The American Shorthair cat is a popular, well-known, and pedigree breed of the Domestic Shorthair cat. They are one of the most common cat breeds in North America who are known for being low-maintenance and their gentle nature. These cats are a descendent of the Domestic Shorthair cats who lived in Europe. While those cats were random-bred, the Shorthair American cats were properly bred and then spread throughout the United States of America. It is said that the ancestors of this cat breed came to America from Europe in one of the classic ships such as the Mayflower. These cats used to work in the shop as working cats and were valued for their smart, friendly traits. In contrast to its random-bred ancestors, the Shorthair American cats currently come in many different colors and patterns. The silver American Shorthair Tabby is one of the most well-known faces of the breed. The Cat Fanciers Association added this cat breed to its registers in 1905. In 1965, the Cat Fanciers Association actually named the American Shorthair as the Cat of the Year!If you liked this article with interesting facts about the American Shorthair cat, also check out the other articles with amazing facts about Maine coon cats and leopard cats.
Fun American Shorthair Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? N/A
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 5-6
How much do they weigh? 6 lb - 15 lb (2 kg - 6 kg)
How long are they? 12 in-15 in (30 cm - 38 cm)
How tall are they? 8 in - 10 in (20 cm - 25 cm)
What do they look like? Grey, white, brown
Skin Type Fur
What were their main threats? Health Issues And Diseases
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Grass Plains
Locations North-america
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Felis
Class Mammal
Family Felidae
American Shorthair Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is an American Shorthair?An American Shorthair is a type of cat and belongs to the species of the domestic cat breed.What class of animal does an American Shorthair belong to?The American Shorthair cat belongs to the Mammalia class of animal.How many American Shorthairs are there in the world?The exact number of American Shorthairs in the world is not yet known and has not been calculated. Since this is a type of domestic cat breeds, it becomes more difficult to track their numbers and calculate their total population. However, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, they are not currently at risk of extinction.Where does an American Shorthair live?An American Shorthair cat is currently found across North America - particularly in the countries United States of America and Canada. A few of these cats can also be found in Japan but it is a very rare occurrence.What is an American Shorthair’s habitat?The habitat of an American Shorthair cat breed is mostly in a temperate climate. They can easily survive in grass plains, woodlands, and also in urban and suburban locations. The cat mostly prefers to live indoors and is comfortable inside a house.Who do American Shorthairs live with?American Shorthairs are a type of domestic cats so they mostly prefer to live indoors. This pet cat can easily live with humans or other cats even if they are not of the same breed. American Shorthairs can also live with other animals like dogs inside the same house.How long does an American Shorthair live?On average, the lifespan of an American Shorthair is between 12-20 years. Most cats of this breed live a long life of approximately 15-20 years if they are fed well and are taken good care of.How do they reproduce?Most domestic shorthair breeds, including the American Shorthair, reproduce by giving birth to their offspring. Most female cats are pregnant for around nine weeks (63-67 days). During week seven, the pregnant cat will start taking complete rest along with considerable weight gain. During week eight, she will start looking for a nesting place that is safe, warm and comfortable where she can deliver her babies.What is their conservation status?The International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN has determined that domestic cats fall under the Least Concern category. The American Shorthair cat is one of the many types of domestic cats. Therefore, the American Shorthair’s conservation status is also of Least Concern and they are not at any immediate risk or danger of extinction.American Shorthair Fun FactsWhat do American Shorthairs look like?The American Shorthair cat breed comes in many colors with the silver tabby coat being the most recognizable. The color of the coat of this cat breed can vary between white, black, blue, red, cream, silver, brown, golden, cameo, tortoiseshell, and chinchilla. Their coat also has many colors and patterns including the silver tabby, calico, or smoky patterns. Their coat can also be of one solid color, bi-color, tri-color, or with shaded patterns. Their eye color also varies between brown, green, hazel, and gold. The American Shorthair cat breed is a medium-sized cat but has heavy muscles and a heavy bone structure. The cat has a thick, rounded appearance along with strong limbs. Healthy cats of this breed have a muscular chest, strong jaws, and a well-developed muzzle.How cute are they?American Shorthairs are extremely cute! With their various colors and patterns, big eyes, and affectionate manner, they are one of the cutest possible pets you can get. Unlike many other cats, this cat breed does not like to stay aloof but thrives on human attention.How do they communicate?American Shorthairs communicate through sound and touch with their owners and other animals who may live in the same house. Most