Cat encyclopedia
American Shorthair
A sturdy short-haired breed with a wide range of patterns.
At a glance
- Entry type
- Cat breed
- Origin / context
- United States
- Coat
- Short; many colors and patterns
Name & background
The breed developed from North American domestic cats. The name American Shorthair was adopted in 1966 to distinguish the pedigree breed from ordinary domestic shorthairs.
[1]Three everyday scenes
See this cat in three scenes
Each illustrated cat appears in three scenes: exploring, playing and resting. This directory includes breeds as well as coat colors and patterns; illustrations do not predict personality, and a real cat’s preferences show up in daily life.
Recognizing the look
A muscular body and short coat are typical. Silver tabby is a familiar look, but many other colors and patterns occur.
[1]
Watch how this cat plays
- Does your cat go straight toward a new toy, or watch for a while first?
- Which part catches their interest: chasing, touching, or peeking from a hiding spot?
- When the game ends, do they stay nearby or choose a quiet place of their own?
What to notice at home
After play, notice which resting place your cat chooses. It may walk over, settle nearby, or go somewhere quiet on its own.
These facts describe breeds and appearances. Each cat’s preferences are best learned through everyday observation.
Get to know the cat in front of you
See where it rests, what distance it keeps and how it likes to play. A breed or coat label cannot tell you that.
Sources & further reading
Sources checked ·
The encyclopedia summaries are adapted and translated from the Wikipedia articles below, with contributors listed in their histories. These summaries are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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