Welcome to our American Shorthair Cats page! Here you will find everything you could ever want to know about American Shorthair cats and a complete list of all the American Shorthair catteries we have located in the USA.

The American Shorthair is probably what most people picture when they think of a cat. They are medium-to-large cats that weigh anywhere from six to fifteen pounds (about three to seven kilograms), with females on the lower end of that range. ASH’s usually grow to their full size somewhere around three or four years old. They tend to be a little longer than they are tall: a sturdily-built breed with strong muscles and a broad, straight back. American Shorthairs should have large, broad heads set with slightly rounded ears. Their eyes vary in color from gold to hazel, and are marked by their large size and half-almond shape.

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American Shorthair

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American Shorthair Breed Information:

General Information:

Height/Length: 12-14 in. (male) 10-12 in. (female)
Weight: 11-15 lbs. (male) 6-12 lbs. (female)
Life Span: 15+ years
Coloring: Varied; patterns include solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, and calico
Area of Origin: North America
Similar Breeds: British Shorthair, Exotic Shorthair, Maine Coon

Breed History and Origins:

American, British, and European Shorthairs all share common ancestry in the Roman Empire. As Roman soldiers traveled across Europe, they brought shorthaired cats with them to keep rodents away from their food stores. These cats and their descendants were taken in by local villages all over Europe. Over the centuries, these cats helped to curb diseases like the Black Plague by controlling the rat population. Indeed, these shorthairs’ hunting abilities continued to protect food stores and human health on the ships that brought them across the Atlantic.

The American Shorthair is descended from the working cats who have kept barns and houses free of mice since the Mayflower landed on Plymouth Rock. For 300 years, Europeans immigrated to America, bringing along their shorthaired cats both to catch rats and to act as companions.

Upon their arrival in the New World, the shorthairs were bred to create a sturdy working cat that ranged in size and varied greatly in its coat color. Its coat could thicken or thin according to the seasons, better enabling these cats to survive in the untamed wilds of America or adjust to great changes in climate as they were brought across the country.

With westward expansion, the American Shorthair became the standard ratter in barns and houses across the continent. The late 1800s brought the first cat shows, and with it an interest in developing the common shorthaired American working cat into a standardized breed. First known as the “Domestic Shorthair,” this breed was one of the original five established by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1906. Its name was changed to “American Shorthair” in 1966 in order to distinguish it from other shorthaired breeds and to better reflect its origins.

Although it might look like a random-bred cat, the American Shorthair, also known as the ASH, has a long history of pedigrees and selective breeding. An American Shorthair first took the Cat of the Year award in 1965, and later ASH winners of the same title appeared in 1984 and 1996. This is a breed that has climbed out of the barns and into the hearts (and laps) of many Americans.

Size and Physical Characteristics:

American Shorthairs have stolen many hearts with their sweet, open-faced expressions, created in no small part by their wide eyes and full cheeks. The breed has a squared muzzle with strong jaws designed to snap down on a rat and kill it quickly. Males have defined jowls, while females tend to have slimmer faces. The Shorthair’s coat, as the name implies, is short, but also thick and dense to protect the cat from weather and injury. Their fur tends to thicken in the winter and thin in the summer to further accommodate outdoor conditions.

With over eighty different coloring options, the American Shorthair has some of the most versatile looks in the world of cat breeding. Their coats can come in almost any color or pattern; the only excluded patterns are those that indicate hybridization with another breed (e.g., Siamese points or Abyssinian ticking). With its well-muscled and solidly built body, this breed is a powerful ratter despite its very sweet appearance.

Personality and Temperament:

This is a breed known to be very calm and easygoing. American Shorthairs have reached a “happy medium”—they are neither overly skittish nor layabouts. These cats are easily socialized, and are notably independent without being distant or standoffish. Indeed, they are usually very affectionate animals.

When it is not perched on a high shelf or bookcase, you will usually find an American Shorthair curled up next to its human companion on the couch or at the foot of the bed. This breed has a tendency to show its loyalty and affection in the form of unexpected “gifts”: dead mice or birds that have been hunted outside. If you don’t appreciate this kind of gift, however, they are thankfully very trainable cats that, with proper reinforcement, will instead bring you their favorite toy.

American Shorthairs are good companions for everyone—the elderly, children, and other pets included. It is important to note that, while this breed enjoys human company, it is far more content to sit next to you than to be held or cuddled. If you do pick up the cat, make sure to keep its back legs and hindquarters well-supported. American Shorthairs are well-known for being quiet—they will sometimes meow or purr, but they are just as likely to go the entire day without making a single mew.

