The Scratching Post
American Shorthair
The American Shorthair is a medium to large breed. They are slightly longer than they are tall. The head is large and they have a sweet and open expression. The ears are medium size and are slightly rounded at the tips and are not unduly open at the base. The large eyes are wide with the upper lid shaped like half an almond. The muzzle is squared and the chin is firm. The muscular and strong neck is medium in length. The paws are full and firm with five toes on the front and four on the back. The medium tail is heavy at the base and tapers at the end. A very short tail will be penalized. The coat is thick, even and hard in texture and comes in more than 80 different colors and patterns. The most well-known color today is the silver tabby.
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Temperament
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The American Shorthair is a gentle companion and a great playmate for children. They consider themselves as full-fledged members of the family. They have a quiet disposition and get along well with canines in the household.
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Weight
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Male 11-15 lbs. ; Female 8-12 lbs.
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Health Problems
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They are strong, healthy cats with few genetic health problems. They are prone to becoming overweight, so you should be careful not to over feed them.
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Living Conditions
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Although they enjoy time outside, they can live easily indoors or outdoors.
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Exercise
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This breed enjoys playing, running about, and hunting to get exercise. If your cat is inactive, you should make a point to play with it at least five to ten minutes a day, in order to decrease its risk of it becoming overweight.
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Life Expectancy
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Known for their longevity, they can live longer than 15 years.
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Grooming
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The Shorthair requires hardly any grooming. They only need a weekly brushing.
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Origin
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Records indicate that the "Mayflower" carried several cats to rid the ship of rats. When the ships docked ashore, these cats bred freely and eventually established themselves as North American?s own shorthaired cat. Originally known as the Domestic Shorthair, the breed was renamed the "American Shorthair" in 1966 to better represent its "All American" character.
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