The American Shorthair (AmericanShorthair) is a breed of cat originally from the United States, whose ancestors were cats brought to North America by early European settlers. It is related to the British Shorthair and European Shorthair.

　　According to records, the Mayflower carried several cats to help control rodents. This breed was selectively bred from cats collected on the streets and alleys and crossed with imported breeds such as British Shorthair, Burmese, and Persian cats.

　　The American Shorthair is known for its robust build, strong bones, well-developed muscles, intelligence, and gentle temperament. It is a medium to large short-haired breed. The coat is dense and thick, with over 30 colors, among which the silver tabby variety is particularly valuable. This edition of Cat Encyclopedia Knowledge will give a detailed introduction to the American Shorthair's physical characteristics and habits.

　　Overall:

　　The American Shorthair is a purebred working cat, characterized by a strong physique, good balance, well-proportioned body, strength, and lively temperament. The size ranges from medium to large, with adult females generally smaller than males.

　　Proportion:

　　Slender proportions, body length slightly longer than height (height refers to the measurement from the top of the shoulder blades to the ground when viewed from the side. Body length is measured from the top of the sternum to the top of the rear). From the side, the body can be divided into three equal parts: from sternum to elbow, from elbow to the front of the hind legs, from the front of the hind legs to the top of the rear. The tail length equals the length from the shoulder blades to the tail base.

　　Head:

　　Head: Large head, full cheeks creating an oval impression, length slightly longer than width. Sweet and open expression. From the front, the head can be divided into two equal parts—from the base of the ears to between the eyes, and from between the eyes to the tip of the chin.

　　Ears: Medium size, tips fine and rounded, naturally separated on the top of the head. The distance between the ears is twice the distance between the eyes.

　　Forehead: Smooth shape when viewed from the side, moderately curved extending from the top of the head to the neck. No noticeable bulge between the ears when viewed from the front.

　　Eyes: Large and wide open. The upper eyelid resembles a vertically halved almond, the lower eyelid is round. The distance between the eyes is at least one eye's width. The outer eye corners are slightly higher than the inner corners. The gaze is bright, clear, and alert.

　　Nose: Medium length, length and width equal. From the side, the nose bridge connects to the forehead with a gentle curve.

　　Mouth and nose: Square-shaped; mature male cats have clearly defined jawlines.

　　Jaw: Strong and long enough to hold anything caught. Both level bite and scissor bite are excellent (level bite means upper and lower teeth meet flatly; scissor bite means the inner edge of the upper teeth contacts the outer edge of the lower teeth).

　　Chin: Strong and well-developed, vertically aligned with the upper lip.

　　Neck: Moderate length, muscular and strong.

　　Body:

　　Robust, solid, strong and muscular with well-developed shoulders, chest, and hind legs. The back is broad, flat, and straight. From the side, the body slopes slightly from the pelvis to the tail base; from above, the sides form a pair of parallel lines.

　　Legs: Moderate bone structure and length, muscular, and when viewed from the rear, all four legs are straight and parallel to the outer edges of the paws.

　　Paws: Solid, plump, and round with thick paw pads; five toes in front, four in back.

　　Tail: Medium length, thick at the base, tapering suddenly at the tip, though the tail vertebrae taper normally.

　　Coat:

　　Short, thick, hard and smooth texture. Coat thickness varies with region and season. The dense coat protects the body from temperature and humidity and shields the surface skin from external damage.

　　Faults:

　　Legs too close together or too far apart, tail too short.

　　Disqualifications:

　　Colors showing obvious signs of crossbreeding with other breeds, such as chocolate, seal mink, lavender, lilac (commonly pale purple), and restricted point colors (like Siamese patterns). Any clear traits from other breeds, including long and soft hair, a deeply "broken" nose bridge like Persian or Exotic Shorthair cats, protruding eye placement, and eyebrow bones. Knotted or abnormal tails, abnormal number of toes. Abnormal bite (underbite or overbite), tongue sticking out and unable to retract. Overly fat or skinny, appearing excessively weak due to poor care, etc.