Their intelligence and adaptability lends toward flexibility—the ASH quickly adapts to big changes like moving house or a new addition to the family. Many people who have owned an American Shorthair consider them to be the perfect housepets.

Nutritional and Exercise needs:

With all the ratting blood in their veins, you can imagine that American Shorthairs need a lot of exercise. Thankfully, this exercise can come from a variety of means: while they enjoy playing with their human companions, they can find just as much amusement from a cat tree, feathered toy, or whatever random piece of string they happen to find most interesting today.

Mouse toys are particular favorites of this breed, since they allow the cats to satisfy their natural impulse to hunt. Even in old age, the American Shorthair can be found frisking about the house, searching about for an elusive treat or toy.

Food-wise, the ASH is not very picky. It requires a well-balanced diet with the occasional treat. Their active lifestyle will usually keep them trim, but they are also prone to overeating. Any cat owner should ensure that their cat has an appropriate amount of food for its age and activity level.

Grooming and Upkeep:

These cats rarely need any grooming. Most sources recommend a good brushing every week or two, but their coats are generally clean and neat. An American Shorthair may need more frequent brushing during season changes, when its coat sheds in order to better adjust for the changing weather. This is not a less-allergenic cat, and if its fur is not brushed regularly, it will shed moderately around the house.

Other than coat care, cat owners should make sure to keep their cats’ ears cleaned out, teeth cleaned at least once a week, and their claws trimmed every two weeks. To put a cat at ease with all of these procedures, it is best to start the process when it is young. Overall, however, the American Shorthair requires minimal care.

Characteristics unique to the breed:

The American Shorthair is one of the most hardy breeds of cats, and are certainly some of the best hunters. Even a well-fed cat will spend an average of six hours hunting around the house or yard for mice, rats, bugs, birds, or lizards. Oftentimes these hunting trophies may wind up in a place where the cats’ human companions will be sure to see them—more often than not to the human’s disgust.

One of the results of this hunting heritage is their “silent meow.” When asking for food, it is not uncommon for an American Shorthair to look up to their human and open their mouth as though to mew—but no sound will come out. Instead, the cat will use its expressive face to communicate its needs. The intense need for quiet during hunting has adapted the American Shorthair well for a quiet life.

Health and Wellness

American Shorthairs are extremely healthy cats, most of them only requiring yearly checkups at the vet. However, some ASH are known to inherit feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a progressive heart disease. This can be an extremely hard disease to detect, often resulting in sudden death without showing any other symptoms.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is also common in some bloodlines. PKD is a hereditary disease in which the cat’s kidneys develop cysts. This can lead to renal failure in late life. There is no cure, but it can be detected through screening. Any American Shorthair owners should ask for a PKD test at their veterinarian’s office.

Some American Shorthairs also suffer from hip dysplasia, causing anything from mild pain to severe and crippling stiffness, pain, and arthritis. All of these conditions can and should be discussed with both your breeder and vet.

Since it is not uncommon for American Shorthairs to live for upwards of fifteen years, any American Shorthair owners should pay attention to the changing needs of their aging cats. This might include more frequent trips to the veterinarian to evaluate your cat’s body condition. In general, most older cats also need specialized care and diets.

7 Interesting Facts about the American Shorthair:

1. These excellent ratters were worth several weeks’ wages to miners during the California Gold Rush.
2. In an attempt to strengthen the breed, American Shorthairs were interbred with Persians in the 1950s. Most of the cats that resulted from this experiment are now known as Exotic Shorthairs. The addition of Persian genes to the breed also created the tendency toward PKD in some lines of American Shorthairs.
3. Over one-third of all American Shorthairs are silver tabbies—that is, a shining silver coat with bold black stripes.
4. The American Shorthair is the only shorthaired breed to have won the Cat of the Year award since the 1970s.
5. Salem, the feline companion of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, is a black American Shorthair.
6. Although this breed was once known as the “Domestic Shorthair,” that name now refers to any random-bred cat with short hair.
7. American Shorthairs have consistently appeared in top ten lists of most popular cat breeds. Most American Shorthair owners attribute the breed’s popularity to their affectionate natures and laidback attitudes.

References used in this article:

1. Cat Fanciers Association
2. Iams Pet Health – American Shorthair
3. Pet Place – Choosing an American Shorthair
4. Pet MD – Cat Breed: American Shorthair
5. National American Shorthair Club
6. Catster – Breeds – American Shorthair

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