The American Shorthairs are maintaining the traits of dense hairs, moderately big size, and muscular bodies of their ancestors. This trait helps them to hunt and go outside in Winter.
The American Shorthairs are recognized as a breed in 1966 to distinguish the trait from the house Shorthairs. Because the house cats didn’t have any special characteristics.
With the passing of time, The American Shorthair breed has become the 6th most popular breed according to the Cat Fanciers Association.
Once, the cross-breed between the Shorthair and Persia Cats was banned. Because the Shorthair was losing its significant features.
So, the characteristics of the breeds were preserved due to the ban. The first exhibition of the Shorthair was held for the first time in 1895 and the Cat Fanciers Association recognized it as a founding breed in 1906.
Appearance Of American Shorthair cat breed:
The physical attribute is very distinctive of American beauty.
Body: The body of the breed is Athlete looking. The shoulder, chest, and hindquarters are well-developed. The backside is broad and straight.
Head: The head is round and full-cheeked. A smooth curve flows from the forehead to the neck.
There is a passage between the two ears and the nose is small. With a sweet and innocent look, the nose is gently curved and made a bridge to the forehead.
Ears: The ears are medium-sized, wide from the base, and the tips are rounded with a pointed upward.
Eyes: The eyes are always alert, large, clear with an oval-shaped upper lid and rounded lower lid. The eyes are set cornered, not straight.
Legs and paws: The legs are proportionate with the body, medium-sized with strong muscles. The forelegs are straight and the back legs are bent.
Five fingers are in front and four fingers are at the back. The paws are big and very soft.
Tail- The tail is medium-length, firm, and tapering to the end.
Coat: Very dense coat with a short length, even and hard and thick. The thickness increases in Winter. The Coat is protective from moisture and skin injury.
Coat color and patterns: With a shaded and solid pattern the Coat has Silver, White, Black, Red, Blue, Brown, and Cream color. Silver Tabby with a Black strip is an iconic color of the breed.
Temperament and nature of American Shorthair cat:
The American Shorthairs are pretty playful and continue it throughout their whole life. They don’t run much but are always active.
They love to play with many toys around them. A very friendly behavior, especially with children and other pets.
They don’t get intimate with strangers very quickly and take time to recognize the strangers, They need your attention during playtime and cuddling. But they also prefer their independence, don’t like to be held, and are also very sweet-tempered.
They listen to their owners. They have some unique habits such as You can eat something in front of them and they won’t disturb you.
When they understand that their owner needs privacy, they mind their own business, They won’t wake you in the morning rather they wait for your awaking.
For a down-to-earth personality, they’re also suitable for busy people. They need a little time and cuddle.
Caring, grooming, and exercise tips for American short hair cat:
The Breed needs no special care and is a low-maintenance breed. They require brushing of coats and teeth, bathing, trimming of nails, checking eyes and ears, etc.
Caring is as like the other breeds. You just arrange plenty of opportunities for your pet as they are predator-minded cats. Don’t let them out without any supervision.
Health and problems of American Short hair cat:
The American Shorthairs suffer from some health problems.
Hypertrophic Cardio Myopathy: Thickening the heart walls causes it.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Amino Acid Taurin is absent in most cat foods. So, this is responsible for the problem.
Feline lower Urinary Tract disease ( FLUTD): When your pet urinates outside the litter box, then you should understand that there is a problem in your pet’s urinary system. The nerve isn’t working properly.
Renal failure: When the Kidneys don’t cleanse waste from the blood, this problem occurs. The problem is seen in old cats and sometimes in young cats.
Hyperthyroidism: If a Tumor develops in the Thyroid gland, then it is called Hyperthyroidism. The signs of vomiting, weight loss, and increasing thrust. It causes to Kidney failure, heart failure, and blood clots.
Diabetes and other Kidney diseases: Common in overweight and old cats.
So, as a good human parent, be cautious that your American Shorthair can’t gain overweight. Take your pet to the veterinarian after every six months and get the litterbox clean.
Get pet insurance for your American short hair cat:
You love your pet a lot. So, ensure the highest security for your cat by getting pet health insurance. Your cat may be injured suddenly.
Maybe at that time, your financial condition is not so good. Besides, Diabetes and Hypothyroidism are expensive to treat.
So, pet insurance will be the best solution.
Food and nutritional tips for American Shorthair cat:
The American Shorthairs are very active, and playful, and live a long life of almost 20 years, So, they need a very good amount of Protein and nutrients.
So, ensure enough protein such as meat, fish, and obviously milk. You should also provide them with 41 nutrients with cane food.
But they shouldn’t be overweight. Remember, food habit decides the lifespan.
Some facts you need to know about American Shorthairs:
- The American Feline has a strong and powerful jaw and the mice are threatened by their face.
- The famous Bettles member John Lennon owned an American Shorthair, named Pepper.
- The 43rd American President of the US- George W, Bush, and his family had an American Shorthair, named India. After spending 8 years of royal life in the Whitehouse, India died in January 2009 when George Bush was ready to leave Whitehouse.
- American Shorthairs have almost 80 coat colors that can be seen in American Shorthair.
- They never get bored and vocalize a lot. They can play with anything they get in the house and stays busy until their owner chrome back home.
- They are very good hunters.
- An American Shorthair was named CFA’s ‘Cat of the Year’ in 1965, 1984, and 1996.
- American Shorthairs’ life expectancy is just like that of dogs. So, they’re dog-like companions.
Breed overview of American short hair cat:
American Shorthairs’ main physical trait is boldly striped coats with 80 different colors and shades. They dazzle with thick and dense coats.
Their shedding is moderated and they can manage themselves alone or with a single adult. A wonderful family pet and always keep themselves entertained.
They are expert hunters. So, they pass their winter season by hunting birds, rodents, and rats.
How to Find an American Shorthair cat:
Way no.1:
Purchasing from a reputable breeder: first you can contact local breeders to have a pet. If you can’t find them nearby then visit this organization’s website- Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA), Fancier’s Breed Refferal List, and The International Cat Association (TICA).
Don’t be fooled by disreputable breeders.
How To Identify An American Shorthair Cat?
Well, notice that-
- Pets are always available to them.
- Multiple litters are present on the premises.
- They will encourage you to pay the bill by credit card and online.
- They will promise you that their pets are 100% healthy but no animals can be like that.
- They won’t provide any certificates and test results that they conduct on pets.
Way no.2
Adopt from a rescue organization:
American Shorthairs are rarely found in shelters but you can find them on websites like-
Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue, Rescue me!: American Shorthair Rescue, petfinder.com, adopt-a-pet.com, Overstock Pet Adoption.
Some name suggestions for American shorthair cats:
Amber, Sunset, Hunter, Ginger, Butterscotch, Aslan, Anchovy, Axcel, Earl Grey, maverick, Misty, Pearl, Topaz, Twilight, and so on.
Some male names: Max, Dustin, Ajax, Donovan, and Scooter.
Some female names: Cleo, Demi, Alexa, Ayla, and Astra.
Cons of American Shorthairs:
- They are prone to weight gain.
- You can’t understand their actual look as they’re heavier than they look.
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