- American Shorthair Size: Medium-sized, up to 35cm shoulder height and 50cm head-tail length
- Classification: Short-haired cat
- Color: Dense; great color variety
- Body care: Occasional brushing
- Character: Curious, agile, sociable, affectionate, intelligent
- Origin: USA
- Weight: Female up to 3-5,5 kilograms, Male up to 5-7 kilograms
- Eyes: Round; in many colors, which should match the coat color
- Life expectancy: 15 to 20 years
American Shorthair Origin and History
The ancestors of today’s American Shorthair first conquered their new home as mouse catchers in the villages. At the time, however, they were initially called Domestic Shorthair. It was not until 1906, when the breed’s bloodline became increasingly thinned out by newly imported other cat breeds, that the cats, now renamed American Shorthair, began to be bred. The new name served to emphasize the breed’s American origins. Probably because of their similarity to normal domestic cats, the animals received little attention at cat shows compared to other breeds until the 1960s.
Character
The athletic American is a very uncomplicated cat who has a good average in all character traits. She is playful and curious, but also needs her rest and cuddle phases. When dealing with people, other cats or dogs, she is calm and balanced. In other words, the skilled mouse catcher is an ideal companion for families as well as for singles or couples. The American Shorthair, which can be found in almost all colors, is always friendly as a family member and forms a close bond with her family.
Care, Health and Diseases
Although this cat is a very robust breed , it is not immune to typical diseases that can also affect other domestic cats. Due to their adventurous side , they can come home with small or large wounds. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is also somewhat more common in this breed. This is a disease that leads to thickening of the heart muscle.
Although they are also suitable for life in a quiet senior household, you should make sure they get enough exercise so that they don’t get fat and get the exercise they need. This is because these cats are very intelligent and have a strong hunting instinct. With the help of hunting games, these cats can also be kept very busy indoors. You should make sure that they don’t neglect lurking and chasing prey.
Due to their intelligence, they are also suitable for clicker training and intelligence games.
What else do I need to keep an American Shorthair?
The American Shorthair is very suitable for cat beginners . However, this adaptable and calm cat is better off in quieter households than in hectic families. However, this cat has absolutely no problem with children , as long as there are places for the cat to retreat to where the children leave it alone. They are also very well suited to life with seniors. Due to their strong hunting instinct, they are not really suitable for keeping indoors ; they need to be able to go outside. If you cannot offer this, you must offer plenty of hunting games indoors and enough variety so that the cat does not become too fat through sufficient exercise.
Special Features
Due to their origins, American Mouse Catchers are considered to be an extremely uncomplicated, healthy and robust breed. They have a fairly long life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. If you decide to get an American Shorthair, you should remember that you will have to look after your pet for its entire life. In return, you will find a loyal and affectionate companion in this versatile cat.
