American Shorthair

This breed descends directly from stray cats brought by European colonists to protect grain stores from rodents. The first cats arrived in America as early as the 16th century and were abundant on farms from the beginning of the 18th century. A natural breed, the selection of these cats was therefore based on their ability to capture mice, rats and other rodents and also on their resistance to American climatic conditions. Fortuitous marriages with imported pedigree cats (Persians and Siamese for example) may have occurred over the years. Feline breeding began in the late 19th century in the United States. From 1900, the selection of the American Shorthair began with the desire of Americans to preserve the morphological type of their stray cats. To improve the physique of the breed, crosses with the British Shorthair were made. In 1904, the Cat Fanciers' Association registered Buster Brown, the first American Shorthair. The first litter was registered the same year: it resulted from a cross between British Shorthair and American Shorthair. The breed was then called Domestic Shorthair and accepts many individuals, giving it an important genetic pool. Like the European Shorthair, the breed suffered for many years from its resemblance to the common house cat. In 1966, it was finally recognized under the name American Shorthair. Its populations increased year after year until it became one of the most popular breeds in the United States and Canada. Europe had difficulty accepting this breed and some associations still refuse to recognize it, which explains the rarity of the breed on the continent. In the United States it is widespread and ranks among the 10 most common breeds. The breed is also very popular in Japan

Christiane Sacase describes the American Shorthair as an alert and active cat, built to live outdoors although accommodating to apartment life. It would be sociable, faithful and tender with its owner. LOOF describes the American Shorthair as a balanced, sociable cat with other cats and loving children. Dr. Bruce Fogle, on the other hand, describes the breed as calm, not very talkative and relaxed. The American Shorthair would be affectionate, moderately active and emotional but little aggressive. It is said to be patient with children and accepting of a dog's presence. However, these character traits remain perfectly individual and are a function of each cat's history.

It is a rustic cat with the typical physique of a hunter. The body is athletic and balanced. The well-muscled and power-built body is of semi-cobby medioligne type. The body is longer than it is tall with a strong bone structure. The chest is well open, the neck is muscular and of medium length, without being thick which is considered a fault in exhibition. The shoulders and hips are the same width, with rounded shapes. The back is straight and wide. The legs, well parallel and of medium length, are, like the body, equipped with robust bone structure and powerful muscles. The feet are round. The tail, of medium length, is thick at the base and tapers slightly towards the rounded end. A tail that is too thin, short or whip-shaped is a cause for penalties in exhibition. The head is medium-sized, barely longer than it is wide. From the front, it fits within a square. In profile, the skull is rounded and the nose attachment is marked by a slight stop. A very pronounced stop, reminiscent of that of the Exotic Shorthair, is a disqualifying fault in exhibition just like a straight profile. The expression is gentle. The cheeks are full and the nose moderately short and of the same width along its entire length. A characteristic feature of the breed is the well-defined and square muzzle, without being very short. The chin is strong. The jaw is powerful. The ears are medium-sized, little open at their base. They are placed on the head well spaced from each other and with rounded points. Ears that are too long, pointed or close together are penalized in exhibition. The eyes are large and rounded without being globulous, placed at an angle. Their color, described as luminous, must match the coat. Its coat is short, dense and well lustrous. The coat should not remind of that of the Exotic Shorthair, which is a disqualifying fault in exhibition. All traditional colors are accepted except lilac and chocolate and their dilutions. The colorpoint pattern is prohibited. White spots are only admitted for bicolor cats. All other patterns are allowed.

The American Shorthair is described as a cat with solid health and requiring very little care. Dr. Bruce Fogle attributes this robust health to the breed standard which seeks to avoid 'any trait that could encourage weaknesses'. Neutered cats have a tendency towards obesity and food intake should therefore be monitored.