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American Shorthair Breed Summary
Good-natured, Calm, Intelligent
As American Shorthairs were formerly used to keep rodents away from food stores, they still enjoy exercising their hunting skills (mainly on unsuspecting insects and small rodents), however these kitties aren’t aggressive towards their humans, quite the opposite.
An intelligent and pretty active feline, the ASH enjoys learning tricks and testing their wits with puzzles and interactive toys. Because these cats are affectionate yet unneedy, playful yet docile, it’s no wonder they’re popular!
Fun Fact: While they may look fur-miliar to the relatives across the pond, the American Shorthair is larger, slimmer and stronger than the British Shorthair.
Lifespan | 15 – 20 Years |
Height (at the withers) | Males and Females: 20cm – 25cm |
Weight | Males: 5kg – 6.8kg, Females: 3.6kg – 5.4kg |
Coat | Short and straight |
Colour | White, blue, black, cream, red, silver, golden, brown, cameo, bluecream, tortoiseshell, chinchilla |
Eye colour | Blue, copper, green, gold, hazel, odd-eyed |
Common health issues | Hip dysplasia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy |
Being calm without being comatose, American Shorthairs tend to have a relaxed, middle-of-the-road temperament that suit most individuals and families.
As moderately active kitties, American Shorthairs enjoy a mixture of playtime and sitting beside their loved ones on the sofa or bed – just don’t expect your ASH to jump up on your lap for a cuddle, while these kitties are sociable, they prefer to play it cool and aren’t guaranteed lap-cats.
In the early 1900s, American breeders began to breed American Shorthairs in an attempt to home in on qualities that define them today, such as their large head, full cheeks, sweet expression, powerful jaw and a coat of many colours. In 1966, these cats were given the name American Shorthair to help differentiate them from random-bred felines. Now a fully recognised pedigree breed, these kitties are currently the eight most popular breed registered by the Cat Fanciers Association.