Your guide to finding and caring for an American Shorthair in Springfield
American Shorthairs fit Springfield's older neighborhoods well. In an older Midtown house or a Westside bungalow, they'll claim a sunny windowsill and watch the street without asking for much fuss. They're sturdy, easygoing cats that like company but don't demand it, so a regular workday or class schedule is usually manageable. They do love a game of chase, and they'll put on weight if you skip it. Keep a wand toy by the couch.
Adopt an American Shorthair today
While we don't have enough cats near Springfield, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 2 mo., 164 miles
American Shorthair
F, 2 mo., 164 miles
American Shorthair
F, 2 mo., 164 miles
American Shorthair
F, 4 mo., 164 miles
American Shorthair
M, 4 mo., 164 miles
American Shorthair
M, 4 mo., 164 miles
American Shorthair
F, 4 mo., 164 miles
American Shorthair
M, 3 mo., 164 miles
American Shorthair
F, 3 y., 164 miles
American Shorthair
M, 2 y., 202 miles
American Shorthair
American Shorthairs descend from European cats that crossed to North America with early settlers, guarding ships' cargo from rodents and then working on farms and homesteads. They became a recognized pedigreed breed in the early twentieth century and took the current name in the 1960s. The result is a medium-to-large, muscular cat with a broad face, full cheeks and a thick, hard-textured coat in dozens of colors.
Temperament runs easygoing, adaptable and quiet, with a strong taste for hunting-style play and a tendency to gain weight. Shedding is moderate, heavier when the undercoat lets go in spring. Many shorthaired cats in Springfield homes are random-bred domestic shorthairs with the same look, so adopters may meet cats with similar traits under either name.
Having an American Shorthair in Springfield
Calm, sturdy and food-motivated, the American Shorthair is an easy cat to live with when it gets daily play and measured meals. In Springfield, that also means planning indoor comfort around hot summers, cold snaps and spring storms.
American Shorthairs are typically even-tempered, friendly and quiet, happy to share a couch without needing a lap. That steady manner suits Springfield households with shifting schedules. Many adapt to calm dogs and respectful children after gradual introductions, though each cat's history and socialization matter as much as breed.
Aim for two or three short play sessions a day with wand toys, food puzzles and chase games. A cat tree beside a window gives a Springfield cat a bird-watching post, especially in winter when days indoors add up. Because many American Shorthairs are food-motivated, regular play helps keep weight in check.
Obesity is the main preventable concern, raising the risk of diabetes and arthritis. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and polycystic kidney disease have been reported in the breed, so a veterinarian can check a newly adopted cat. Ticks are active around Springfield, so year-round flea and tick prevention is sensible even for mostly indoor cats.
American Shorthairs adapt to apartments, bungalows and older houses alike, as long as there are scratching posts, perches and hiding spots. Secure window screens, since these strong hunters will chase birds and bugs. Keeping the cat indoors, or in a secure enclosure, also protects it from Springfield's heat, storms and wildlife.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption fee | $100, one time | $100 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* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,200 to $2,700 | |
| First-year total (with adoption fee) | $1,300 to $2,800 | |
Adoption fee is the fee on American Shorthair listings in Springfield on GetBuddy today. 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.
Springfield's rescue community includes shelters and foster-based groups that care for cats and dogs until they're adopted. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Springfield area where you can find American Shorthairs and other cats available for adoption.
1328 West Sunshine St, Springfield
926 E Garfield st, Springfield
3161 W. Norton Road, Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Yes. Springfield has no breed rules for American Shorthairs, so adopting one works like adopting any other cat. Plan on current rabies vaccination, which the city expects for cats, and keep your household within the city's cat limit. Read your lease's pet terms before adopting, and update microchip details once the cat is settled in.
It can be, if you want a calm, low-drama cat and can keep it indoors. The breed's easygoing nature suits quiet homes and busy ones, from older houses near campus to newer apartments. Plan on daily play, measured meals to prevent weight gain, and a cool, safe indoor space for storms and heat.
Yes, most American Shorthairs do well in a Springfield apartment. They're quiet, moderately active and content with a window perch. Add a tall cat tree, a few scratching posts and two play sessions a day, and keep window screens and balcony doors secure. Give the litter box a quiet corner away from food.
Yes, an American Shorthair copes well with Springfield's four seasons when it lives indoors. Its dense coat handles the cool months, and humid summers just call for a cool room and plenty of fresh water. Spring storms and winter ice are the bigger risks than cold itself, so keep a carrier and supplies ready.
No. CU Transit buses prohibit animals other than service animals, and there's no exception for a cat in a carrier. Springfield has buses only, with no passenger rail. For vet visits, plan on a car, a ride from a friend, or a pet-friendly rideshare, with your American Shorthair secured in a sturdy hard-sided carrier.
Very little. An American Shorthair's short, dense coat needs a weekly brushing, with a bit more during the spring undercoat shed and the lighter fall shed. Springfield's humid summers don't change that much, but check for ticks and fleas after any outdoor time. Home brushing keeps grooming costs low, within the Other line of the cost table.
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: C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue. 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 Springfield.
Expect roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for an American Shorthair in Springfield. That covers food at $25–$50 a month, insurance at $25–$50 a month, routine vet care at $150–$350 a year, and $450–$1,150 a year in other costs, including litter. Emergencies and illness aren't included.
Expand your search to find American Shorthairs available for adoption near Springfield.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Springfield.
