Other Name
The American Shorthair is the pedigreed version of the well-known and beloved domestic shorthair. This versatile cat can be bred for any number of colors and patterns, including the popular silver tabby. The American Shorthair is a muscular cat with a sweet disposition. Medium to large in size, it is a working cat in every regard, exhibiting both balance and endurance. The most striking color for the American Shorthair's coat is sterling silver coat with black markings. This is one of the most popular colors, but there are upwards of 60 colors available for the Shorthair.
Like so many other immigrants to the United States, the ancestors of the American Shorthair arrived by ship. They had one job to do once they disembarked: Rid homes, farms, and businesses of mice and other small vermin. There’s no doubt that they came over on the Mayflower, and it’s likely that earlier settlers, such as those at Jamestown, also brought cats with them to the New World.During the 19th century, cat shows became popular and domestic shorthairs — as they were originally called — were exhibited alongside pedigreed cats. Breeders eventually began to select for the specific traits that now define the American Shorthair: a large head, a face with full cheeks and a sweet expression, a wide muzzle, a powerful jaw, and that coat of many colors. In 1966, the cats were given the name American Shorthair to differentiate them from random-bred felines. They are now the eighth most popular breed registered by the Cat Fanciers Association.
