For centuries, "working cats" flourished along with their pioneer owners and eventually established themselves as the native North American shorthaired cat.
Early in the 20th century, foreign breeds imported to the United States (Longhairs and Siamese) interbred with native shorthaired cats, producing kittens with varied coat lengths, body styles, color, and temperament.
Those who wished to preserve the North American shorthaired cat acquired the finest examples of the breed and began mating them selectively to preserve the breed's conformation, beautiful face, and sweet disposition, while perfecting the patterns and colors characteristic of the American Shorthair as we know it today.
American Shorthairs can live 15 to 20 years, requiring only annual vaccinations, veterinary checkups, a quality diet, and plenty of tender loving care.
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