Cat Breeds - Cat American Short Hair

Cat Personality

Cat American ShortHair

When describing the American Short hair, the expression "compromise" springs, in my mind. These cats throughout the United States is of medium size, set up, type and temperament; neither too much nor little, not too cute, not so far, neither the couch potato, not hyperactivity. Breeders should be noted that the United States, short hair is perfect for people who want a cat, like in your legs, but not breeding in your face. American Short hair is known for their quiet voices and adaptable personality; their sociable, easily trained and adapt well to other animals and children. They generally do not like tobe picked up by the pilgrims as they leave England to find an independent companion, who cherish their freedom.

As the American Short hair cat history as a work, they make health, strength and vitality of the great companions. With proper care of Americans to enjoy long life, generally 15 to 20 years.

Cat Breed Traits

Cat American ShortHair Child

American short hair is known as a healthy, hardy varieties, there is little genetic defect, not because of the domestic stock market is not surprising from Hardy developed varieties. A larger gene pool, to help keep up a healthy breed. Standards emphasize that the United States, short hair, and an autopsy should any part of it be should be exaggerated to promote the weakness of "real work cat breed."


The most dramatic and best known color is silver tabby, more than one-third of American Short hair to show the color. Brilliant silver background of the black markings, patterns are dynamic and memorable.

History - American Shorthair Cat Breed?

In the 370 or so years that American Shorthairs have inhabited this continent, the environment, and more recently, human-controlled breeding, have shaped them into their present form. Shorthaired domestic cats arrived in America with the Europeans. Evidence indicates that several cats may have sailed over from England aboard the Mayflower in 1620. Upon arrival, these felines became working cats in the barns and fields of the early Americans. Years of natural selection turned them into a strong, hardy breed of dependable temperament.

With the import of foreign breeds, however, the original American Shorthair bloodlines became diluted. In the early 1900s a group of breeders began a selective breeding program to preserve the natural beauty, mild temperament, and hardiness of the American Shorthair. Acceptance in the show ring was a long time coming for the American Shorthair. As late as the 1960s American Shorthairs were treated like the strays of the cat fancy.

Breeders also battled confusion between their carefully bred American Shorthairs and random-bred domestic cats. While a non-pedigreed domestic cat may look like a pedigreed American Shorthair, the mix of uncertain genes means that the domestic generally will not breed true; you cannot count on type, temperament, and length of hair as you can with a purebred American Shorthair.

The first American Shorthair to be registered in this country was an orange tabby male named Belle that ironically was imported from England in the early 1900s. It wasn't until 1904 when the first American-born American Shorthair (named Buster Brown) was registered under the breed name of Shorthair.

Later, the breed was renamed Domestic Shorthair, and in 1965 the breeders voted to change the name again, this time to the American Shorthair. The same year, CFA named a silver tabby male (Shawnee Trademark) Best Cat, and the breed finally began to receive some hard-earned respect in the cat fancy. Today, American Shorthairs are playing at show rings everywhere, and earning their due share of admiration and rosettes.

Copyright © 1998 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. based on

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CAT BREEDS by J. Anne Helgren.