American Shorthair cat: description of the breed

Advantages and disadvantages

• Pros:
• calm, accommodating disposition;
• luxurious and cute appearance;
• natural hunting instincts, excellent catching of rats and mice;
• there is no predisposition to genetic diseases;
• intelligence, intelligence, quick and easy training;
• unpretentiousness in daily care and nutrition.

• Minuses:
• excellent appetite and, as a result, obesity, the need to constantly monitor the amount of food;
• independence, desire to be in silence and solitude;
• high price of purebred kittens;
• tendency to colds;
• Difficulty in buying a kitten due to the small number of official nurseries.

Diseases

These animals, having a strong constitution, are quite hardy.

But some lines of this breed have a predisposition to cardiomyopathy, an inherited heart disease that causes many animals to die in their youth.

Hip dysplasia is also an inherited disease, which can cause the animal to experience pain and limp.

Sometimes American Shorthairs can suffer from polycystic kidney disease, which can cause this organ to fail completely.

Key facts

American Shorthair cats are larger than cats. Males weigh up to eight kilograms, females - up to five kilograms.

From the outside, the animal is very similar to a mongrel kitty, but upon careful examination it is possible to identify the unique features of the elite breed: a large head of equal length and width, almond-shaped, wide-set eyes, medium-length ears rounded at the tips and a short, thick coat without dense undercoat.

Description of the breed The American shorthair cat combines power, aristocracy and obedience, tenderness, and cleanliness. What distinguishes it from other mustachioed pets is:

1. Laziness

   – American cats love to relax on the couch and watch what is happening around them. Despite their activity, they never rush around the house, break or spoil things.

2. Friendliness

   – cats get along well with dogs and other animals. They are patient with the pranks of small children, not aggressive and not vindictive.

3. Tenderness

   – pets love attention and affection, they are happy to sit on the owner’s lap and sing a purring melody.

4. Adaptability

   – cats easily adapt to an unfamiliar environment, be it a small city apartment or a large country cottage.

5. Independence

   – animals are able to remain alone for a long time, this is an excellent solution for constantly busy people.

6. Independence

   – despite their loving nature, kitties never impose themselves on others, they only accept affection and attention in doses only when they themselves need it.

7. Playfulness

   – cats remain active until the end of their days, so the owner needs to take care of the availability of soft and mechanical toys, climbing ladders, and all kinds of teasers.

American shorthair cats are natural hunters; they happily destroy small and large rodents. But you shouldn’t let them go into nature without vaccinations and supervision - such precautions will avoid infectious diseases and accidents.

The characteristics of the American Shorthair cat emphasize that they are peaceful, balanced, independent animals that prefer to be in a small company of people. In a family, a cat becomes a friend to everyone, gets along well with cats and dogs, and is easy and quick to train.

With good maintenance, the life expectancy of an American Shorthair cat is more than 16 years. An American cat can live both in a private house and in an apartment. In the second case, frequent walks in the fresh air, outdoor games and jogging are recommended. You should not let your animal off the leash. It is better to wear a tick and flea collar on your pet.

History of the origin of the American Shorthair cat

Cats appeared in North America in the first half of the 17th century. They were brought to the mainland by settlers to combat small rodents that harm crops and plantings. Since that time, cats have become permanent residents of farms and private homes.

Short-haired animals have shown themselves to be excellent hunters. Each subsequent generation, due to natural selection, only became stronger, healthier, and more resilient. The lifespan of modern animals reaches 18 years.

American shorthair cats took part in the breeding of Bombay, Ocicat and Maine Coon breeds. Despite its long history, Americans received official recognition only at the beginning of the 20th century.

The unique breed was introduced to the world in London in 1971. The first cat named Buster Brown was registered in the USA in 1901. In 1934, at an exhibition in New York, an American cat named Prince Mickey beat the Persian and took an honorable 2nd place.

Today in America there are more than 100 nurseries for breeding elite breeds. The popularity of shorthaired cats is growing around the world. The residents of Japan also fell in love with brave, loyal and affectionate pets, where today there are 22 nurseries for breeding them.

Cats appeared in the Russian Federation in 2007; as of 2015, there are only about 60 mustachioed individuals in the country.

Munchkin

Munchkins are no different from other cats, except that they cannot jump on very high surfaces.
The history of short-legged cats began in the early 80s. A Louisiana woman picked up a strange short-legged cat that turned out to be heavily pregnant. The cat was named Blackberry. Most kittens born inherit short legs from their mother.

Munchkins have both fans and haters. Some squeal touchingly at the sight of a charming cat with short legs, others contemptuously call munchkins disabled or even freaks. Only one thing can be said for sure: no one remains indifferent to these funny representatives of the feline family. In addition, numerous studies have shown that the gene for short legs is a natural mutation that does not cause any harm to the animal.

