Guide Note: This handsome, hardy breed is descended from the working cats that accompanied the first European settlers of North America. They were prized for their skill in hunting rodents aboard ships and in the first settlements of the New World.
Fast Facts:
- 71 American Shorthairs were shown at the first U.S. cat show in 1895
- Originally known as the "Domestic Shorthair," the breed's name was changed to American Shorthair in 1965
- The most popular American Shorthair color and pattern combination is the silver classic tabby coat