American Shorthair

Short hunting games

Make time for a short hunting game each day. Let a small toy dart along the floor, disappear briefly behind furniture and reappear. A window perch and scratching places give the cat something to watch and do between games. To add interest without constantly offering extra treats, place part of its measured daily food in a simple food puzzle that makes the cat work out one portion at a time.

For practical play, food searches and quiet retreats, read Indoor Cat Enrichment: Play, Food Puzzles and Safe Retreats ↗

Short coat, weight in view

The short, fairly dense coat usually needs little more than a weekly pass with a comb or brush. This removes loose hair before it reaches the sofa and your clothes. A healthy cat rarely needs a bath in ordinary life. A sturdy frame can hide gradual weight gain: weigh the cat regularly and look for a visible waist rather than judging solely by what is left in the food bowl.

Body shape and coat markings

The American Shorthair is medium-sized and balanced, with a developed chest, firm back and strong legs. Its shape should reflect a muscular build. The head is broad and the muzzle fairly square, though not extremely shortened. The short coat comes in many colours and patterns; silver tabby, with dark stripes or broad swirls, is well known. That pattern alone does not make a domestic cat an American Shorthair. Males tend to grow larger than females.