Choosing A Domestic Short Hair Cat

While not officially considered a breed by the cat associations, the domestic short hair cat is the most common breed found in individual’s homes in the United States. The domestic short hair cat is often considered an ordinary everyday cat that is not bred for show but rather just for house cat purposes. Despite this, ninety-five percent of all cats in North America are domestic short hair cats.

History Of The Domestic Short Hair Cat

Today’s domestic short hairs are descendants of working cats that were brought to America on ships from England for keeping down the rat population. Cats that have no clear defined parentage are considered domestic short hairs.

Appearance Of The Domestic Short Hairs

The domestic short hair cat is perhaps best known for their diversity. They have a variety of colors, personalities and styles. This is possibly, what makes them so adored as house cats. The domestic short hair has almost eighty different types of color patterns that are recognized.

Domestic short hairs can be tabbies, calicos or solid color cats. Although perhaps the most popular domestic short hair cat is the black and white tuxedo cat. The appearance of a domestic short hair will depending entirely on the area you live and what other cats are in the vicinity.

If you live in a colder location then you are likely to get a domestic short hair cat that has a stocky build with a dense coat. Cats that come from regions with warmer temperatures will often be thinner with lighter coats.

Domestic Short Hair Personality

The temperament of the domestic short hair cat is about as diverse as their coat colors. When you get a domestic short hair kitten, it is often very difficult to determine what their personality will be like as an adult. They can grow up to be either quiet or vocal cats. They may hide under the bed most of the day or they may be tripping you up trying to get attention as you make your way around the house.

Purebred cats are more likely to follow a pattern and have a distinct personality, but domestic short hair cats have not been specifically bred so there is no way to determine their personality. Since domestic short hairs are randomly bred, you never know what you will get. No matter what domestic short hair you get however, they are usually friendly and social.

Taking Care Of Your Domestic Short Hair Cat

Most of the time domestic short hairs require little grooming, but it can vary depending on the length and texture of the individual cats coat. However, grooming is very important in all cats to help remove dead hair to prevent hairballs. It can also help the skin, muscles and blood circulation through the stimulation that is caused when grooming a cat.