American Shorthair
Introduction to American Shorthair
The American Shorthair (ASH) is a breed of domestic cat believed to be descended from European cats brought to North America by early settlers to protect valuable cargo from mice and rats. According to the Cat Fancier's Association, in 2012, it was the seventh most popular breed of cat in the United States.
History:
They aren’t listed on the manifest, but cats were undoubtedly among the passengers and crew that disembarked from the Mayflower when it arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. Their ratting abilities made cats valued members of ships’ crews, and they may well have made their way to the New World even earlier, on ships that carried settlers to the Jamestown colony in Virginia, Spanish explorers to Florida and Vikings to Newfoundland. Some of the descendants of those seafaring cats, known prosaically as shorthairs, or domestic shorthairs, became what we know today as American Shorthairs. Cats were valued on land as well as at sea. Farmers, shopkeepers and householders all needed a good cat to protect their stores of food from mice, rats and other vermin. The shorthairs were solid, hardy working stock, well suited to the tough conditions that prevailed on the untamed continent. Such good hunters were they that a publication from 1634 credits them with saving a New England colony’s crops from squirrels and chipmunks. From their coastal arrival points, they went west with settlers, and thrived. By 1895, shorthairs had made enough of a mark that they were exhibited at the first cat show in the United States. The Cat Fanciers Association recognized them as a breed in 1906. To differentiate them from randombred cats, also known as domestic shorthairs, the pedigreed felines were given the name American Shorthair in 1966. The cats are recognized by all registries.
Size:
The American Shorthair weighs 7 to 12 pounds.
Personality:
The adaptable and good-natured American Shorthair retains his hunting ability, but these days he is more likely to be a family companion, a job at which he excels. He has a middle-of-the-road temperament, being calm but not comatose. The American Shorthair is moderately active and enjoys a good playtime as much as the next cat, but he’s not overly demanding of attention or activity. As befits a working class cat who has made good, he is smart and enjoys playing with puzzle toys and interactive toys. He has a sociable nature and isn’t the type to hide under the bed when visitors arrive. This is a placid cat but one that doesn’t especially like being carried around. Let him stand on his own four feet. He may or may not be a lap cat, but he will always appreciate having a spot next to you on the sofa or at the end of the bed.
Health:
Both pedigreed cats and mixed-breed cats have varying incidences of health problems that may be genetic in nature. American Shorthairs are generally healthy, but be sure to ask a breeder about the incidence of health problems in her lines and what testing has been done for any that are genetic in nature. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disease, has been seen in the breed, but it is not yet known to be genetic.
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American Bobtail
Introduction to American Bobtail:
Similar to wild cats, the American Bobtail cat has a unique and wild appearance, but they are extremely intelligent and loving cat breeds. They were not commonly found before the 1960s, but the breed got prominence only after the 60s.
This unique cat breeds has gained popularity only after the 1960s and is similar to the Japanese Bobtail, which was imported to the United States in the 60s. The true history of this cat is not clearly known, though it is believed that this breed was a result of mating between a short-haired tabby male and a seal point Siamese female. The unique tail in these cats is a result of a genetic mutation and maybe related to the dominant Manx gene. The original bloodline of this breed has died out and the genetics and appearance were modified to produce a new and improved breed that came in different colors and coats.
History of American Bobtail:
Even though the Bobtails have been in the Americas for many years, the real development and prominence of this breed began only after the 1960s. The history of this stocky cat is not very clearly known. The original bloodline came from the mating between a short-haired tabby male and a seal point Siamese female. Almost all breeders of the American bobtail have heard of the story of Yodi, the patriarch of this breed. Young American couples John and Brenda Sanders while vacationing in Arizona discovered a unique brown colored tabby kitten with a short tail and decided to take him to Iowa the couple’s hometown. He was named Yodi with an unknown parentage, though it was thought to have been a Japanese bobcat with an unusual tail. Yodi mated with the couple’s non-pedigreed color point female domestic cat Mishi. The kittens born to Mishi had the same short tail of Yodi that garnered a lot of attention from family and friends.
The friends of the Sanders, Mindy Schultz and Charlotte Bentley saw a potential to develop a new cat breed. They crossbred many kittens with the longhaired color points to produce the first American Bobtails. Most of the initial bloodlines have been erased and the breeders from the 70s decided to deviate from the original blueprint, which was a cat with short tail and pointed longhair and white mittens. The original pattern was difficult to create for most breeders.
The latest Bobtails are available in various colors and patterns. The breeders decided to create a cat breed that is more domestic, nice and has the natural wild look of a bobcat. The basic foundation of this cat came from feral cats with a natural short tail coming from different parts of America and Canada. The short tail found in the bobtail is a result of genetic mutation within the domestic cat population or a result of the dominant Manx gene. Out crossing the bobtail with the domestic cat hybrids is still allowed, but the main aim is to keep the gene pool healthy since they are very miniscule. Neither the Japanese Bobtails, nor the Manx have been used to breed, nor are the bobcats bred to the existing lines. Recognized originally as the longhair, the shorthair pattern has also been accepted as a standard. TICA has recognized the American Bobtail as a naturally occurring cat breed in the year 1989.
Personality:
The American Bobtails are highly interactive and loving cats. You can challenge their brains by teaching them some tricks. They are through entertainers and love to play games like fetch and hide and seek for hours together. They like to curl up to their owners and love to garner attention when in distress. They are experts at initiating games and will display their hunting skills if they notice any insect flying within their territory.
These cats love playing with toys and love to trill, chirp and click when they are excited. These people loving cats are equally at ease with humans and other pets in the house. American Bobtails are used by several Psychotherapists in their treatment programs due to their sensitivity to the human feelings and emotions. These cats can travel long-distances without any trouble, that’s why you will notice them with truck drivers in their trucks.
Healthcare:
The Bobtails take two years to mature, but these active cats are robust and overall healthy. They need an occasional bath and a light brushing to keep them hale and hearty. This healthy cat breed has no known genetic health issues and requires no special care and attention. Occasional trimming of nails and ear cleaning is the only grooming required for these loving cats.
The American Bobtails are friendly and very interactive cats. They are very loving and caring cats. These affectionate cats are easy to train and loves sitting on their owners lap.They are the type of cats who will receive you at the door when you come back from work, play with kids and are highly devoted to their families.
Article from : Cats in Care
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