commonly, they use the ‘meow’ sound to draw the attention of their owner. They may also raise their paws and touch the owner if they need food urgently or need to go out of the house. Sometimes, these affectionate cats may also sit near their owner or cuddle with them in order to share warmth and love.How big is an American Shorthair?A healthy American Shorthair cat can approximately grow as tall as 8 - 10 in (20 cm -25 cm). The length of the cats of this breed also varies between 12 - 15 in (30 cm - 38 cm). A moose is almost ten times the size of an American Shorthair cat as it is around 78 in - 80 in (180 cm - 200 cm) in height.How fast can an American Shorthair run?American Shorthair cats can run quite fast, especially if their history of being hunting and preying cats is considered. This cat breed is special due to its muscular and powerful legs which allows it to be agile and endure long time periods of running. These cats prefer puzzles and tricky hunting games in order to keep up their strict and intensive exercise regimen without which they may become overweight.How much does an American Shorthair weigh?Male American Shorthair cats weigh more than female American Shorthair cats. On average, an adult, fully grown male cat weighs between 11 lb - 15 lb (4.9 kg - 6.8 kg) and female cats weigh between 6 lb - 12 lb (2.7 kg - 5.4 kg).What are their male and female names of the species?American Shorthair cats do not have separate terms to denote the male and female types of their species. However, following the terminology used for most cat breeds, an unspayed male cat is called a Tomcat while an unspayed female cat in the context of breeding is called a queen cat.What would you call a baby American Shorthair?A baby American Shorthair cat is called a kitten as is usual for the rest of the cat species.What do they eat?American Shorthairs, like their ancestors the domestic shorthair breeds, are carnivorous in nature and not omnivorous. Their diet is very strict and to keep them healthy, owners should always discuss their food regimen with their vet. American Shorthairs cannot maintain their health through a diary diet only but need food which consists of fat and proteins. However, they cannot digest carbohydrates very well. They can eat dry food and wet food according to their health.Are they slobbery?Although it is perfectly normal for domestic cat breeds to drool, American Shorthair cats are not very slobbery. Therefore, if you bring them in as pets, you will not have to worry about a lot of drool all over your clothes. However, these breeds do shed quite a lot and their coat needs daily grooming, brushing. Brushing them dutifully also keeps their short fur coat glossy and shiny.Would they make a good pet?American Shorthair cats are extremely friendly and smart! As these cats were originally bred for hunting rodents such as mice and rats, they are quite intelligent and curious. They even prefer trickier exercises such as teaser toys. It is also important to look after the grooming of American Shorthairs but it does not take a lot of time or effort. These pet cat breeds are also very friendly and affectionate. They love to cuddle with all the human beings in the house but are not overly dependent on one member. This cat will thrive under constant love and attention. In addition to that, this pet cat’s personality is not aggressive at all and can coexist with other animals quite peacefully in the same house. If all these traits of the cat are taken together, then it is clear that American Shorthair cats would make wonderful pets. They can be a good pet to any type of family - those with babies, a single owner, and retired people. Everyone will enjoy the company of this pet cat with a soft, smart, warm, and affectionate personality.Did you know…There is often quite a lot of interest in the pet animals who live in the White House along with the President. Interestingly, a black American Shorthair cat has also been a resident of the White House. India, the pet cat of President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, was a female American Shorthair who resided at the White House during Bush’s presidency. Their pet cat was named after Ruben Sierra, an American baseball player belonging to the Texas Rangers, which Bush owned. Ruben Sierra’s nickname was ‘El Indio’ and the cat’s name was derived from that.Characteristics and health issuesAlthough American Shorthair cats are generally a healthy cat breed, they can be affected by Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. They can also suffer from hyperthyroidism and diabetes. Owners of this breed should also focus on coat grooming, brushing their teeth, and cutting their nails regularly to avoid more hygiene or health issues.Getting your own American ShorthairIf you want to adopt an American Shorthair cat, then it will cost around $75-$150. There are many rescue shelters and adoption centers that might have American Shorthair cats for people who are interested in adopting them. Buying an American Shorthair cat might actually be more expensive. There are many professional breeders who specialize in this type of cat and can sell an American Shorthair kitten for a price between the range of $600-$1200. American Shorthairs are extremely friendly and a great option for a family pet. They are also very amiable with children and other pets in the family - cats or dogs. Thus, it will not be a problem for these animals to cohabitate with others peacefully.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including the Egyptian Mau and the Balinese cat.You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our American shorthair cat coloring pages.
