American Shorthair Cat Breed Good Food, Care & Full Information

The American Shorthair is a medium-sized cat with a docile temperament that makes this breed an excellent companion for families with children and/or other pets.
Descended from cats brought over on European shipping ships, the American Shorthair is one of the most popular pedigree cat breeds in North America.
This is thanks to cats’ endearing personalities and ability to adapt to different circumstances. These sweet cats are happy and playful pets, but they also have an independent streak which means they are not as needy as some other breeds.

Physically, American Shorthairs are healthy cats with long lifespans (15 years or more). While they aren’t known for their athleticism, the American Shorthair is surprisingly well-muscled and powerful—a trait honed from all those years of hunting rats on shipping boats. The most prominent characteristic of the breed may be their round faces. As for their coats, American Shorthairs have short, thick fur that thickens in winter. These cats can be just about any color or coat pattern, although tabbies are especially common.

• ORIGIN: United States
• HEIGHT 8–10 inches
• WEIGHT: 11 to 15 pounds (males); 6 to 12 pounds (females)
• LIFESPAN: 15 to 20 years
• COLOR: Many colors, including white, silver, black, cream, blue, brown, and red
• Cat Association Recognition: CFA, ACFA, TICA

American Shorthair Breed Characteristics:

These cats are known for their relaxed, friendly personalities. Their round faces give them a sweet look that aptly expresses their nature. However, don’t think that these are dull cats that laze around all day; As descendants of hard-working mousers, American Shorthairs are still playful and curious cats who love to explore or bat around a crinkle ball or catnip mouse.

Often silver with black tabby markings, these are strikingly attractive cats. They do very well in homes with children, other cats, or cat-friendly dogs, but they don’t demand constant attention. Your American Shorthair can entertain himself with toys, spend time looking out the window, climb up and down the cat tree, or enjoy a good catnap when not spending time cuddling or interacting with you.

History About American Shorthair:

The American Shorthair is considered a short-haired cat native to the United States. However, the breed was bred from cats that probably originated in Europe. Cats fitting the description of the American Shorthair were probably not native to the United States until the time of Columbus.

The first recorded breeding of the American Shorthair occurred around 1904. The British Shorthair was one of the parents of this breed, originally known as the Domestic Shorthair.

The American Shorthair cat was a working cat used to control rodent populations. Because this cat was meant to work, it was bred to be hardy, healthy, and strong. Since most of them lived outdoors, the coat was bred to be thick to keep out the elements and keep the cat warm.

Appearance of This Cat Breed:

A fully grown American Shorthair is a fairly large cat but usually does not reach adult size until three or four years of age. These beautiful cats have thick, short fur that can be a wide range of colors and patterns, but the vast majority—75 percent, according to the Cat Fanciers Association—are tabbies, with the silver tabby being especially popular. Although they can have different eye colors, green and gold are the most common.

The body of the American Shorthair cat is muscular, with a powerful appearance. Their heads are round, with large ears and large eyes. Male American Shorthairs are larger than females.

These cats are moderate shedders and are not a hypoallergenic breed.

Temperament of American Shorthair:

While the American Shorthair may look similar to the Common Domestic Shorthair, the two are not interchangeable. The domestic shorthair is a mixed-breed cat and its temperament can vary wildly, says Allison Gerken, DVM, clinical behavioral medicine at Florida Veterinary Behavior Services.

“American shorthair cats have a more dependable personality—they’re friendly and affectionate,” she says.

For a cat breed that was originally developed only to hunt rats and mice, the American Shorthair has a surprisingly sweet and loving personality. They love to be around their family and are well-behaved even with small humans. American Shorthair cats are known for being easygoing and docile, yet curious enough to make entertaining companions.

“Because of their adaptability, patience, and tolerance, they can do well with children, other cats, and dogs, as long as they are properly introduced,” Gerken says. “However, it’s important to keep in mind that each animal has its likes and dislikes.”

The American Shorthair likes attention but is not demanding about it and is generally very quiet. Although social cats, they also have an independent streak and “don’t insist on constant attention,” Gerken says.

Personality of This Cat Breed:

When describing the American Shorthair, the expression “happy medium” comes to mind. These all-American cats are moderate in size, build, type, and temperament; They are neither too big nor too small, neither too cuddly nor distant, and neither couch potatoes nor hyperactive. The American Shorthair is the perfect breed for people who want a cat that enjoys being in your lap rather than in your face.

American Shorthairs are known for their adaptable nature and quiet voices; They are sociable, easily trained, and adapt well to other animals and children. They generally don’t like to be picked up; Like his fellow Pilgrims who left England to seek freedom, he values ​​his freedom. Because of the American Shorthair’s history as a working cat, they make great companions in terms of health, strength, and vitality.

American Shorthairs enjoy a good game with their favorite humans, but can also amuse themselves with paper balls. They tend to remain active and playful into their old age. Due to their barn cat background, ASHs have a strong hunting instinct and enjoy catching and killing cat rats—and even real rats, if given access to the great outdoors, which is discouraged by breeders. Your indoor ASH will place gifts on your pillow, usually well-killed catnip rats, and proudly await well-deserved petting and praise.

About This Breed Health:

We know that because you care so much about your cat, you want to take great care of it. That’s why we’ve summarized the health concerns we’ll discuss with you about your life at ASH. By learning about common health concerns in American Shorthairs, we can help you create a personalized preventative health plan and hopefully prevent some of the predictable risks in your pet.

