American Shorthair

The American Shorthair is the pedigree form of the working cats that came to North America with early settlers — a sturdy, easygoing all-rounder.

History

Its ancestors crossed the Atlantic on ships to control rats and mice, and generations of that hardy working stock were later standardised into a breed valued for soundness and an even temper. The dense coat comes in a wide range of colours and patterns.

Temperament

The breed is known for being easygoing, adaptable and good-natured — affectionate without being demanding, playful without being frantic, and tolerant of children and other pets. It is undemanding, steady company.

Care

The dense coat needs only occasional brushing, and the breed's laid-back nature means play matters to keep weight in check. It is an easy, low-drama cat to live with.

Health

The breed is generally healthy and long-lived; its main known tendency is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in some lines. These are patterns for the breed rather than a verdict on one cat; the measured facts and trait ratings are in the panels.