20 Reasons to Get an American Shorthair Cat
As explained at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, the American Shorthair cat has a short, dense coat and came to the US aboard the Mayflower. With their affectionate nature, compact build, round faces, and short ears, American Shorthairs make beautiful and loving pets. Here are 20 reasons to get an American Shorthair cat if you are considering getting one.
Stunning looks
The gorgeous and athletic cat was shaped and designed to be the ultimate in pest control as articulated at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. With a broad chest, well-muscled body, strong jaws, and thick neck, the American Shorthair is the quintessential example of feline beauty, which is one of the reasons why it is so popular.
Minimal grooming
Many people would love pets, but one of the things that put them off, especially as far as cats are concerned, is the level of grooming required to keep them neat. American Shorthairs are a medium-to-large-sized cat breed with a thick, dense coat that has a tendency to thicken during the winter months but only requires minimal grooming.
They offer variety
As per RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, American Shorthair cats come in a variety of colors and patterns. Their colors include white, blue, black, cream, red, silver, golden, cameo, and chinchilla. Patterns can be calico, solid, bicolor, tabby, smoke, tortoiseshell, and shaded.
Reliable personality
While the American Shorthair might look like the common domestic Shorthair, the two aren’t interchangeable. The domestic Shorthair is a mixed breed cat, and because of this, its temperament can vary wildly. The American Shorthair cat’s personality, on the other hand, tends to be more reliable.
They are affectionate
For a cat breed that was originally developed only to hunt rats and mice, American Shorthairs have an amazingly sweet and affectionate personality. They love to be around their family and are even fine being carried about by younger humans.
They are not boring
When you read that a pet is sweet and affectionate, you begin to wonder if it is exciting at all. According to RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, While the American Shorthair cats are known for being easygoing and docile, they are still curious enough to make an entertaining companion, which means that they are far from boring.
They do well with children
Because of their adaptability, patience, and tolerance, American Shorthair cats do well with children, and even allow themselves to be picked up by them as already mentioned. If you have a young family and are looking for a pet that will make for a good playmate while being safe, then this breed is worth exploring.
They do well with other pets
The same character traits that help them do well with children also allow American Shorthair cats to play well with other pets as captured at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. They can do well with other cats and even dogs, as long as they are properly introduced. If you already have pets in your household or are looking to introduce other pets in a household with an American Shorthair, you don’t have to worry too much.
They are not demanding
While American Shorthair cats love attention, they are not demanding about it and are generally pretty quiet. This is because of the fact that, despite being social cats, American Shorthairs can also have an independent streak and don’t insist on constant attention.
They thrive in different home environments
Being highly adaptable as already mentioned, a potential pet can expect an American Shorthair to fit into their home. American Shorthair cats can thrive in homes with seniors, singles, children, or even those with other pets. It is a versatile breed that is ready and willing to live anywhere, which is not surprising as they started out living on ships and farms.
They are excellent hunters
Because of their generations working as ratters, American Shorthairs are excellent hunters and still maintain a high prey drive as covered at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. You should try as much as possible to exercise this need for hunting to keep the cat engaged.
They are intelligent
American Shorthair cats are an intelligent breed that enjoys interactive games as well as traditional cat toys such as felt mice, plastic balls, and fishing teasers. They should be provided at least twice daily 10-15 minutes play sessions, and toys can be rotated every three to five days to provide them novelty.
It doesn’t have to climb
Like most other cat breeds, the American Shorthair will enjoy climbing on a cat tree or sunning on a padded shelf by a bright window as described at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. However, if you don’t have enough space to provide this, you shouldn’t worry as, when not exploring, an American Shorthair will be just as happy taking a cat nap on your bed or lap.
They don’t mind being alone
Given its independent streak already mentioned, an American Shorthair is fine being left on its own, as long as it gets lots of scratches when you get home. This is good news for those who have busy days at work and are worried that their pet may struggle with loneliness.
They are highly social
Even though American Shorthair cats are fine being left on their own as already mentioned, they are quite social and, when you have friends over, they will roam around happily like they own the place, and won’t mind interacting with guests.
Good health
With generations of working cats in their ancestry as discussed at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, the American Shorthair has evolved to be a rugged, healthy breed. This cat won’t require frequent trips to the vet and is quite hardy, which is another plus.
Long life
An American Shorthair’s lifespan can be anywhere from 15 to 20 years, and they don’t really have a ton of breed-specific health issues. This makes it a great family pet as it can grow up with your kids and you will likely only need to have the difficult conversation with them when they are older.
The history
The history of a pet can influence its popularity, which is why pets like the Persian cat are very desirable as outlined at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. The fact that the American Shorthair arrived on the Mayflower is a great selling point.
The Mark Twain connection
If you are a Mark Twain fan, then you might want to adopt an American Shorthair cat. This is because the popular writer was a huge fan of cats and owned several animals that in vintage photos look a lot like today’s American Shorthair.
They are the perfect companion
The American Shorthair cats are pleasant companions mainly because they are loving and affectionate. They will become attached to all members of the family, and not just one person, which is another reason why they are great family pets.
These are some of the reasons to get an American Shorthair cat, with more on this topic, and then some, to be found over at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.