American Shorthair
The American Shorthair is a pedigreed domestic cat descended from the working cats that accompanied European settlers and ships to North America. Those farm, shop, and ship cats were valued for durability and hunting ability, and the modern breed preserves that compact, practical build. American Shorthairs are medium to large cats with a broad chest, rounded head, strong legs, and a short dense coat. They come in many colors, but the silver classic tabby with black markings is the best-known image of the breed. A pedigreed American Shorthair is not the same thing as any shorthaired domestic cat.
At home, the breed is usually steady, moderately playful, and less demanding than many high-energy cats, though individuals vary. Weight control deserves attention, since the sturdy frame can hide gradual gain; measured meals and daily play help. The coat benefits from weekly brushing, especially during seasonal shedding, and routine dental and veterinary care should not be skipped. Breeders may screen for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and other inherited concerns while selecting for temperament and body type. Buyers comparing kittens should ask about pedigree, health history, and how the kittens have been socialized indoors.
Colors: Bicolor, Black, Black and White, Black Smoke, Blue, Blue and White, Blue-Cream, Blue Patched Tabby, Blue Point, Blue Smoke, Blue Tabby, Blue Torbie, Brown, Brown Patched Tabby, Brown Tabby, Brown Torbie, Calico, Cameo Smoke, Chinchilla Silver, Chocolate, Chocolate Point, Cinnamon, Classic Tabby, Cream, Cream and White, Cream Point, Cream Tabby, Dilute Calico, Dilute Tortoiseshell, Fawn, Flame Point, Golden, Harlequin, Lilac, Lilac Point, Lynx Point, Mackerel Tabby, Mink, Pointed, Red, Red and White, Red Tabby, Seal Point, Sepia, Shaded, Shaded Cameo, Shaded Silver, Shell, Shell Cameo, Silver, Silver Patched Tabby, Silver Tabby, Silver Torbie, Smoke, Spotted Tabby, Tabby, Tabby and White, Ticked Tabby, Torbie, Tortie and White, Tortie Smoke, Tortoiseshell, Van, Van Pattern, White
