Description: American Shorthair
The American Shorthair is a popular and versatile cat breed known for its good-natured temperament and classic appearance. Recognized for their robust health, sturdy build, and adaptable personality, these cats make wonderful family companions. The American Shorthair is easily identified by its short, dense coat, which can come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, although silver tabby is particularly iconic. They are friendly, affectionate, and generally get along well with children and other pets. Their playful yet gentle disposition makes them ideal for households of all types. Low-maintenance when it comes to grooming, American Shorthairs require only basic care and have moderate activity needs. This breed is renowned for being easygoing and independent, making them a favorite among both experienced cat owners and first-time pet parents.
American Shorthair ratings
Properties
The American Shorthair is one of the most beloved domestic cat breeds in the United States, known for its amiable personality and robust health. Originally bred from European cats brought to North America by early settlers, the breed was valued for its ability to keep homes and stores free of rodents. Over the centuries, American Shorthairs have evolved into a distinctly American breed, with selective breeding emphasizing temperament, physical health, and a striking appearance.
American Shorthairs are medium to large-sized cats with males typically weighing between 11-15 pounds, and females around 8-12 pounds. Their bodies are solid, muscular, and well-proportioned, giving them a powerful yet agile presence. They have round faces, full cheeks, and expressive eyes that can be gold, green, hazel, or blue, depending on the coat color. One of the breed’s most attractive features is its short, dense, and resilient coat, which comes in over 80 recognized colors and patterns, with the silver tabby being particularly iconic.
This breed is renowned for its gentle, easy-going, and affectionate nature. American Shorthairs are friendly towards family members of all ages and generally get along well with other pets, including dogs. They are not typically clingy or demanding, making them a perfect match for households looking for a companionable yet independent cat. Their intelligence and adaptable nature allow them to seamlessly blend into a variety of environments, from quiet apartments to active households.
Another hallmark of the breed is its excellent health. American Shorthairs boast a long lifespan, often living 15 years or more, and are not particularly prone to genetic diseases. Their short coats require minimal grooming; a weekly brushing is usually sufficient to keep shedding under control. They are moderately active, enjoying interactive play but also content to spend time lounging or observing their surroundings.
Overall, the American Shorthair is an ideal cat for first-time owners and seasoned cat lovers alike, combining good health, attractive looks, and a delightful personality. Their adaptability, low maintenance, and affectionate disposition have secured their reputation as one of America’s favorite feline companions.
Appearance
The American Shorthair is a medium to large-sized cat breed, known for its robust and muscular build. This breed displays a powerful, athletic body with a broad chest, strong shoulders, and well-developed muscles, giving it a solid, substantial appearance. Adult males generally weigh between 11 and 15 pounds, while females are slightly smaller, typically ranging from 8 to 12 pounds. One of the distinctive features of the American Shorthair is its round face, with full cheeks, a firm chin, and a moderate-length nose. The eyes are large, wide-set, and slightly almond-shaped; they can be any color that complements the cat's coat, although gold and green shades are common. The ears are medium-sized, slightly rounded at the tips, and set well apart, contributing to the breed's alert and gentle expression.
The coat of the American Shorthair is one of its most notable traits: it is short, dense, and resilient to the touch, offering protection against the elements. This breed is renowned for its extensive range of coat colors and patterns—over eighty recognized varieties exist. The most popular and iconic is the silver tabby, characterized by striking black tabby markings set against a luminous silver background. Patterns accepted include solid, tabby, calico, bicolor, smoke, and shaded varieties. Other colors may encompass black, white, blue, cream, red, and a diversity of tortoiseshell and cameo shades. Regardless of pattern or color, the coat should always appear lustrous, healthy, and somewhat plush due to its density and thickness.
American Shorthairs have a well-balanced appearance where no single characteristic dominates. The legs are medium in length—neither too long nor too short—fitting harmoniously with the body, and end in rounded, strong paws. The tail is thick at the base, tapering ever so slightly toward a rounded tip, and is of medium length. This harmonious overall conformation gives the American Shorthair an impression of strength and grace without sacrificing functionality. Their appearance reflects their history as working cats originally bred in the United States for hunting vermin, making them not only beautiful but supremely agile and fit for purpose.
History
The American Shorthair is one of the oldest and most cherished cat breeds in the United States, with a rich history that dates back to the earliest days of European settlement in North America. This breed descends from cats that accompanied settlers on ships from Europe, such as the famed Mayflower in 1620. These ship cats were not only beloved companions but also played an essential role in protecting precious food supplies by controlling rodent populations on board during long and perilous voyages.
Upon arriving in the New World, these cats continued to serve an invaluable purpose on land, keeping farms, homes, and businesses free from vermin. Over centuries, natural selection favored the strongest and healthiest cats—those most able to survive harsh climates, tough working conditions, and frequent exposure to disease. This created a robust, intelligent, and resilient foundational stock.
By the late 19th century, American breeders began to formally recognize and selectively breed these native shorthair cats, aiming to preserve their desirable qualities while building a distinct breed identity. The breed was initially shown as "Domestic Shorthair" at North America's first organized cat show at Madison Square Garden in 1895. However, the need to separate this sturdy working cat from other random-bred domestic types became clear as enthusiasm for pedigree cats grew.
In 1966, the breed was officially renamed "American Shorthair" to better reflect its uniquely American heritage and standard. This name change helped distinguish the breed from the shorthaired cats that might have no formal breeding background. Breeders focused on traits like health, strength, a friendly and adaptable temperament, and a wide range of classic color patterns—most famously the silver tabby.
Today, the American Shorthair is celebrated for its even disposition, versatility as both a family pet and show cat, and its striking appearance. It maintains a strong link to the early history of the United States, embodying the practical yet affectionate spirit that helped build the nation. The breed is recognized by all major feline organizations and remains one of the most popular and beloved household cats in America.