What type of animal is an American Shorthair?
An American Shorthair is a type of cat and belongs to the species of the domestic cat breed.
Fun American Shorthair Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? N/A
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 5-6
How much do they weigh? 6 lb - 15 lb (2 kg - 6 kg)
How long are they? 12 in-15 in (30 cm - 38 cm)
How tall are they? 8 in - 10 in (20 cm - 25 cm)
What do they look like? Grey, white, brown
Skin Type Fur
What were their main threats? Health Issues And Diseases
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Grass Plains
Locations North-america
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Felis
Class Mammal
Family Felidae
Fun American Shorthair Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? N/A
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 5-6
How much do they weigh? 6 lb - 15 lb (2 kg - 6 kg)
How long are they? 12 in-15 in (30 cm - 38 cm)
How tall are they? 8 in - 10 in (20 cm - 25 cm)
What do they look like? Grey, white, brown
Skin Type Fur
What were their main threats? Health Issues And Diseases
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Grass Plains
Locations North-america
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Felis
Class Mammal
Family Felidae
Fun American Shorthair Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? N/A
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 5-6
How much do they weigh? 6 lb - 15 lb (2 kg - 6 kg)
How long are they? 12 in-15 in (30 cm - 38 cm)
How tall are they? 8 in - 10 in (20 cm - 25 cm)
What do they look like? Grey, white, brown
Skin Type Fur
What were their main threats? Health Issues And Diseases
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Grass Plains
Locations North-america
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Felis
Class Mammal
Family Felidae
Fun American Shorthair Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? N/A
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 5-6
How much do they weigh? 6 lb - 15 lb (2 kg - 6 kg)
How long are they? 12 in-15 in (30 cm - 38 cm)
How tall are they? 8 in - 10 in (20 cm - 25 cm)
What do they look like? Grey, white, brown
Skin Type Fur
What were their main threats? Health Issues And Diseases
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Grass Plains
Locations North-america
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Felis
Class Mammal
Family Felidae
What do they prey on? N/A
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 5-6
How much do they weigh? 6 lb - 15 lb (2 kg - 6 kg)
How long are they? 12 in-15 in (30 cm - 38 cm)
How tall are they? 8 in - 10 in (20 cm - 25 cm)
What do they look like? Grey, white, brown
Skin Type Fur
What were their main threats? Health Issues And Diseases
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Grass Plains
Locations North-america
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Felis
Class Mammal
Family Felidae
What do they prey on? N/A
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 5-6
How much do they weigh? 6 lb - 15 lb (2 kg - 6 kg)
How long are they? 12 in-15 in (30 cm - 38 cm)
How tall are they? 8 in - 10 in (20 cm - 25 cm)
What do they look like? Grey, white, brown
Skin Type Fur
What were their main threats? Health Issues And Diseases
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
What do they prey on?
N/A
What do they eat?
Carnivore
Average litter size?
5-6
How much do they weigh?
6 lb - 15 lb (2 kg - 6 kg)
How long are they?
12 in-15 in (30 cm - 38 cm)
How tall are they?
8 in - 10 in (20 cm - 25 cm)
What do they look like?
Grey, white, brown
Skin Type
Fur
What were their main threats?
Health Issues And Diseases
What is their conservation status?
Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Grass Plains
Locations North-america
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Felis
Class Mammal
Family Felidae
Where you’ll find them?
Grass Plains
Locations
North-america
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Felis
Kingdom
Animalia
Genus
Felis
Class Mammal
Family Felidae
