American Shorthair

Breed Description

The American Shorthair is a sturdy, medium to large cat with a body built for strength rather than flash. According to the CFA, the American Shorthair presents an impression of strength and power, with a medium to large, muscular body protected by a thick, hard-textured coat that can stand up to rough weather, bushes and brambles, and any sort of hostile outdoor environment. Its round face, big expressive eyes and calm, sweet expression make it instantly recognizable, and it comes in an enormous range of looks. In fact, while silver and brown classic tabbies are very popular, the breed is also found in over 100 different color combinations.

What really sets this breed apart is its easygoing, do-it-yourself attitude. With its affectionate nature, the American Shorthair appreciates human company and particularly enjoys interactive play with its human family, but it is independent enough to amuse itself while owners are away at work. It is not a demanding cat, but it is a smart one, and given their high level of intelligence, these cats are easily trainable and can be taught to stay off counters, use scratching posts, and even retrieve toys.

Breed History

This breed’s story starts on the water, not on a farm. The American Shorthair is believed to be descended from European cats brought to North America by early settlers to protect valuable cargo from mice and rats. Some sources even trace this lineage back further, noting that historical records show that some of these cats even set sail on the Mayflower in 1620. Once ashore, these tough little mousers proved their worth in barns, ships’ holds and grain stores for generations before anyone thought to give them a fancy name.

It took a while for looks to matter as much as work ethic. Pioneers instantly adored American Shorthairs for their hunting prowess, but it wasn’t until the late 19th century that people started to appreciate their beautiful and varied coats, and breeders decided to develop and show a shorthair that looked like the working cats that had been in North American for centuries. That effort paid off quickly, since they were one of the first five breeds recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association at its founding in 1906.

For decades the breed carried a much plainer name. Originally shown as Domestic Shorthairs, American Shorthairs received their current name in 1965. The rebrand was meant to celebrate the breed’s homegrown roots and to set pedigreed cats apart from the random-bred cats that simply resemble them.

Behavioral Characteristics

Ask anyone who lives with one and you’ll hear the same story: calm, steady, and quietly devoted. A veterinarian quoted by Daily Paws sums it up well, saying the American shorthair cat’s personality tends to be more reliable, they are friendly and affectionate. They tend to bond with the whole household rather than fixating on one person, and because of their adaptability, patience, and tolerance, they can do well with children, other cats, and dogs, as long as they are properly introduced.

They are not lap-obsessed clingers, though. This breed likes company on its own terms, and it is once touted as the all-American mouser, this breed prefers now to follow its favorite people from room to room, favors walking on its own over being picked up and cradled, behaves gently around children, and is lovable but not clingy. That balance of warmth and independence is a big reason it fits so easily into busy households.

Don’t mistake their mellow attitude for laziness. These cats still carry a working cat’s instincts, and while American Shorthairs are an easygoing bunch, they still require daily play and exercise, and they’re natural mousers who enjoy climbing cat trees or pouncing on their favorite toy. Give them a bit of daily playtime and a perch to watch the world from, and they’re perfectly content.

Fun Facts

• “The breed's ancestors are thought to have crossed the Atlantic with early European settlers, and some records even place cats of this type aboard the Mayflower in 1620.”
• “Originally shown simply as the Domestic Shorthair when the CFA recognized it as one of its first five breeds in 1906, the cat was officially renamed the American Shorthair in 1965.”
• “A black American Shorthair named India lived at the White House with President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, staying with the family for nearly two decades until her death in 2009 at age 18.”

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