Their beauty and loving nature came to be valued as much as their rat-catching skills. For centuries, 'working cats' flourished along with their pioneer owners and eventually established themselves as the native North American shorthaired cat. Records indicate that the Mayflower carried several American shorthairs to hunt ship's rats. The American Shorthair is America's own breed, whose ancestors came to North America with early settlers from Europe. Usually outgoing, the American shorthair takes pride in greeting visitors to its home. The American Shorthair is usually very personable and affectionate. The difference, however, is that American shorthairs are a purebred cat and are recognized as such by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA). A non-pedigreed shorthaired cat (called a Domestic Shorthair) might resemble an American Shorthair, just as another non-pedigreed cat might look like a Siamese, Persian or Maine Coon. The name "American Shorthair" also reinforces the notion that the American shorthair is distinct from non-pedigreed, short-haired cats in the United States. Originally known as the Domestic Shorthair, the breed was renamed in 1966 to the "American Shorthair" to better represent its "All American" character and to differentiate it from other shorthaired breeds. ![]() It is also known as a "working cat."Īmerican Shorthairs are a pedigreed cat with strict standards and a distinctive appearance as set by the various Cat Fanciers Associations worldwide. The American Shorthair is also called the Mouser because they caught mice on ships.Ī very athletic cat, American Shorthair has a larger, leaner, and more powerfully built body than its relation, the British Shorthair. Early this century a selective breeding program was established to develop the best qualities of these cats. ![]() Many of these cats "settled" in the New World, interbred, and developed special characteristics to help them cope with their new life and climate. The World Cat Federation recognizes the breed but does not accept it for competition.When settlers sailed to North America they carried cats on board ships to protect their stores from mice. It is also sanctioned by the Cat Aficionado Association of China. Since then, it has been accepted for championship competition by the American Cat Fanciers Association and the Cat Fanciers Association. The International Cat Association officially recognized the American bobtail cats in 1989. The result is a strong, vibrant cat breed with a distinct appearance and no known genetic defects. Even though the foundation cats had no known common heritage, they were all alike in type. Several different breeders worked together to develop the American bobtail cat as we know it. The Japanese bobtail cat has a recessive gene for its short tail. This is an important difference between the American bobtail cat and the Japanese bobtail cat. It's worth noting here that the gene that gives the American bobtail cat its signature shortened tail is dominant. The foundation stock was almost exclusively made up of feral domestic cats with natural bobtails. While many cat breeds are formed using exclusively pedigreed cats as foundation stock, this breed stands out for its development through natural selection. ![]() The American bobtail cat is a relatively new cat breed, having been developed in the 1960s using a brown tabby male with a short tail and a seal point Siamese female. If you have an American bobtail cat and you need to transport it, you'll want to make sure that the carrier is latched! These cats are highly trainable, too Favorite activities include playing fetch and walking on leashes with their family members.Īmerican bobtail cats are wily escape artists, easily making their way out of confinement even when placed in closed carriers. In addition, they have a reputation for getting along very well with other pets.Īmerican bobtails aren't just outgoing: they are also incredibly active, with an appreciation for jumping, climbing, and exciting games. ![]() They are known to develop wide vocabularies that include a variety of meows, chirps, and purrs.ĭespite the American bobtail's wild ancestry, members of the breed are known to develop strong bonds with their human families. This incredible cat does have wild ancestors, but it's behavior is purely domesticated.Īmerican bobtail cats are highly intelligent, with a reputation for being talkative. The American bobtail cat is renowned for its friendly, almost doglike personality as well as its wild appearance.
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