|
 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, good looks, quiet disposition and
amiability with children and dogs. The American Shorthair is
America's own breed, whose ancestors came to North America with
early settlers from Europe. Records indicate that the
"Mayflower" carried several cats to hunt ship's rats.
For centuries, "working cats" flourished along with
their pioneer owners and eventually established themselves as the
native North American shorthaired cat. Their beauty and loving
nature came to be valued as much as their rat-catching skills. One
brown tabby American Shorthair was even offered for sale for
$2,500 at the Second Annual Cat Show at Madison Square Garden in
1896. Imagine what that would be in today's dollars! Early in the
20th century, foreign breeds imported to the United States
(Longhairs and Siamese) interbred with native shorthaired cats,
producing kittens with varied coat lengths, body styles, color and
temperament. Those who wished to preserve the North American
shorthaired cat acquired the finest examples of the breed and
began mating them selectively to preserve the breed's
conformation, beautiful face and sweet disposition, while
perfecting the patterns and colors characteristic of the American
Shorthair as we know it today.
Other
Names
Shorthair, Domestic
Shorthair
Native
Country
United States
Breed
Description
Head: Broad
and rounded; medium in size. Moderately convex rise from the
bridge of the nose to the forehead. Definite jowls in mature
males. Square, not overly short muzzle. Medium length nose.
Square, firm chin. Strong jaws.
Eyes: Medium to large, round and set well
apart. Outer corners set slightly higher than inner corners. Color
appropriate to coat color.
Neck: Medium in length, muscular and strong.
Body: Medium to large in size. Slightly
longer than tall, not elongated. Broad chest, particularly in
mature males. Well-developed shoulders. Medium boned and
powerfully built.
Paw: Medium in length and heavily muscled.
Paws are medium in size and rounded.
Tail: Medium in length, heavy at the base
and tapering to a rounded tip. Carried nearly in line with the
back.
Coat: Short, thick, and glossy, lying close
to the body. Thick undercoat in winter. All colors permissible
except chocolate, lilac and colorpoint (n).
History
This even-tempered
European immigrant is an excellent hunter The American Shorthair's
counterpart is the British Shorthair and the European Shorthair.
Early immigrants arrived in the United States with cats that
adapted well to the harsh climate of the northern states. This
breed is the result of selectively breeding common "alley
cats" with other imported breeds, such as the British
Shorthair, Burmese, and Persian. In 1904, the C.F.A. registered
the first American Shorthair - Buster Brown, a male smoke
descended from a British Shorthair. This breed was called Domestic
Shorthair until the 1960s, when the breed was officially
recognized as the American Shorthair in 1966. The F.I.Fe. does not
recognize the breed. The American Shorthair is rare in Europe. The
breed is highly prized in Japan and very popular in the United
States.
Behavior
This calm, easygoing
cat adores its owner. The American Tabby is playful, athletic, and
very social. This hardy, solidly built cat reaches puberty early
(around seven or eight months of age). Care is simple. Weekly
brushing is sufficient, but should increase to daily during
shedding season. An American Shorthair should be bathed three to
seven days prior to a show. |
