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The American Shorthair is one of the more popular cats to own. They are gorgeous felines with a muscular build, and they are sociable with sweet dispositions, making them exceptional family pets.
These medium- to large-sized cats have thick, short, dense coats in various colors and patterns. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) allows more than 80 of them under the breed standard, and in this post, we’ll list the 14 most popular American Shorthair colors and patterns you’ll typically see in this amazing cat breed.1
The 14 American Shorthair Cat Colors & Patterns
Solid Colors
1. White
The pure, glistening white American Shorthair looks like a white fluff ball with a striking appearance. The nose and paw pads are pinkish in color, and the eyes can be deep blue or gold. Sometimes, a cat may have one of each, known as heterochromia. The beautiful eye colors and the pinkish nose and paw pads stand out against the glistening-white coat, which adds to the cat’s beauty.
2. Black
The black American Shorthair is solid black, even down to the root of the fur. They even have black noses and paw pads that blend with the blackness, and the eyes are yellow-gold, giving them a stunning appearance. Some people associate black cats with bad luck, but odds are, you’ll fall in love with the black American Shorthair. They may even be the opposite and bring you good luck!
3. Red
The red American Shorthair has a deep, clear, and rich red coat without shadings, markings, or ticking. They have yellow eyes with red noses, and the paw pads are a dark pink color.
4. Blue
The blue American Shorthair is truly gorgeous, with blue fur from head to tail. These cats even have blue noses and blue paw pads with a hint of pink on the pads. They have yellow eyes, and with their stunning appearance, blue is a popular, sought-after color for cat owners.
5. Cream
The cream American Shorthair is all one level of buff cream without any markings, all the way to the roots. They have gold-colored eyes with pink paw pads and are considered a favorite according to the CFA due to the unusual buff color.
Color Patterns
6. Chinchilla
The chinchilla color pattern can be red, cream, silver, and tortoiseshell (a combination of two colors other than white). Chinchilla American Shorthair cats typically have a white undercoat with blue ticking on the head, back, and tail. The eyes, nose, and paw pads can be various colors.
7. Bicolor
In a bicolor American Shorthair, the first color is almost always white, and the second color is normally blue; however, the CFA also recognizes black, red, or cream as the second color. The coat has no shading or markings, and the eyes are typically yellow. The paw pads can be in various colors.
8. Calico
The calico American Shorthair has a white undercoat with distinct patches of black and red throughout the coat. The eyes are yellow, but the paw pad coloring varies from cat to cat. Some Calicos may have red tabby stripes, which are rare and rarely seen.
9. Tabby
If you’re looking for an American Shorthair with many color combos, look no further than the tabby American Shorthair. The coat colors have a striped, symmetrical pattern on the sides and an unmistakable “M” on the forehead, which is a tabby trademark. The color variations are almost limitless, with the silver tabby being the most famous.
10. Vans
The vans American Shorthair can come in many different color variations, but one feature that sets them apart is their primarily white coat, and the colors and patterns make up only a small portion of the coat, which can mostly be seen on the ears, face, paws, and tail.
11. Smoke
The smoke American Shorthair can be seen in many different colors and patterns, with blue, black, cameo, and tortoiseshell being the most common. These cats have a light undercoat, but what’s unique about these cats is that they appear to be a solid color when sitting still, and the light undercoat is apparent in motion.
12. Shaded
The shaded American Shorthair is yet another color that varies from cat to cat. The colors can be cream, blue, red, silver, or tortoiseshell, and the eyes are typically green. The undercoat is light, and most have red noses and black paw pads.
13. Patched Tabby
The patched Tabby American Shorthair combines tortoiseshell and tabby patterns that can be found in blue, brown, or silver, with red and/or cream patches. They commonly have a white chest and white paws. These cats are typically referred to as “torbies.”
14. Tortoiseshell
Lastly, we have the tortoiseshell American Shorthair. They are black with patches of red mixed in throughout the body. They have gold-colored eyes and either red or black noses and paw pads. Often referred to as “torties,” these unique-looking cats are mostly all female, and the color patterns can be patched or bridled (woven together).
Conclusion
The American Shorthair breed comes in over 80 different colors and patterns. They have a long lifespan of 15 to 20 years and typically weigh between 8 to 12 pounds. It’s believed these cats came to the New World in the 1600s with Europeans sailing across the Atlantic, and they have been warming the hearts of cat lovers ever since. These cats are smart, even-tempered, athletic, and make exceptional pets.
Featured Image Credit: Top Photo Engineer, Shutterstock