By nature, munchkins resemble cheerful, mischievous gnomes. Affectionate and sociable munchkins, despite their not very large size, immediately attract a lot of attention. And their ability to stand on their hind legs, touchingly moving their front legs, will cause a groan of tenderness even from the most callous person in the world.

Based on the Munchkin breed, many daughter breeds were bred:

• kinkalow,
• Dwelf,
• bambino,
• minuet,
• Minskin et al.

Similar cat breeds

Exotic cat

Scottish cat (Scottish fold)

Asian tabby

Selkirk rex

This plush, curly bear was bred in Montana in the late 80s. The history of the Selkirk is similar to the stories of his curly-haired, “Rex” comrades: Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, Ural Rex. One day a curly-haired kitten was born, and he was so cute that they decided to fix the mutation. In 1992, the breed was officially recognized by TICA. During the formation of the breed, Persian, British, and exotic cats were involved - from them the Selkirk inherited a squat, powerful body, thick strong legs, a short neck, charming full cheeks and round saucer eyes with a “sweet” expression.

What does an American Shorthair cat look like?

A medium-sized cat has a muscular, harmonious and balanced physique, providing agility and strength. The length of the body slightly exceeds the height, the chest, shoulders and hips are well developed. Males are larger than cats - sexual dimorphism is noted. At the age of 3-4 years, males weigh about 8 kg, females - about 5 kg.

Muzzle

As you can see in the photo, the American Shorthair cat has a powerful and wide head with well-developed cheeks, equal in length and width. It is set on a powerful neck of medium length.

Almond-shaped eyes of green or orange are widely spaced - this makes the cat even more open and friendly.

Body type

The body is athletic, strong, with correct proportions and strong bones. The paws are well developed and of medium length. The back is straight, with well-developed muscles. The medium-length tail is wider at the base and narrower at the tip.

Coat and color

The short coat is dense and hard to the touch. Its texture changes depending on the time of year. In winter, the animal acquires a luxurious coat, and in summer it changes it to a lighter skin. The thick undercoat can protect the animal from insects, cold and injury at any time of the year.

The varieties of the American Shorthair cat are quite diverse in terms of color - there are about 80 patterns and tones, ranging from black, white, light blue to striped-spotted brown, tortoiseshell-colored animals.

The main colors of American Shorthair cats are:

• silver-black;
• completely black;
• red;
• brown;
• with a striped or classic gray pattern:
• smoky light blue;
• white;
• light yellow;
• two-color - white with cream, gray, dark red, black spots;
• tortoiseshell - white hairs with red, black, fawn tips form a unique pattern;
• silver;
• white with light yellow spots.

The classic and most popular American color is brown and silver tabby.

Animals are subject to high exhibition requirements. Disqualifying characteristics are: long hair, overweight or low weight, uneven or broken tail, protruding eyes, silver chocolate or merle color.

Nibelung

Translated from German, the word nebel means “fog.” Indeed, the green-eyed Nibelungs seem to be shrouded in a silvery haze. The effect is created thanks to the soft, lush fur with a unique color - silver tipping (each bleached blue hair has a white tip, which creates the effect of pearl-silver iridescence).

Surprisingly, the founders of the breed were named Siegfried and Brunhilda - both of them belonged to the Russian Blue breed, only Brunhilda was long-haired. In 1986, this couple gave birth to long-haired kittens, and a year later the new Nibelung breed was already recognized by the TICA organization. To this day, the breed is extremely rare.

Personality of the American Shorthair cat

The character of an American woman can be described with the expression “everything in moderation.” This is not a running, constantly jumping fluffy ball, and not a couch potato. The breed is suitable for people who are not at home for a long time - cats calmly tolerate loneliness and always find something to do.

Animals are very independent; they do not like to be held often. Otherwise, they are incredibly intelligent, peaceful and affectionate pets that prefer to be surrounded by loving people.

They also like outdoor games. Well-developed hunting instincts make themselves felt - in the absence of mice and rats in the home, cats catch various insects and hunt for birds on the street. If you let your cat outside, then get ready for pleasant “gifts” in the form of street prey.

Americans love high places; they can easily climb to the tops of trees. Take care that the animal does not get injured during walks. To preserve the integrity of the furniture in the house, you need to provide special cat ladders, shelves, loungers, and the like.

The character of the American Shorthair cat is calm and peaceful; they tolerate the pranks of small children and never take revenge for an insult. These curious and intelligent pets are interested in everything that happens around them. Animals are attached to their owner, but they love him unobtrusively and not openly. Cats need independence and their own space in the house.

If you are looking for a calm and quiet animal, the American Shorthair is the perfect choice for you. The animal adapts well to new living conditions and rarely demands anything from others. If this happens, then a quiet and melodic voice is heard, and not a loud siren.

