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The American Shorthair is often referred to as "America's Working Cat" as a reference to its barn-mouser origins. While the breed may have domestic origins, it is today a separately recognized pedigreed breed which must meet criteria based on both its linage and its conformation to a specific breed standard. In other words, not every shorthaired cat born in the United States is an American Shorthair.
The breed was originally called "Domestic Shorthair" during the first part of the century, with catalogs of the earliest cat shows showing cats entered under that breed name. (The term today is used to designate any random-bred non-pedigreed cat with short hair). the breed name was changed to American Shorthair in 1966 after the breed began to gain more respect in the showhall and breeders began working on refining its appearance.
During this period of refinement, the Persian was used as an outcross to bring in a more rounded head. It also introduced the silver gene into the American Shorthair color pool and is responsible for the beautiful silver tabby patterns seen today.
The American Shorthair itself is a hearty breed and has been used as an outcross to develop many new breeds, including the Ocicat, Scottish Fold, American Wirehair, and American Curl.
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In keeping with its working roots, the American Shorthair is a solid and massive cat. Its head is large with a stongly-defined muzzle and jaw (remember, it's original purpose was to catch prey). It has a moderate body, being neither very long nor very short. Although the coat is short, it is very dense and hard (as opposed to soft and fluffy) again reminiscent of its origins as an working outdoor cat.
When one thinks of an American Shorthair, one usual pictures a silver tabby or perhaps a brown or brown-patched tabby color and pattern. However, the breed is recognized in eighty different colors and patterns. Patterns include solids, tabbies, smokes (having a white undercoat with color restricted to the top of the hair), and bi-colors (patches or areas of color with white).
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