Group Classification: Long Hair and Short Hair Divisions
Country of Origin: U.S.
Date of Origin: 1600s
Weight (M): 11-15 lbs.
Weight (F): 8-12 lbs.
Life Expectancy: up to 20 years

History
This hardy breed descended from ancestors brought on ships to the New World to keep rodents under control on the long voyages. Although the explorers returned to their European homelands, many cats remained with the colonizers left behind. Adapting to their new environment, these shorthaired cats developed denser coats than those of their forebears. They proved hardy enough to withstand the rigors of life in the new country. The first Domestic Shorthair (the breed's original name) to be registered in the U.S. was a Smoker named Buster Brown back in 1904; in 1965 the name was changed to American Shorthair when the breed was recognized as a pedigree.

General Description
Strength and muscularity of body are the hallmarks of this breed. Slightly longer than they are tall, females are substantially smaller than males. Their full-cheeked faces have an open expression thanks to large, mostly round eyes. Sturdy through the neck and shoulders, they have medium length heavily muscled legs. Their tail is thick at the base and there is very little tapering from there to the rounded tip.

Color
Various (over 40 colors and designs; silver tabby is best known)

Coat
Short, thick and hard.

Notable Features
Gaze of a hunter with a well-muscled body. These are powerful and adaptable cats.

Health and Care
Although short-haired, this is a thick-coated cat which can benefit from regular brushing. Shorthaired cats may never actually need a bath; those that do should not be bathed more than once every six weeks to prevent dry skin.

An inherited form of feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HMC) has been identified in the ASH. Also, some lines have feline hip dysplasia, also an inherited disorder most commonly found in the larger and heavier boned breeds.

Resource
National American Shorthair Club; www.ashclub.org