The American Shorthair

Image by dianainvisible via Flickr

Because of their resemblance to the common house cat or street cat, many people think that the American Shorthair is the mutt of the cat world, but this is not correct.  The American shorthair is a recognized pure bred cat with a long history.

The American shorthair can trace its ancestry back many centuries.  They were originally introduced into Northern Europe by the Romans in about the 10th century, where they developed into the British Shorthair.  These cats then came over with the pilgrims on the Mayflower, being on board hunters of shipboard vermin and then used to control pests on the farm.  They spread all across North America with the Pioneers.

The American shorthair is a medium sized cat, with a strong, well muscled body which is slightly longer than it is tall.  It has a round head with medium sized pointed ears.  It can have any of about eighty recognized colors and patterns, although color points and Burmese markings are not recognized for this breed.  Grooming is simple.  They just need to be brushed occasionally, otherwise they can take care of their grooming all by themselves.

The American Shorthair is considered to be one of the finest mousers in America.  It is reported that they will make a hit once every three pounces, which is a very impressive record.  From this, you can see that hunting and chasing play are very important to the happiness of these cats.  They love to play with the people they live with, and some of their favorite toys are wands with an attached toy and laser pointers.  A large cat tree is also appreciated by these cats.

While the American Shorthair can keep themselves entertained, they prefer company.  They are a very loving and loyal cat.  They get along very well with children and other animals, such as dogs and cats.  These cats can add years of enjoyment and activity to your home.

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