From Domestic Shorthair to American Shorthair

By: Robert Barnes

It is not just towns and businesses that change names. In 1966, cat fanciers witnessed a different type of name change: in a breed of cats. What was then known as the domestic shorthair breed of cats had its name changed to American shorthair; a name which has since stuck, so that if you talked about the ‘domestic shorthair’ in cat fanciers’ circles, then nobody might understand what you are actually talking about.

The cat breed in question is one of the most remarkable breeds of cats, and it is no wonder that the Americans would want it to be associated with them.

Rated by the American Catfanciers Association as the eighth most popular cat breed in the world, the American Shorthair is arguably one of the friendliest cat breeds; one which harbors the least traces of the ‘bossy’ behavior associated with cats. It is also a low maintenance cat, one that is not really too fussy, and one that is one whole healthy. This is a cat that can tolerate strangers. It is quite a huge cat, really, with its adults –both males and females, typically weighing an upwards of ten pounds (more than five kilograms). It does take a bit of time to grow, generally an average of four years to attain full adult size – meaning that you have a long period of time in which to handle it and have it admired by your friends as a ‘cuddly kitten.’ With a lifespan of between 15 to 20 years, barring complications in life of course, the American shorthair is a pet you can incorporate into your family life when the kids are born, and have them know it as their family cat for all their childhood lives.

The origins of the cat breed that came to be known as the American shorthair can be traced to the days immediately after the ‘discovery’ of the United States by Christopher Columbus. This was to be followed by a rush by settlers, looking to try the chances of making a better life for themselves in the ‘new world’ as the United States was referred to as.

There were, of course, no planes in those days – and the only way the settlers could cross from Europe to the United States was by sea, using ships. These ships were often quite huge, and loaded with lots of wares –as would be expected of vessels used to ferry people looking to start a new life in a completely different (and uninhabited) part of the world. But a problem emerged, when it was discovered that rats were messing with this cargo – so that some poor folks were landing in the states without important wares. To combat this problem, it became necessary to bring cats on board – and the English cats were the chosen breed for this purpose, as most of the settlers at this stage were coming from England. It is these English cats then, that became the ancestors to the domestic shorthair cats, that went on to be renamed American Shorthair in 1966.

Article Source: https://www.collectibles-articles.com

To view images of American Shorthair and learn more about this breed of cat, check our site www.10facts.com/article/Home/Pets/Cats/American-Shorthair.html

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