Raising an American Shorthair cat

Americans are quite smart, but at the same time they are self-sufficient and therefore very stubborn. To teach them different tricks and commands, you will have to be persistent and patient. Some tips will help you achieve a positive result:

1. Raising an American Shorthair cat should begin from an early age, gradually increasing the duration of classes, starting with three minutes.
2. Come up with effective motivation - take a closer look at your pet’s character.
3. Regular walking will allow you to become friends with your pet and also improve its health.
4. Make sure you have a play complex in your home with ladders, climbing shelves and various toys - this way your pet will be able to splash out energy and stay in shape.

You shouldn’t hope that bad habits will go away on their own over the years. Scratching hands and feet, rolling on curtains, damaging carpets, wallpaper and furniture should be stopped immediately. The simplest and safest ways are to clap your hands, blow on the mischief-maker’s face, spray him with water, or lightly slap him on the back with a rolled up towel.

Don't forget about rewards for good behavior - petting and treats. In animals, the human hand is associated with the tongue of the mother cat. Any gentle touch on the sides, back, cheeks evokes pleasant emotions in your pet.

Rewarding with tasty food is effective in training American Shorthairs. But everything is good in moderation: if the animal understands how it works, it will be able to manipulate its owner. Such “rewards” during education should be used periodically and in no case constantly.

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Physical exercise

American Shorthairs are moderately active and calm cats. They need a lot of play and interaction with people. Interactive toys will help prevent your pet from getting bored and provide the right amount of physical and mental stress. You can try taking your pet for a walk on a harness.

American Shorthairs need a lot of attention. Play complexes, scratching posts and interactive toys are very suitable for them. Try to provide a pet-friendly atmosphere at home.

Nowadays there is something new in the world of cat toys every day, so stay tuned! Cats love to chase toys, hunt them, attack them, and interactive toys are ideal in this regard.

Toys must be made from safe materials without toxic BPA and butylated hydroxytoluene.

American Shorthair Cat Health

By nature, American women have good health. With proper care and nutrition, and regular visits to the veterinarian, animals can live up to 18 years.

Possible diseases

Unfortunately, no cat breed is immune from injuries, viruses and parasites. Care, maintenance and regular wellness activities will protect your pet from 99% of possible problems.

There are only a few diseases to which the American cat is susceptible:

• worms;
• disordered growth of the hip joint;
• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
• polycystic kidney disease.

Short-haired cats are also susceptible to viral diseases. To prevent problems, your pet is regularly vaccinated with complex medications that develop immunity to:

• rhinotracheitis;
• calcivirus;
• panleukopenia.

The first vaccination is given to a kitten at 7-8 weeks. At 12 months of age, the cat is vaccinated against rabies. Antihelminthic drugs are given for helminths every 3 months. Fleas are removed with special drops and shampoos, and collars are used for prevention.

Visit the veterinarian regularly, properly care for and feed the animal, and then the health of the American Shorthair cat will not cause any concern throughout its life.

Reproductive health

Many nurseries in the world are engaged in breeding the elite breed. Particular importance is given to the prevention of inbreeding. Only American Shorthair cats mate with American Wirehair cats - or vice versa.

The first mating is recommended after 2-3 heats, at the age of 9-12 months. Cats reach sexual maturity by the eighth month of life. Estrus in females lasts up to 2 weeks.

Over the course of 12 months, a cat has several periods of activity, but felinologists do not recommend giving birth twice a year - it is better to limit it to one pregnancy. The period of labor in an American shorthair cat continues until death, but the most favorable period for reproduction is the first 7 years of life.

The cat is brought into the cat's territory. The best time for this is the 3rd day of estrus.

Pregnancy in American Shorthairs lasts about 60 days, and if many kittens are born, the period increases slightly.

If an animal is taken into a home for admiration and beauty, and not for breeding, it is better to castrate or sterilize the pet. By surgical intervention, under anesthesia, the gonads and testes are removed from cats, and the ovaries and uterus from cats. Animals completely stop producing sex hormones and are unable to reproduce.

Sterilization is a more gentle operation. In females the fallopian tubes are ligated, in males the vas deferens are ligated. The body, as before, produces sex hormones, and sexual desire remains, but pregnancy is no longer possible.

The best age to perform the operation is 6-12 months. After castration or sterilization, caring for the animal is not very difficult.

Mating

Only representatives of this breed are used for breeding. Mating cats is acceptable with other species to improve their appearance. But the resulting offspring will not be considered an American Shorthair and will not be able to participate in exhibitions. To obtain show-class offspring, only animals that have participated and won in exhibitions are bred.

It is better to breed cats after the third heat, when their body is ready for pregnancy. No more than one or two matings are allowed within 12 months.

