 The American
Shorthair is the most popular and most prevalent breed of American
cat.
American Shorthairs are medium to large sized cats, with powerful
legs and strong paws. Their muzzle is squarish. Their coat is short,
with the fur being thick, dense, and stiff to protect them from
cold, moisture, and superficial skin injuries. Their coat thickens
up in the winter and sheds in the spring but still remains lighter
and slimmer than its close cousin, the British Shorthair. American
Shorthairs are very affectionate, long-living, and disinclined to
behavioral problems; they get along well with other family members,
including dogs. The American Shorthair is also an excellent hunter,
but its sunny and gentle disposition make it ideal for families with
small children. Shorthairs tend to get overweight very easily.
An American Shorthair is not considered fully grown until 3-4 years
old, when it attains the true strong athletic proportion of its
breed. Males are usually larger then females and have definite
jowls. It is perfectly happy as an indoor or outdoor cat.
American Shorthairs come in over a 100 different varieties of colors
(blacks, whites, silvers, creams, reds, browns, greys, and tabby
mixes), but their eyes, pad color, and nose will always match their
coloring. Their tail tapers to a blunt tip and has no kinks.
Grooming for an American Shorthair is extremely easy, all they
require is regular brushing and a wipe over with a damp chamois will
make the coat shine.
History
Move over, Rover! This handsome cat could become man's new best
friend.
Last night I was awakened by the screaming of Amy, my 4-year old
daughter, who was having a nightmare. As I reached up to the top
bunk to comfort her, a moving shape caught my eye. It was Mr. T, our
red tabby American Shorthair climbing up the ladder with the same
intention. Amy ignored me but welcomed to Mr. T with open arms and
he purred his way right into them. Before long, cat and child were
curled up together, asleep. As I returned a bed, I felt grateful to
have such a gentle, sensitive pet in our lives. I considered an
American Shorthair a loving, vital member of the family.
A Separate Breed
You may wonder what an American Shorthair is. Technically, it is the
breed of cat recognized by all the cat registries. Thus it has a set
of confirmation standards specifying what the ideal specimen should
look like. At a cat show, men will drag their wives over to the row
of American Shorthairs and insist, "Now these are real cats!" A
well-bred American Shorthair is strong and muscular and appears able
to take care of itself. This trait, along with its moderate pace and
body, makes the breed appealing to people looking for a
middle-of-the-road cat rather than one of extreme characteristics.
Often a visitor to show will spot an American Shorthair and say, "I
have a cat just like that back at home." The breed is one of the few
that are native to America; its roots are in the streets and barns
of this great country. Because of this domestic heritage, you well
may have a distant cousin of the fancy show cat you see peering at
you from behind all those rosettes. But what makes this cat so
special that it can win large ribbons and earn fancy titles such as
grand champion or national grand champion? Why is it allowed to
compete with the elegant Siamese and the beautifully coiffured
Persian? I'll tell you why; the American Shorthair you see at a cat
show is the product of carefully planned and controlled breeding
programs that have existed since the turn of the century. Years ago,
a few dedicated people who noticed the beauty and temperament of
native cats decided to preserve them as a pure breed, as was being
done with other countries' native cats, such as the Siamese, Korat,
Birman and Chartreux. After many generations of selecting breeding,
today's American Shorthair reproduces uniformly and predictably.
This distinguishes it from similar looking cats on the street.
No Respect
No documentation exists about when cats first came to our country,
although we have some evidence that several cats sailed from England
on the Mayflower. America's pioneer cats caught rats and mice on New
England sailing ships, maintained order in barns, patrolled fields
and warmed themselves at the hearths of settlers' homes. In short,
they were integral members of the community. Their ability to earn
their keep was far more important than their appearance or purity of
bloodline. As the country became more tame, so did the cat. Soon
settlers became interested in keeping cats for their beauty and
companionship. As the cat fancy developed, people increasingly
valued imported pedigree cats and disdained those that were common
and underfoot. Except for a handful of people who genuinely loved
the look and temperament of our native cats, the growing number of
cat fanciers did not appreciate the early American Shorthair. The
first registered American Shorthair came from Great Britain in the
Early 1900s. To make the incongruity complete, the cat was a red
tabby male named Bell of Bradford. No wonder the American Shorthair
earned so little respect! Shorthaired cats had lived in America for
centuries, but it took a British import to get them into the
registry books.
