Your guide to finding and caring for an American Shorthair in Pasadena
American Shorthairs fit Pasadena's Craftsman bungalows and apartment blocks equally well. In Bungalow Heaven, a sunny front window and a cat tree give a shorthair plenty to watch, and the same cat is just as content in a Playhouse Village apartment. They're calm, mostly quiet and happy to supervise from the couch. Daily play is the one thing to build in, since that sturdy frame packs on pounds easily when the cat is bored.
Adopt an American Shorthair today
F, 4 mo., 2151 miles
American Shorthair
M, 6 mo., 2151 miles
American Shorthair
M, 2 y., 2151 miles
American Shorthair
M, 3 y., 2170 miles
American Shorthair
M, 2 y., 2178 miles
American Shorthair
M, 5 y., 2178 miles
American Shorthair
M, 3 y., 2178 miles
Domestic Short Hair, American Shorthair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 2193 miles
American Shorthair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 2193 miles
American Shorthair
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 2193 miles
American Shorthair
The American Shorthair descends from working cats that traveled on settlers' ships to keep rodents off the cargo, then guarded barns and homesteads across North America. In the early twentieth century the sturdiest of them became a pedigreed breed, first called the Domestic Shorthair and renamed in the 1960s. Today it's a solid, muscular, medium-to-large cat with a broad face, full cheeks and a thick, hard-textured coat in dozens of colors, with the silver tabby the classic look.
Shedding is moderate, and the dense coat sheds most in spring, so a weekly brush at home is usually enough. Appetite is the main care issue: measured meals matter. Many shorthaired cats in shelters are random-bred domestic shorthairs with the same look and easygoing traits, so adopters may meet cats like this under either name.
Having an American Shorthair in Pasadena
A sturdy, easygoing cat that suits Pasadena's mix of bungalows and apartments. Daily play, measured meals and a cool spot on hot afternoons matter most, and the cards below show what that looks like here.
American Shorthairs tend to be even-tempered and quietly sociable, which suits Pasadena's range of households, from busy Playhouse Village apartments to calmer streets near Washington Park. Many enjoy company without clinging. A cat's history and socialization shape its personality as much as breed does, so spend time with a cat before deciding.
Plan two or three short play sessions a day with wand toys, chase games and food puzzles. A window perch overlooking a Pasadena street or garden adds easy activity, and a screened catio or enclosed balcony gives safe fresh air. Structured play keeps this food-loving breed from gaining weight indoors.
Obesity is the most common preventable problem, so measure meals and keep play regular. Heart disease and polycystic kidney disease have been reported in the breed, and a veterinarian can screen for both. Yearly exams and dental care help, and Pasadena's long warm season makes steady flea prevention worthwhile.
A medium cat with a calm nature, an American Shorthair does well in Pasadena's many apartments and in bungalows alike. Provide scratching posts, perches and hiding spots, and secure windows and balcony doors. Indoor living or an enclosed catio keeps a strong hunter safe from traffic and coyotes.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,200 to $2,700 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Cat litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratching posts and other supplies, and simple brushing at home for a short coat.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below currently have American Shorthairs available.
Pasadena's animal shelter and local rescues care for cats of all ages, from kittens to seniors, until they're adopted. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Pasadena area where you can find American Shorthairs and other cats available for adoption.
Yes. Pasadena has no breed-specific rules, and cats don't need a city license. The main requirement is that cats over six months old be spayed or neutered unless a veterinarian documents a health exemption. Adopted cats usually come already altered, so this rarely adds a step. Households with five or more cats fall under kennel rules.
Yes, American Shorthairs usually do well in apartments, and many Pasadena households rent. Their calm, moderate-energy nature suits smaller spaces if there are scratching posts, window perches and daily play. Secure windows and balcony doors, and confirm the lease's pet terms in writing before you sign, including any deposit or monthly pet rent.
Yes, as indoor cats they handle it well with a little planning. Pasadena averages about 74 days a year at or above 90°F, with August and September the hottest. Keep rooms shaded, offer fresh water in several spots, and play in the cooler mornings and evenings. Never leave a cat in a parked car.
Yes, in a closed, secure carrier. Both Pasadena Transit buses and Metro A Line trains and buses require pets other than service animals to ride enclosed. At 6 to 15 pounds, an American Shorthair fits a roomy carrier. Pasadena Transit can refuse an animal that is disruptive, so a calm, carrier-trained cat makes trips easier.
Often, yes. The breed's easygoing nature suits both Pasadena's apartments and its bungalow neighborhoods, and mild winters make indoor life comfortable. The trade-offs are daily play to prevent weight gain, a cool home through the long hot season, and an evacuation plan with a carrier if you live near the foothills.
Very little. A weekly brush handles the short, dense coat, with a few extra sessions in spring when the undercoat sheds most and a lighter shed in fall. Pasadena's warm climate means some loose hair year-round. Professional grooming is rarely needed, so grooming adds little beyond the supplies already counted in the Other costs.
An American Shorthair is a pedigreed North American cat breed descended from the working cats that came over with European settlers to control rodents. It is a sturdy, muscular, medium-to-large cat with a round face, full cheeks and a thick short coat in many colors, most famously silver tabby. Many are calm, adaptable and quietly affectionate.
American Shorthairs shed a moderate amount. Their dense coat drops hair year-round, with a heavier shed in spring when the undercoat thins and a lighter one in fall. Brushing a few times a week with a slicker brush or grooming mitt keeps loose hair under control and reduces hairballs. Sudden bald patches or excessive shedding deserve a veterinary visit.
We have 1 rescue with American Shorthairs available: The Dog Rescuers. You can see every rescue with American Shorthairs available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the American Shorthairs near Pasadena.
Plan on roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for an American Shorthair in Pasadena, or about $100 to $225 a month. That covers food ($25–$50 a month), insurance ($25–$50 a month), routine vet care ($150–$350 a year) and other costs such as litter, flea prevention and dental care ($450–$1,150 a year). Emergencies are extra.
Expand your search to find American Shorthairs available for adoption near Pasadena.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Pasadena.
