American Shorthair

The American Shorthair is a sturdy domestic cat breed descended from the working cats of the early European settlers in North America.

Settlers from Europe brought cats on their ships to keep mice and rats away from the stores, and the cats spread with farming families across the continent. Shorthaired cats of this type were shown at the first large American cat show, held at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1895. The Cat Fanciers' Association registered the breed as the Domestic Shorthair in 1906, as one of its first five breeds, and renamed it American Shorthair in 1966. The International Cat Association recognises it too.

The breed has a powerful, well-muscled body of medium to large size, with a broad chest, thick legs and a large, round head with full cheeks. Females weigh about 3.5-5.5 kg (8-12 lb) and males 5-7 kg (11-15 lb). Its short, thick coat has a hard texture that protected the working cats from cold, damp and scratches. More than 80 colours and patterns are accepted, and the silver classic tabby, with black swirls on a pale silver ground, is the best known. The standards describe a calm, even-tempered cat that is friendly without being demanding and is rarely loud.

The coat needs only a weekly comb, and more often during the seasonal shed. American Shorthairs have a good appetite and are not very active, so they put on weight easily, which strains the joints. Health problems reported in the breed include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a thickening of the heart muscle, and hip dysplasia.