The American Shorthair has many fans among cat lovers.
When the first European settlers came to America, four-legged passengers were on board their ships. At that time, these feline travelers were prized for their hunting skills. According to our current knowledge, these North American cats are also the ancestors of a breed well known and popular today: the “ American Shorthair ”.
Summary
- Appearance of the American Shorthair
- Character: docile and attached to his masters
- Care: low demands
- Health: regular monitoring by a veterinarian
- Food: how to feed it well?
- Story: Cats on the High Seas
- Adoption: breeding American Shorthairs
Appearance of the American Shorthair
The American Shorthair is a healthy, active and athletic cat. Its medium-sized body is strong and muscular, but still supple. Its broad chest rests on medium-long legs that end in round paws. Its medium-long tail is wide at its base.
Bright eyes, angular muzzle
The American Shorthair is distinguished by its often bright yellow, attentive and slightly slanted eyes. They rest above a massive and angular muzzle, which harmonizes perfectly with its profile with a slight stop. Its ears are medium-sized, erect and not very wide apart.
What are the coat colors of this cat?
The American Shorthair ‘s coat is short, comparable in length and texture to the European Shorthair.. The colors allowed by the breed standard depend on the organization. However, most breeding clubs accept all colors.
For example, the Cat Fanciers Association allows the following colors: white, black, red, blue, cream, chinchilla, tabby, calico, smoke, or bicolor.
Character: docile and attached to his masters
The American Shorthair is docile and easy-going by nature. It has retained the characteristics of its ancestors, who conquered the American continent at the same time as human settlers.
They are good mouse hunters, not very aggressive, relaxed and attached to humans. American Shorthairs love to play with their owners, but they also appreciate moments of relaxation and petting.
A perfect companion for families
These simple cats are not naturally inclined to dominate, which makes them ideal for families. They are tolerant housemates, and often get along very well with other animals.
American Shorthairs are very adaptable, so they can be both indoor and outdoor cats!
Care: low demands
Being a short-haired cat, the American Shorthair is not very demanding in terms of care. It is advisable to brush your cat about once a week, especially during shedding .
Otherwise, he mostly grooms himself and rarely needs help. Catnip and malt paste can help with the natural regurgitation of swallowed hair.
Health: regular monitoring by a veterinarian
Adoption: breeding American Shorthairs
The American Shorthair is now an integral part of the North American feline landscape! However, European fans of this breed often have to look a little longer before finding a breeder.
As with all other breeds, only professional breeding of American Shorthairs is good breeding. The work and passion that the breeder devotes to his animals and his offspring are essential to the success of the breeding and the physical and mental health of the animals.
The problem of hereditary diseases
A responsible breeder attaches importance to the fact that the mother of his cats can recover after each birth. This reduces the number of litters per year and the breeder’s profit, but it is more important to have a balanced and healthy mother.
He mates his animals taking into account the possibility of genetic diseases and the compatibility of the parent animals. He also has his cats monitored by a veterinarian during pregnancy .
At birth, the kittens are also examined by a veterinarian and receive, until they move, everything they need to grow: they are well fed, vaccinated , dewormed, and socialized with their brothers and sisters, the other cats in the breeding facility and the breeder’s family.
The importance of good socialization
He does not give up his kittens before their 12th week, because the imprinting phase that takes place during the first three months is particularly important for the development of a balanced and mentally healthy cat. This is the only way for your American Shorthair to become the easy-going cat you desire!
Documents submitted for adoption
For you to trust a breeder, he or she must also be a member of a cat breeding club. Only umbrella organizations can issue documents that certify that your cat is a true American Shorthair.
This document may seem superfluous, when you are only looking to give a new home to an adorable little cat. But cat protection associations have a purpose.
They check the breeding conditions of the kittens, the breed of the parent animals, and ensure that your kitten is a true American Shorthair.
How much does an American Shorthair cost?
All this comes at a price. That is why breeding is rarely a business, and usually more of an expensive hobby.
A purebred American Shorthair from a reputable breeder generally costs between 600 euros and 1,100 euros.
Alternative to breeding: go to the shelter
Cats from professional breeding are therefore often more expensive than from unscrupulous breeders who offer purebred cats without papers at a favorable price.
However, this “good deal” will cost you more later: inbreeding, consecutive births and lack of medical care mean that your cat may not be as healthy and easy-going as you wanted. Only trust a professional breeder.