The American Shorthair (ASH) is a breed of cat believed to be descended from English domestic cats (the forebears of today's British Shorthairs) brought to North America by early British settlers to protect valuable cargo from mice and rats.
According to the Cat Fancier's Association for 2006–2007, it is the 8th most popular breed of cat in the United States.
A very athletic cat, American Shorthair has a larger, leaner, and more powerfully built body than its relation, the British Shorthair. It is also known as a "working cat."
American Shorthairs are a pedigreed cat with strict standards and a distinctive appearance as set by the various Cat Fanciers Associations worldwide.