A longtime passed before the breed "originally called Shorthair and
then Domestic Shorthair before finally receiving the name American
Shorthair in 1965" gained any recognition at cat shows. In 1963 Kay
McQuillen, an all breed judge with the Cat Fanciers' Association and
a longtime breeder, wrote: "I can recall not too many years ago that
when we Domestic breeders paid our entry fees and arrived at a show,
we often found no cages available and no trophies or rosettes
offered in the Domestic classes. The Domestics were tolerated only
as extra points for the other cats."
Once discussion about a new name began, the Breed's image started to
Improve. A definite correlation exists between the change in name to
American Shorthair and the change in the breed's fortune in the show
ring. Thanks to many years of dedication and hard work by breeders
who believed in the beauty and uniqueness of the American Shorthair,
you now can go to a cat show and see Americans compete and win their
fair share of prizes and admiration.
Big Winners
The first big winner for the breed was a silver tabby male kitten
named Shawnee Sixth Son, who was CFA's Kitten of the Year in 1964.
Going against the tide again, Nikki Horner, Sixth Son's owner,
showed another silver tabby male, Shawnee Trademark, to the title of
CFA Cat of the Year in 1965. The American Shorthair was on its way!
In 1972 two more cats, both silver tabby males, made breakthroughs.
Joelwyn Colombyan, owned by JoAnne Landers was named All-American
Cat of the Year by a leading pet publication, and Apache Chief Mateo
owned by Alayne Poeld-Tyldsley, began his career as the top winning
American Shorthair in CFA history. Mateo was a national kitten
winner and continued into the adult class with the Titles of 1973
Third Best Cat, 1974 Sixth Best Cat and 1975 Second Best Cat. He
also was the only cat ever named Best of the Best two years in a row
at the Madison Square Garden show, then sanctioned by CFA.
The success of these cats may make you believe that the only
American Shorthair winners are silver tabby males. Although more
silver tabbies exist than any other color, quite a few Americans in
the rarer colors have won at shows. Recently brown tabbies have
dominated the winner's circle, accounting for five of the last six
national-winning American Shorthairs in the CFA. This year's best
American is Toraneko Don Juan of Sol Mer, a gorgeous brown tabby
male also named CFA's Second Best Cat.
A Working Cat
Now back to the original question: How do these cats differ from
those you may see on the street or on your couch? Look closely at
one of the show quality American Shorthairs pictured here. Can you
see the sweet, open expression and the large, luminous eyes? The
eyes should be round on the bottom and almond shaped at top with a
slight upward tilt to the outer edge. The cats muzzle should be
square and long enough to grasp prey, at least theoretically.
(Despite its hardiness, the American Shorthair is an indoor cat).
The body should be well muscled and powerful. "The American
Shorthair Is a true breed of working cat," the CFA standard says.
"The confirmation should be adapted for this with no part of the
anatomy so exaggerated as to foster weakness. The general effect
should be of a strongly built, well-balanced, symmetrical cat with
confirmation Indicating power, endurance and agility."
A noticeable difference in size exists between mall and female
Americans, and males have jowls (chubby cheeks). In both sexes, the
coat is short, lustrous, resilient and resistant to the elements.
The overall picture is of a cay that could care for itself, if
necessary, its charming face, however, guarantees it a warm bed and
regular meals.
Basically, the cat Is America's domestic working breed without the
rough edges, which have been eliminated through many generations of
selective breeding.
A Long-Term Commitment
Even more exciting than their beauty is the fact that American
Shorthairs make great pets. Because the cat is bred for strength, it
is extremely healthy. If you adopt an American Shorthair, you
probably will visit your veterinarian only for your cat's yearly
checkup and boosters. The American has an average life span of 15 to
20 or more years, so when adopting one, plan on a long-term
commitment.
The American Shorthair sometimes behaves like a dog. It will greet
you at the front door and follow you from room to room. Usually an
American prefers not to be picked up but loves being in your lap or
by your side. You probably will be able to train your cat to come
when called, to fetch toys, to stay off counters and tables and to
use a scratching post. Most American Shorthair owners enjoy the fact
that these are quiet cats; in fact, hearing such a robust cat come
forth with the smallest of meows is a constant source of amusement.
These cats not only tolerate children, but they actually seek out
kids at playtime or naptime. I have three children under the age of
six, so I can testify to the American Shorthair's ability to handle
exuberant loving. My cats have been dressed in doll clothes, pushed
around in buggies, included in puppet shows and involved in bath
time; never has a cat raised a paw in anger or attempted to bite.
Generally, these amiable animals keep purring through it all. When
the going gets rough, they just leave and return when things are
calmer.
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