"If you are looking for a cat that will be a gentle companion, a playmate for your children, and a full-fledged member of the family, look no further than the American Shorthair." This breed is known for its longevity, robust health, amiability with children and dogs, good looks and quiet disposition.
The American Shorthair is America's own breed, whose ancestors are the cats that came to North America with the early pioneers from Europe. There are records that indicate several cats arrived on the "Mayflower." These first cats were brought along to hunt rats that ate the ship's food supplies and spread diseases to humans. For centuries, these working cats flourished along with their pioneer owners and eventually established themselves as the native North American shorthaired cat. Over the years, these cats were further appreciated for their beauty and loving natures. One brown tabby American Shorthair, in 1896, commanded the price of $2500 at the Second Annual Cat Show at Madison Square Garden. Imagine what that sum of money would be in today's dollars!
With the introduction of foreign breeds to the United States during the early part of the 20th century, the naturally pure bloodlines of these "native" shorthairs began to be diluted. Longhairs and Siamese were being allowed to run free, resulting in kittens with a variety of coat lengths, body types, colors and temperaments. Those who admired the qualities of the native shorthaired cats and wished to preserve them acquired the finest examples of the American Shorthair and began to selectively breed them. These pioneer breeders worked to perfect the patterns and colors, while retaining the strong conformation, beautiful face and sweet disposition of the breed.
The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) chose to recognize this lovely breed of cat as one of its first five pedigreed breeds of cats. Originally known as the Domestic Shorthair, in 1966 the name American Shorthair was chosen to better represent this "All American cat". This name is consistent with the idea that our native North American breed of shorthaired cat is distinctly different from what may run in the streets, neighborhoods and barnyards of the country today. The new name also helped to end the confusion that some people had in differentiating the American Shorthair from any other shorthaired cat.By chance, a non-pedigreed shorthaired cat may resemble an American Shorthair, just as any given domestic cat may look like a Siamese or a Persian. The test, however, is in whether that animal can consistently produce kittens of the same conformation, coat quality, and temperament in the same manner as a pedigreed cat. Years of selective breeding and the recording of many generations of cats are what enable today's breeders to be certain that each litter of kittens will have specific qualities. Each litter is planned in order to produce the finest representatives of the breed.
Throughout the last century, the American Shorthair has made steady progress in the show ring. There have been dozens of national winning Americans including two CFA Cats of the Year and one CFA Kitten of the Year. Each of the past few years there have been well over one hundred American Shorthair grand champions, grand premiers, distinguished merit cats, regional and national winners. On the show bench, the well-muscled body, sweet expression and colorful coat are impossible to ignore. "Best Cat in Show" is often an American Shorthair.
You will find American Shorthairs to be low maintenance cats. These beautiful cats are not only lovely to look at, but are healthy, easy going and affectionate. On average, American Shorthairs live fifteen to twenty years with only annual veterinary checkups. They achieve full growth at approximately three to four years old. Males are significantly larger than females with the mature males weighing eleven to fifteen pounds and the mature females weighing eight to twelve pounds.
Known as a cat of many colors, the American Shorthair comes in over eighty different colors and patterns ranging from the striking brown patched tabby to the glistening blue-eyed white, the beautiful shaded cameo to the flashy calico van, and many colors in between. The most common American Shorthair color is the silver tabby with dense black markings set on a sterling silver background. You may have seen this handsome cat featured in television and magazine advertising or in the latest feature at your local cinema. Always consistently in the top ten most popular breeds of cat, the American Shorthair is truly a star in the feline world.
Pricing on American Shorthairs usually depends on each individual kitten's bloodlines, type and applicable markings. Many breeders allow pickup of new kittens between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. At the age of sixteen weeks, kittens have had basic inoculations and developed the physical and social stability to adjust to a new environment. Four months also conforms to the minimum age for showing and transport by air. If a breeder offers you an older kitten or adult cat, don't hesitate; they can be a welcome addition to a home where proper behavior and good manners are needed upon arrival! Keeping your cat indoors and neutering or spaying are essential elements for maintaining a healthy companion, and most importantly will extend the life expectancy of your cat.
by Mary Jo Mersol-Barg
Copyright 1995-2000 The Cat Fanciers' Association