Owners should not interfere in the process; it is better to leave the animals alone. Pregnancy in cats occurs without complications. During this period, the cat is fed three times a day. The serving size can be increased slightly. It is better if the cat gives birth in the presence of a veterinarian.

Features of feeding and diet

There is one important feature in the diet of American shorthairs. Animals love to eat and absorb everything without measure. To avoid obesity, strict control by the owner is required. If a previously graceful and active cat becomes a clumsy ball, outdoor games will come to the rescue.

Nutrition should be optimal, with the required amount of microelements and vitamins. The best solution is premium or holistic dry food.

If you feed your animal natural products, use vitamin and mineral complexes as supplements to help ensure excellent health.

The following should be excluded from the diet of an American shorthair cat:

• fat meat;
• liver;
• salted, fried, pickled foods;
• fish with bones;
• tubular bones;
• milk and butter;
• sweets;
• flour muffins.

The animal should always have clean water in its bowl. It is better to use bottled water or water that has stood for 5-6 hours. It is not recommended to give boiled liquid, as it promotes the formation of stones in the kidneys and gall bladder.

Characteristic

The main qualities and characteristics of the American Shorthair cat on a 10-point scale:

• family attachment 6/10
• shedding intensity 6/10
• general health 8/10
• playfulness 4/10
• good attitude towards children 8/10
• good attitude towards strangers 8/10
• ease of care 8/10
• intelligence 8/10
• friendliness to other pets 6/10

Care and maintenance

In general, caring for and maintaining an American Shorthair cat does not require much effort and time from the owner. Short hair is combed with a soft brush or massage glove every 5-7 days. When molting, the procedure should be performed daily so that the animal looks neat.

American cats are very clean, they take excellent care of their fur and do not like water treatments. They bathe the pet when it is very dirty and a damp piece of cloth does not help. To do this, use water at room temperature and a special shampoo. Due to the lack of dense undercoat, any drafts should be excluded - this can lead to a cold.

Once every 16-20 days, examine the cat's ears and eyes. Remove sulfur and foreign particles using a cotton pad soaked in lotion. If you let your pet outside, check it daily. If you notice infection or unpleasant color or odor of discharge from the ears or eyes, consult your veterinarian.

Pay equal attention to caring for your cat's teeth and claws. The first ones are cleaned with a paste, brush or finger once every 5-7 days, the second ones are cut with forceps once every 14 days. Make sure you have a scratching post in your house - your pet will use it to sharpen the uneven edge of its claws.

Nutrition

Proper nutrition is the key to your pet's health and good mood. From the very beginning, you must decide what type of food your cat will eat, dry or natural food. Mixed feeding is not recommended for cats of this breed.

When choosing dry food, you must take into account the age and lifestyle of your pet. Under no circumstances should you buy cheap food, as it is made from low-quality products and can lead to disease.

When choosing a method of eating natural products, you should take into account some features - the diet should be varied, include different foods, meat and vegetables.

Depending on the age of the cat, food is prepared to varying degrees of readiness. For kittens up to one year old, meat and vegetables are boiled until fully cooked. No need to add salt and spices.

Products you should use are chicken breasts (pre-boil and finely chop), cottage cheese, kefir, boiled vegetables and seaweed, preferably raw and boiled quail eggs, you can add olive oil.

Tips for choosing a kitten

Professional breeders give kittens to new owners at the age of 14-16 weeks, when they are accustomed to the tray, eat themselves and know what the scratching post is for. American Shorthair kittens are very inquisitive and will explore and play with anything that comes their way. For safety in your home, you need to remove all breakable objects and hide electrical wires.

Recommendations from experienced breeders will help you buy a healthy and cheerful pet:

1. There are a great many places where you can buy a short-haired kitten: specialized stores, markets, advertisements on the Internet, and more. But the risk of purchasing a yard kitten instead of an elite friend cannot be ruled out. It is better to contact official nurseries that breed short-haired breeds, where they breed purebred parents without hereditary defects.
2. The ideal age of a baby is 3 months, at this time he has formed the initial rules of behavior, he can easily do without the milk of his mother cat. In addition, the kittens have been vaccinated against viral diseases, which should be noted in the veterinary passport.
3. Increased attention should be paid to the cat's behavior. A healthy animal has a lot of energy and strength, it is mobile, and gladly makes contact with a stranger. If an affectionate touch is accompanied by a plaintive meow, this is a clear sign of a painful condition in the American.
4. Carry out a thorough examination of the kitten. He should have moderate fatness, a silky and smooth coat, a dry area under the tail, pink ear shells and clean eyes without discharge.

A healthy baby can be seen immediately, but additional measures in the selection will not hurt. It’s good if the breeder provides the buyer with a veterinary passport, pedigree certificate and other documents. All that remains is to prepare a place for the kitten to move and make every effort so that it grows up playful, beautiful and strong.