The history of the American shorthair dates back to the early years of American history. The Mayflower trip of this breed is its claim to fame.
It is thought that to manage rodents on the long journey across the Atlantic, pilgrims carried professional feline mousers with them from Europe.
This American cat breed's backward-curled ears will make it clear why it was given that moniker. The unusual ear shape in these cats is the product of a spontaneous genetic mutation.
When the mutation was initially found in cats in the early 1980s, efforts to selectively breed for the feature were launched right away.
In the 1970s, the Bengal cat was created in the United States. When an African leopard cat and a domestic cat were successfully bred, the breed was born.
The American shorthair, Egyptian Mau, and Abyssinian all made early contributions to the breeding program.
The exotic shorthair has a hairstyle that makes it resemble a Persian cat. This American cat was specifically developed to have the unique round, flat face of the Persian and a short, silky coat.
These cats, who are frequently referred to as the "lazy man's Persian," have identical characteristics and adhere to the same breed requirements.