Your guide to finding and caring for an American Shorthair in Minneapolis
American Shorthairs fit Minneapolis homes well, from Northeast Victorians to the brick walk-ups around Powderhorn Park. They're calm, sturdy cats that are happy with a sunny windowsill and a couple of play sessions a day. That helps in a city where winter keeps everyone indoors for months. The catch is weight: this breed gains easily, so daily wand-toy time matters more than a big apartment does.
Adopt an American Shorthair today
M, 4 mo., 10 miles
American Shorthair
F, 7 y., 10 miles
American Shorthair
F, 9 y., 10 miles
American Shorthair
M, 4 y., 25 miles
Domestic Short Hair, American Shorthair
F, 2 y., 15 miles
American Shorthair
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 18 miles
American Shorthair, Maine Coon
F, 3-7 y., 18 miles
American Shorthair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 18 miles
American Shorthair, Maine Coon
M, 8 y. +, 30 miles
American Shorthair
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 35 miles
American Shorthair, Tabby
The American Shorthair descends from working cats that crossed the Atlantic with European settlers to keep rodents out of grain and cargo. The best of them became a recognized breed in the early 1900s, sold for decades as the Domestic Shorthair. The result is a solid, muscular, medium-to-large cat with a broad face, full cheeks and a dense, hard coat in dozens of colors. The silver tabby is the best known.
Most American Shorthairs are easygoing and quietly affectionate, happier sitting beside you than in your arms. They love hunting-style play and have a healthy appetite. In Minneapolis, many shorthaired cats are random-bred domestic shorthairs with the same look and a similar nature, so a cat can resemble the breed without being a purebred.
Having an American Shorthair in Minneapolis
Steady, low-drama cats with a dense coat, a hunter's play drive and a big appetite. In Minneapolis, that adds up to an easy apartment companion whose main needs are daily play, measured meals and a safe indoor life through long winters.
Easygoing and friendly, American Shorthairs usually take apartment noise, from neighbors' footsteps to street traffic, in stride. Many enjoy company without demanding it, so they often handle workdays better than clingier cats. A cat's history and socialization matter as much as breed, so watch how a cat reacts to handling, visitors and new sounds.
Aim for a couple of short wand-toy or chase sessions each day, plus food puzzles to use that hunting drive. A perch at a window overlooking a street or backyard feeder gives a cat something to watch. Winter makes indoor play essential, and harness walks, if a cat enjoys them, can wait for milder months.
American Shorthairs are generally robust, and obesity is the biggest preventable risk, so measure meals through the sedentary winter months. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and polycystic kidney disease have been reported in the breed. After adoption, a veterinarian can check the heart, kidneys and teeth, and set up a vaccine and parasite-prevention routine.
An American Shorthair adapts well to Minneapolis apartments and older houses alike, provided it has scratching posts, perches, hiding spots and daily play. Its calm nature suits busy and quiet households. Keep it indoors or in a secure enclosure, and make sure window screens and balcony doors are secure.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption fee | $300, one time | $300 in year one |
| 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* | $480 to $1,180 per year | $480 to $1,180 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,230 to $2,730 | |
| First-year total (with adoption fee) | $1,530 to $3,030 | |
Adoption fee is the fee on American Shorthair listings in Minneapolis on GetBuddy today. Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The $30 Minneapolis license for a spayed or neutered cat, cat litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratching posts and other supplies, and simple brushing at home.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below currently have American Shorthairs available.
Minneapolis' city shelter and rescue partners help many cats, including domestic shorthairs, find new homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Minneapolis area where you can find American Shorthairs and other cats available for adoption.
Minneapolis
212 17th Avenue North, Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Yes. Minneapolis has no breed-specific pet rules, and state law bars breed-only rules for dangerous dogs. Every cat over four months old needs a city license, which requires a current rabies vaccination and costs $30 a year for a spayed or neutered cat. You can keep up to three cats without a multiple-animal permit, and no more than four pets in total.
Yes, an American Shorthair usually does well in a Minneapolis apartment. They're calm and quiet, so shared walls rarely become a problem, but they need daily play and vertical space. Put a cat tree or perch by a window, secure screens in warm months, and get your landlord's approval before adopting, since buildings set their own pet rules.
Often, yes, especially for people who want a calm companion through long winters. An American Shorthair is content indoors, plays in short bursts and doesn't need a yard or outings. The trade-offs are weight gain and boredom if play slips, so measured meals and daily wand-toy sessions matter when the weather keeps everyone inside.
Not much. Brush the short, dense coat once or twice a week, a little more in spring when the winter undercoat sheds, and lightly in fall. Trim nails every few weeks. Professional grooming is rarely necessary, so grooming costs stay within the home-care supplies counted under Other in the cost table.
Yes, but only in a carrier. Metro Transit buses and light rail allow pets only in a carrier, and leashed pets aren't allowed to board, so a harness alone won't work. Choose a secure, ventilated carrier that fits comfortably on your lap, with room for a larger male. Service animals follow separate rules.
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.
Yes, American Shorthairs are usually friendly, easygoing cats. Many greet family members, get along with visitors once settled and tolerate children and other pets well after gradual introductions. They tend to be sociable without being demanding. Personality still varies, so an adopted cat's history and behavior in its foster or shelter home are the best guide.
We have 1 rescue with American Shorthairs available: Midwest Animal Rescue Services. 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 Minneapolis.
Expect roughly $1,230 to $2,730 a year for an American Shorthair in Minneapolis. That covers food ($25 to $50 a month), pet insurance ($25 to $50 a month), routine vet care ($150 to $350 a year) and other costs ($480 to $1,180 a year), including the $30 city license.
Expand your search to find American Shorthairs available for adoption near Minneapolis.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Minneapolis.
