| Breed History: The
cat who came over on the Mayflower- this is the American Shorthair's claim to
fame. When the Pilgrims set out for the new world, they brought hardy,
independent, shorthaired cats that earned their keep as mousers during the
ocean voyage. Once arrived in the New World, these cats continued their work,
protecting homes and barns from rats and mice. But, as far as breeding was
concerned, these cats were on their own.. which tends to explain the endless
variety of colors and patterns that have developed.
These cats were originally thought to be
poor, hard working relations to the fancy breeds of the day, but in the 1900's
cat fanciers began to pay more attention to them, as Buster Brown was
registered as as a Domestic Shorthair- the first ever. The name was changed to
American Shorthair in 1966, to get away from the dull sounding Domestic title.
Since then, American Shorthairs have been famous in their own right. Socks,
the First Cat, was given to Chelsea Clinton in 1990. One tabby named Wiffy La
Gone was elected to the office of Mayor in Guffey, a small town in Colorado-
and was the THIRD American Shorthair to hold that office! Among Hollywood
celebrities is the orange tabby from Breakfast at Tiffany's.
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