Cats

American Shorthair

The American Shorthair is the most popular and most prevalent breed of American cat.

American Shorthairs are medium to large sized cats, with powerful legs and strong paws. Their muzzle is squarish. Their coat is short, with the fur being thick, dense, and stiff to protect them from cold, moisture, and superficial skin injuries. Their coat thickens up in the winter and sheds in the spring but still remains lighter and slimmer than its close cousin, the British Shorthair. American Shorthairs are very affectionate, long-living, disinclined to behavioral problems, and gets along well with other family members including dogs. The American Shorthair is also an excellent hunter, but its sunny and gentle disposition make it ideal for families with small children.

An American shorthair is not considered fully grown until 3-4 years old, when it attains the true strong athletic proportion of its breed. Males are usually larger then females and have definite jowls. It is perfectly happy as an indoor or outdoor cat.

American Shorthairs come in over a 100 different varieties of colors (blacks, whites, silvers, creams, reds, browns, greys, and tabby mixes), but their eyes, pad color, and nose will always match their coloring. Their tail tapers to a blunt tip and has no kinks.

Grooming for an American Shorthair is extremely easy, all they require is regular brushing and a wipe over with a damp chamois will make the coat shine.

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This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.