A-Z
OF CAT BREEDS, WORLDWIDE
American
Shorthair
Although
they weren't listed on the manifest, American shorthairs are thought to have
descended from the cats on the Mayflower which disembarked with the crew in 1620
at Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
It
is possible that they landed in the United States even earlier on ships
carrying settlers to Virginia in the Jamestown colony and maybe with the
Spanish explorers landing in Florida. They
might have accompanied the Vikings when landing in Newfoundland, Canada.
Farmers
and storeholders needed to protect their food stores from mice and rats. The Shorthairs were strong cats suited to the
wild terrain back then.
They
were recognised by The Cat Fanciers Association in 1906. However, they were shown at the first U.S.
cat show in 1895. In 1896, one brown tabby
American Shorthair was offered for sale for $2,500 at the Second Annual Cat
Show at Madison Square Garden. The
pedigree cats were given the name American Shorthair in 1966. Previously they were called Domestic
Shorthair.
These
cats have solid muscularly built bodies with a large head and chubby
cheeks. A true breed of a working cat
with athletic looks, retaining its hunting ability. They have a large assortment of colours and
patterned fur, some of the most popular being silver. The fur is short and thick, making it easy to
groom. Males, weighing 11 to 15 pounds,
are generally larger than the females at 6 to 12 pounds.
Personality
wise, the American Shorthair fits in OK with families who have children and cat
friendly dogs. It is a social cat and is
unlikely to run away from strangers.
Their
lifespan is 15+ years.
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