Many diseases and health conditions are genetic, meaning they are related to your pet’s breed. The conditions we will describe here have a significant rate of occurrence or a particularly strong effect on this breed, according to the consensus among feline geneticists and veterinarians. This does not mean that your cat will have these problems, just that he may be at greater risk than other cats. We’ll describe the most common problems seen in American Shorthairs to see what the future holds for them. Of course, we can’t cover every possibility here, so always check with us if you notice any unusual signs or symptoms.

This guide includes important general health information for all cats as well as information about the genetic predisposition of the American Shorthair. The information here can help you and your pet’s healthcare team plan together for your pet’s unique medical needs. At the end of the article, we’ve also included a description of what you can do at home to keep your American Shorthair looking and feeling his best. We hope this information helps you know what to look for and that we all feel better knowing that we are taking the best care of your friend possible.

How To Care of American Shorthair?

American Shorthairs love to play and will happily do so – if they are in the mood. This breed enjoys socializing with their humans, yet they have enough independent range to entertain themselves, meaning you usually don’t have to worry about separation anxiety. Leaving interactive toys around the house will help ensure the American Shorthair gets enough exercise, as will setting aside one-on-one playtime. This breed does well with other cats, so getting a kitty companion is another way to keep your American Shorthair active.

When it comes to grooming, these cats may have short hair, but due to the thick nature of their coat, they require regular brushing. You can expect to see your American Shorthair throughout the year, with peaks during the spring and fall. Weekly brushing is ideal for optimal coat health, and other standard grooming practices should also be followed, including regular dental care, ear cleaning, and nail trims.

Best Food For This Breed:

Like many other breeds, American Shorthairs are slow maturing, with many not reaching their full size until 3 or 4 years of age. To support your American kitten’s growth and development, choose a complete and balanced kitten food such as Purina Pro Plan Kitten Chicken & Rice Formula or Purina One Healthy Kitten Formula during the first year or so of its life. Switch her to a complete and balanced adult cat food after her first birthday.

• Hill’s Prescription Diety/d with Chicken Wet Cat Food
• Hill’s Prescription Diety/d Chicken Flavor Dry Cat Food
• Hill’s Science DietAdult Chicken Recipe Cat Food
• Hill’s Science DietAdult Ocean Fish Entrée Cat Food

What Kind of Feeding to This Breed?

American Shorthair cats are happiest if they are not overweight. You can help her stay in the healthy range by feeding her the amount suggested on the cat food label. This is based on weight, so check the back of the bag or can and feed her what is recommended for her specific weight.
To keep your cat from getting hungry, you should feed him two or three times a day. Divide the recommended amount between those two to three meals.
To keep within the recommended range, don’t leave out dry food all the time. This causes your cat to overeat.

What Kind of Food to Need These Cats?

Feed her high-quality food. American Shorthair cats need certain nutrients to avoid certain health problems, such as heart disease and possible eye conditions. Your cat needs lots of natural meat sources that contain valuable amino acid proteins that are essential for your cat’s health. Check the cat food can or bag to see what ingredients are in each food. Make sure all-natural meats are in the first few ingredients. Avoid those with meat byproducts in three or four fewer ingredients.
This type of food may be more expensive than others, but it is worth it for your pet’s health.
If you are unsure about your food choices for your American Shorthair cat, talk to your vet.

Change her water. Your cat needs fresh water every day to stay healthy. You should clean and change the bowl daily to prevent any bacteria or algae growth on the bowl.
If your cat does not like to drink water, place water bowls in several places throughout the house to encourage him to drink.

Feeding behaves a little. Treats are a great way to reward your cat, but overdosing can cause your cat to gain weight or cause nutritional imbalances. If you choose to feed your cat, you should avoid it more than several times a day.
Avoid giving your cat milk as a reward. Cats cannot easily break down the lactose in milk, so if they consume too much they may suffer from diarrhea or vomiting.

Facts About American Shorthair Grooming:

The American Shorthair is easy to groom. You don’t need to brush them, but they do shed. This peaks in the spring when they shed their winter coats. You can help them by running a comb through their hair frequently. This can prevent them from swallowing their fur.

These cats are good at keeping themselves clean. They shouldn’t need a bath, but they’ll sometimes get into something particularly dirty, and you’ll have to help clean them up. You can usually tell just by looking when your cat has gotten into something so bad it can’t clean itself.

Keep their nails trimmed and check their ears occasionally for signs of debris or infection. Brush your cat’s teeth with a veterinarian-approved toothpaste to prevent dental disease.

How to Give Training This Breed?

These all-American cats – American shorthairs are pedigree, while domestic shorthairs we call random birds – have a lot going for them: they are easy-going, tolerant, adaptable, agile, patient, and curiously intelligent. His people-watching skills are second to none, and that makes him a quick learner. Not only will you find them responding to requests like sit, down, and come (after all, you’re not commanding a cat), but they may also be willing and able to learn other tricks, walk on a leash, and choose house rules. , such as using a scratching post instead of your favorite chair to sharpen their claws.

How to Training Exercise This Cat?

Exercise and mental stimulation. The American Shorthair likes to be active. They can also be trained to play fetch.

You should make sure you provide plenty of toys for your pet – both ones that involve you and ones that they can play with on their own. They will be happy if they get some activity every day. They’ll be thrilled to sit on your lap the rest of the time.

They also need a lot of mental stimulation, or they will get bored. Try to provide toys that make them think.

Adoption Center:

Adopt a Pet.Com

Information About American Shorthair:

See More Cat Breeds For Further Research:

• British Shorthair
• American Curl

FAQ People also ask