Tabby American Shorthair cat breed lying down with head up against a white background
Tabby American Shorthair cat breed lying down with head up against a white background

The American Shorthair cat is a medium-sized cat that’s gentle, loving, and sweet. They are happy and energetic cats, although they’re not super athletic. With round heads, wide ears, and large eyes, they have open and curious faces. They can be stubborn, which makes them not as clingy as other cat breeds. They reach maturity around 3 or 4 years old. 

  • Playfulnesslevel 4 in 5

  • Activity Levellevel 2 in 5

  • Friendliness to Other Petslevel 4 in 5

  • Friendliness to Childrenlevel 4 in 5

  • Grooming Requirementslevel 1 in 5

  • Vocalitylevel 1 in 5

  • Need for attentionlevel 3 in 5

  • Affection towards ownerslevel 3 in 5

  • Docilitylevel 4 in 5

  • Intelligencelevel 3 in 5

  • Independencelevel 4 in 5

  • Hardinesslevel 4 in 5

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Cat Adoption Checklist

Congratulations on adopting a cat! You are embarking on a wonderful and rewarding relationship. Because adopting a new cat comes with a lot of change for both cat and cat parent, we've compiled a checklist to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

Why Adopt a Second Cat?

There are benefits to having two cats, but they apply only when the two cats are well matched and have enough physical space to live together comfortably. One benefit is that the two cats provide each other with exercise, social interaction, and other forms of mental stimulation. Cats housed together have more opportunity to “be cats” by socializing and playing with each other, and this means they are less likely to be destructive or engage in other problematic behavior. For example, some single cats annoy their owners by trying to wake them during the night for play. Two cats might still wake the owner by tearing around the home, but at least the owner isn’t getting up out of bed to entertain the cat. Another benefit of two cats is that they are sometimes cleaner than a cat living by itself. Cats will groom each other’s ears and coat, often getting at places the cat can’t reach on its own!

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