American Shorthair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids American Shorthair
Black silver blotched tabby American Shorthair
Other names	none
Origin	North America (formal breed development) Europe (original landrace stock)
Breed standards
CFA	standard
TICA	standard
ACFA/CAA	standard
CCA-AFC	standard
Domestic cat (Felis catus)

The American Shorthair (often called ASH) is a special type of house cat. People believe these cats came from European cats. Early settlers brought them to North America on ships. Their job was to protect important cargo from mice and rats. In 2020, the Cat Fanciers' Association said it was the eighth most popular purebred cat in the world.

History of the American Shorthair

When settlers traveled from Europe to North America, they often brought cats with them. These cats were called ships' cats. They helped keep the food and supplies safe from mice. For example, cats came on the Mayflower with the Pilgrims. They hunted rats on the ship and in the new colony.

Many of these cats stayed in the New World. They bred with each other and developed special traits. These traits helped them live well in the new climate. In the early 1900s, people started a special breeding program. They wanted to make these cats even better.

The American Shorthair is a purebred cat. This means it has a strict set of rules for how it should look. These rules are made by cat lovers and groups like The International Cat Association (TICA). The breed is accepted by all major cat groups in North America.

This breed was first called the Domestic Shorthair. In 1966, its name changed to "American Shorthair." This new name showed its "all-American" beginnings. It also helped tell it apart from other short-haired cat breeds. The name "American Shorthair" also makes it clear that it's a purebred cat. It is different from regular domestic short-haired cats that are not purebred, even if they look similar. Both American Shorthairs and the cats they came from were often called working cats. This is because they helped control mice and rats on ships and farms. The American Shorthair was one of the first five breeds registered by the CFA in 1906.

What American Shorthairs Look Like

Appearance

A brown blotched tabby adult American Shorthair.

American Shorthairs are medium to large cats. Males usually weigh between 11 and 15 pounds (5-7 kg). Females are a bit smaller, weighing 6 to 12 pounds (2.75-5.5 kg). Their head is large and shaped like an oval, longer than it is wide. Their ears are medium-sized and have slightly rounded tips. They have large, wide eyes. Their neck is medium in length and very strong. Their legs are medium-sized and muscular. Their tail is also of medium length.

Coat Colors

The American Shorthair comes in over eighty different colors and patterns! You can find them in many shades. Some are brown-patched tabby, and some are white with blue eyes. There are also silvers (like tabbies, shaded, smokes, and cameos). You can also find calico and bicolor cats. Many other colors and mixes exist too. Some even have deep black or brown fur.

Cats with certain colors are usually not allowed in shows. These colors include chocolate, sable, lilac (a light purple color), or the pointed pattern like a Siamese cat. These colors usually mean the cat has been mixed with another breed.

Health of American Shorthairs

A study in Japan looked at American Shorthair cats. It found that 47% of those tested had a gene change called PKD1. This change can cause a kidney problem called feline polycystic kidney disease. This disease causes small sacs (cysts) to grow in the kidneys and liver.

Another study looked at over 5,000 cases of bladder stones in cats in the United States. It found that American Shorthairs were less likely to get a certain type of bladder stone (urate uroliths) than mixed-breed cats.

Gallery

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  Black silver shaded female adult

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  Side profile of a black tabby adult

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  Black blotched tabby adult on a cat show

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  Black silver tabby adult

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  Laura Bush holding their family cat India, a solid black American Shorthair (2004)

See also

In Spanish: American shorthair para niños

• European Shorthair (or Celtic Shorthair), a similar modern breed derived from landrace European domestic short-haired cats.
• Exotic Shorthair
• British Shorthair