| American Shorthair |
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"Most people’s cats are not purebred; in fact, 90 percent of pet cats in North America are called domestic shorthairs, a blanket term applying to nonpurebred house cats, some of which could also be called domestic medium-hairs or domestic long-hairs,” clarifies the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal’s Complete Guide to Cats. That being said, to try and separate the three hair lengths of cats into separate categories is tricky at best because they share so many characteristics. Coat types and tail lengths become a more practical way to distinguish the varieties within the American Shorthair category. The American Shorthair is 9-12 pounds, which is considered medium to large in cat stature
Appearance: Breed associations recognize more than 80 colors and patterns for the American Shorthair. The most common is the tabby pattern in silver, brown, or red. Their coats are short and very dense requiring combing two to three times a week.
Profile: The American Shorthairs are affectionate and sociable. They are adaptable to children and other pets. Whether actively playful or happily lapped to watch the action, these cats will fit into many different lifestyles.
History: The American Shorthair arrived with the Pilgrims in the 1600s. Treasured as “rodent destroyers,” the American Shorthairs survived into the twentieth century to become noticed by cat fanciers. This was almost their undoing because of the temptation to breed for longer coats. Thus, medium and long-hair varieties surfaced. In 1904, the first registered American-bred Domestic Shorthair started the trend to preserve the American Shorthairs as their own distinct breed.
The American Wirehair is 8-11 pounds, also medium to large, and well-muscled
Appearance: The American Wirehair has a dense, coarse coat. The wiry hairs even make their whiskers curl! Each hair bends, creating the “crimped” look desired by breeders. Coloring and patterning is similar to the 80 accepted American Shorthairs as breeders often cross the two. Grooming is advised only during shedding season as the wiry hair is easily damaged.
Profile: American Wirehairs are quiet and sweet-natured and share their ease of getting along with family and pets with their American Shorthair relatives.
History: In 1966 in upstate New York a male American Shorthair was born, one of six kittens, but with wiry hair. “Adam” was mated with a littermate and subsequent litters created the American Wirehair of today. The American Bobtail is 10-12 pounds and follows the path of being a medium to large, muscular cat  Appearance: American Bobtails, with their stocky build, have the signature tail which reaches about halfway down to the ankle of their hind leg. Not to be confused with the Manx, who lacks a tail, the Bobtail’s creation can be contributed to a genetic mutation. Bobtails come as both long and shorthaired. Their shaggy undercoat appears in all colors and patterns, as does the American Shorthair.
Profile: Intelligent and good-natured are American Bobtails. Friendly, yet shy with strangers, the Bobtails have been known to fetch. History: The Complete Guide to Cats states that, “In the 1960s, an Iowa family mated their Siamese with an orphaned male tabby that had a short, upraised tail. Some of the kittens had their mother’s long tail, while others had their father’s short tail. One of the short-tailed cats mated with the long-tailed one, and their whole litter had short tails.” So the American Bobtail was born. By Anne Moran Hunsinger, Special Correspondent
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Love is the discovery of ourselves in others and the delight in the recognition. -Alexander Smith
