![]() The first American Shorthair to be registered in this country was an orange tabby male named Belle that ironically was imported from England in the early 1900s. Later, the breed was renamed Domestic Shorthair. At that time, the breed was merely called Shorthair. ![]() At first, American Shorthairs were welcomed in the newly formed American cat fancy in the late 1800s. In time, life became easier, and cats became more than mere mouse-catchers as people began to take an interest in the beauty of the feline form. Through natural selection- since life in those days was hard on cat and human alike-these feline immigrants developed powerful muscles, strong jaws, and hardy, healthy constitutions. Function was far more important than form, and folks paid little attention to the color, pattern, and body style of their mousers. Cats became working members of American society, performing that age-old service as the perfect mouser. After all, cats declared their independence thousands of years ago and hold the concept dear to their hearts to this day. They were too busy ridding the barns and fields of mice to put their paw print alongside Thomas Jefferson’s signature, but they heartily approved of the document. On July 4, 1776, when the members of the Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia to adopt the Declaration of Independence, the American Shorthair’s ancestors were around to witness the historic event. Unquestionably, domestic cats were present in Jamestown, the first permanent British colony in the New World, since a written record dating from 1609 mentions the colony’s cats. Domestic cats may have been catting around the New World since the 1500s. Since cats were often kept aboard ships to protect the grain and other foodstuffs from rodents, it’s not surprising that domestic cats first appeared in North America when the Europeans arrived North America has no indigenous species from which domestic cats could have developed. However, it’s clear that cats arrived with the Europeans settlers, since America has no indigenous cat species from which domestic cats could have developed. No one knows exactly when domestic cats first set paw in America. Many colors and patterns including solid shaded smoke particolor bicolor tortoiseshell cameo van tabby (classic, mackerel, and patched) tabby and white. Coat dense enough to protect from moisture, cold, and superficial skin injuries. Regional and seasonal variation in coat thickness allowed. Medium long, heavy at base, tapering to abrupt blunt end in appearance but with normal tapering final vertebrae. Paws firm, full and rounded, with heavy pads. Viewed from rear, all four legs straight and parallel with paws facing forward. Medium in length and bone, heavily muscled. Outer corners set very slightly higher than inner corners. Large and wide with upper lid shaped like half an almond cut lengthwise and lower lid shaped in fully rounded curve. Distance between ears, measured from lower inner corners, twice distance between eyes. Medium size, slightly rounded at tips, not unduly open at base. Gentle curved rise from bridge of nose to forehead. Nose medium length, same width for entire length. Forehead forms smooth, moderately convex continuous curve flowing over top of head into neck. Large, with full-cheeked face giving impression of an oblong just slightly longer than wide. Solidly built, powerful, and muscular with well-developed shoulders, chest, and hindquarters. Your indoor ASH will put presents on your pillow, usually well-killed catnip mice, and proudly wait for the well-deserved petting and praise. Due to their barn cat background, ASHs have strong hunting instincts and enjoy catching and killing catnip mice-and real ones, too, if given access to the great outdoors, something that’s discouraged by breeders. They tend to remain active and playful well into their old age. American Shorthairs enjoy a good romp with their favorite humans, but can amuse themselves with a ball of paper just as well. Because of the American Shorthair’s history as a working cat, they make great companions in terms of health, strength, and vitality. They generally do not like to be picked up like their Pilgrim companions who left England to find freedom, they cherish their independence. American Shorthairs are known for their adaptable temperaments and quiet voices they are sociable, easily trained, and adapt well to other animals and children. The American Shorthair is the perfect breed for those who want a cat that enjoys being in your lap but not in your face. These all-American cats are medium in size, build, type, and temperament they are neither too big nor too small, not overly cuddly nor distant, neither couch potatoes nor hyperactive. When describing the American Shorthair, the expression “happy medium” springs to mind.
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