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Need to Know
- Great for first-time cat owners
- Quiet and sedate cat
- Highly active and inquisitive cat
- Sociable cat
- Talkative cat
- Average build cat breed
- Requires regular grooming
- Great family cat
- Can be regularly left alone for a few hours
- Great for a relaxed home
Personality
The personality of the Domestic Shorthair cat is as varied as the cat’s coat. They can be playful and vocal or calm and quiet. Regardless of personality, though, they are sociable and outgoing cats who thrive off of human interaction. They are energetic and smart and need owners who can invest time in meeting their enrichment needs. Once mentally exhausted, they’ll enjoy nothing more than sunbathing on a shelf or in front of a window.
The Domestic Shorthair cat is a type, not a breed. Also called house cats and alley cats, the Domestic Shorthair cat has a long history that starts about 4,000 years ago in ancient Egypt when that civilization first domesticated cats. Modern-day Domestic Shorthairs are said to have evolved from British Shorthair Cats and first came to America with the Pilgrims where they became beloved hardworking farm cats before becoming the most popular companion cat today.
The Domestic Shorthair cat is a good cat for first-time cat owners. Outgoing, devoted, and low-maintenance, they get along with most people and other animals. They love human interaction and owners who can activate their minds. They are highly social and engaging and like owners who are around most of the time.
The Domestic Shorthair cat doesn’t like to be bored and will want to be fulfilled through toys, vertical exercise, exposure to windows, puzzles, and more. The more mentally stimulated they are, the more tuckered out they will be—and mellow.
The Domestic Shorthair cat doesn’t require any specific space in a home but will enjoy having a variety of sunny and warm spots to visit, and enrichment activities such as scratching posts, cat trees, and more.
Domestic Shorthair cats have a wide variety in their coat styles, but most have a dense double coat that needs regular brushing to prevent furballs and matting.
Domestic Shorthair cats are very smart, and can be trained to learn basic commands, to play games like fetch, and even leash walk. They respond well to food motivation and positive reinforcement methods. They can also be clicker trained.
The Domestic Shorthair cat is a good choice for family life and for first time cat owners. They are generally quiet yet playful cats and are friendly and loyal. They are tolerant of children.
The cost of a Domestic Shorthair from a breeder is significantly more than the cost of adopting one from a local shelter or rescue. The adoption fee usually covers additional items such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, and microchipping.
Learn more about feeding and caring for your Domestic Shorthair on Purina.
Did You Know?
- There are approximately 80 million Domestic Shorthair cats in America.
- Domestic Shorthair cats aren’t an actual breed but rather a type of cat, usually a mixed breed.
- Domestic Shorthair cats are the most common cats in shelters.
White Cat & Kitten Breeds
There are many breeds that include a white cat, from the British Shorthair and Sphynx to the Turkish Van. While many pet parents want to claim their cat falls into the rare, colorless category, a true white cat is defined by the lack of melanin pigmentation – the gene that gives her coat and eyes c