Your guide to finding and caring for an American Shorthair in Plymouth
American Shorthairs suit Plymouth's mix of townhomes, detached houses and apartment complexes. They're calm, sturdy cats that are content with a sunny window and a daily play session. A City Center apartment near Vicksburg Lane works about as well as a house near Bass Lake, as long as there are perches and scratching posts. Plymouth winters are long, and an American Shorthair that enjoys indoor life handles them easily.
Adopt an American Shorthair today
While we don't have enough cats near Plymouth, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
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American Shorthairs descend from working cats that traveled with early settlers to guard cargo and later patrolled barns and homesteads across North America. The breed was formalized in the early 1900s. It's a solid, muscular, medium-to-large cat with a broad face, full cheeks and a thick, hard-textured coat. Colors run to dozens of patterns, with the silver tabby as the classic look.
Many are easygoing, quiet and affectionate without being clingy, and they often get along with children and other pets. They love hunting-style play and gain weight easily, so measured meals matter. Plenty of shorthaired cats in Plymouth are random-bred domestic shorthairs with a similar look and personality, and each cat's own temperament matters more than its label.
Having an American Shorthair in Plymouth
An American Shorthair offers steady, low-drama company, but its hunting instincts, dense coat and healthy appetite all shape daily care. In Plymouth, the main questions are keeping an indoor cat active through winter and keeping it safe from outdoor hazards.
Many American Shorthairs are even-tempered and sociable without being clingy, which suits Plymouth households that are out during work hours but busy in the evenings. They often accept respectful children and calm dogs after gradual introductions. Most prefer sitting nearby to being carried, and they're usually quiet. Each cat's history and socialization matter as much as breed.
Aim for a couple of short play sessions a day with wand toys, chase games and food puzzles. Long Plymouth winters keep cats indoors, so a cat tree by a window and regular play help burn energy and prevent weight gain. Food-motivated cats do well with meals served in puzzle feeders.
American Shorthairs are generally robust, and obesity is the most common preventable problem. Heart disease (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) and polycystic kidney disease have been reported in the breed, so a veterinarian can check the heart and kidneys at a first exam. Keep vaccines current and ask your vet about flea and tick prevention.
An American Shorthair adapts to a townhome, an apartment or a detached house. Plymouth is mostly houses and townhomes, with large apartment complexes making up most rentals, and all of them work with scratching posts, perches and hiding spots. Keep the cat indoors or in a secure enclosure, and secure windows and balconies.
| 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 and tick 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.
Plymouth has no shelter of its own, so the rescues and shelters below serve the west Twin Cities metro. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Plymouth area where you can find American Shorthairs and other cats available for adoption.
Yes, there are no known breed restrictions on cats in Plymouth. The city doesn't license cats, but each cat needs ID, either a microchip or a tag with your phone number or address, plus a rabies vaccination. Cats must be under restraint off your property, and a household can have four dogs and cats combined, with no more than two dogs.
Often, yes. A calm, sturdy American Shorthair handles Plymouth's long winters well as an indoor cat, as long as you schedule daily play to keep it active and its weight in check. It isn't clingy, so it copes with some time alone. Coyotes in the metro area are another reason to keep it indoors or in a secure enclosure.
Yes. Plymouth has plenty of apartment complexes, including some near City Center, and an American Shorthair's relaxed nature suits that kind of home. Give it a cat tree, a window perch, scratching posts and daily play. Read the lease for pet rent, deposits and limits first, since terms vary by building.
Very little. The short, dense coat needs brushing once or twice a week most of the year, and more often in spring when the undercoat sheds. Heated indoor air in Minnesota winters can dry skin and coat, so regular brushing helps. Grooming is easy to do at home, so it adds little to the yearly Other costs.
Yes, but only in a carrier. Plymouth Metrolink allows pets when there's room on the vehicle and the cat is in a carrier, and regional Metro Transit also requires carriers. An American Shorthair weighing 6 to 15 pounds usually fits in a sturdy, well-ventilated carrier. Leashed pets aren't allowed to board, and Plymouth has no subway.
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: Pause 4 Paws. 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 Plymouth.
Plan on roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for an adult American Shorthair, or about $100 to $225 a month on average. That covers food, insurance, routine vet care, and other costs such as litter, flea prevention and dental care. Plymouth has no pet license fee. Emergencies and illness aren't included, which is where insurance helps.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Plymouth.
