Your guide to finding and caring for an American Shorthair in Cranston
American Shorthairs fit Cranston's mix of apartment buildings and older single-family homes well. In Garden City, where winding streets of 1940s houses sit beside apartment complexes, a calm, medium-sized cat with a sunny window perch is easy to live with. They're happy to supervise from the couch, but they still want a daily round of chase with a wand toy. Cranston allows up to four cats at one address, so a pair is possible too.
Adopt an American Shorthair today
M, 5 mo., 244 miles
American Shorthair
F, 3 y., 247 miles
American Shorthair
M, 3-7 y., 105 miles
American Shorthair
F, 8 y. +, 105 miles
American Shorthair
F, 3-7 y., 105 miles
American Shorthair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 105 miles
American Shorthair
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 105 miles
American Shorthair
F, 3-7 y., 105 miles
American Shorthair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 107 miles
American Shorthair
F, 2 y., 107 miles
American Shorthair
American Shorthairs descend from working cats that traveled with early settlers to keep rodents out of ships and barns. Over time they became a solid, muscular, medium-to-large cat with a broad face, full cheeks and a dense, hard-textured coat. The silver tabby is the classic look, but the colors and patterns run well past a hundred. Most weigh between 6 and 15 pounds, and many take three or four years to fill out fully.
Their easygoing, quiet nature carries over well to Cranston's homes, as long as they get daily play and measured meals. Because they're strong hunters, they do best indoors or in a secure enclosure, which also keeps them away from the raccoons that carry rabies around the Providence area. Many shorthaired cats in shelters share the breed's look without being pedigreed, so adopters may meet cats with similar traits under either name.
Having an American Shorthair in Cranston
Steady and low-drama, the American Shorthair is a sturdy cat that asks for little beyond play, a good perch and portion control. Its dense coat and big appetite shape daily care, and Cranston's long winters make indoor routines especially important.
American Shorthairs tend to be even-tempered, friendly and a little independent. Many enjoy company without clinging, and they often get along with respectful children and calm dogs after gradual introductions. They're usually quiet, with soft chirps instead of loud calls. Each cat's history and socialization matter more than breed alone.
Plan on short play sessions every day, such as wand toys, chase games and food puzzles that tap into the hunting instinct. Cranston winters keep cats indoors for months, so a cat tree by a window and regular play help prevent the weight gain these food-loving cats are prone to.
American Shorthairs are generally robust, and no single breed-specific disease dominates. Obesity is the most common preventable problem, raising the risk of diabetes and arthritis. Heart disease (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) and polycystic kidney disease have been reported in the breed, so a veterinarian can advise on screening. Rhode Island requires a current rabies vaccination.
An American Shorthair usually adapts well to apartments and houses alike, given scratching posts, perches, hiding spots and daily play. That suits Cranston, where roughly a third of households rent. Secure window screens and balconies, and keep the cat indoors or in an enclosed space so its hunting instincts stay safe.
| 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.
Cranston's shelters and rescues care for cats of every kind, and many shorthaired cats share the American Shorthair's look. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Cranston area where you can find American Shorthairs and other cats available for adoption.
Yes. Rhode Island bars cities from passing breed-specific rules, so Cranston has no restrictions on American Shorthairs as such. Cranston does cap households at four cats per address outside a licensed kennel or pet shop. State law requires a rabies vaccination, and cats over six months must be spayed or neutered unless the owner holds a permit.
Yes, American Shorthairs usually do well in apartments. They're calm, quiet and content with a window perch, a scratching post and daily play. With about a third of Cranston households renting and rent near $1,375 a month, get the pet terms in writing, and screen windows and balconies so the cat can't slip out.
For most households, yes. The breed's easygoing nature suits both Cranston's quiet residential streets and its apartment buildings, and a cat that enjoys indoor life handles the long winters well. It fits best with someone who will schedule daily play and measure meals, since these cats tend to gain weight.
Mostly, as long as the cat lives indoors. The thick coat copes with a winter of about 109 freezing nights and roughly 37 inches of snow, and summers are warm but not extreme. Winter storms and power outages call for a plan, so keep a carrier, litter and extra food on hand.
Very little. Brushing once or twice a week at home handles the short, dense coat. Shedding rises in spring as the winter undercoat comes out, and eases in fall, so brush more often then. Routine grooming is simple and low-cost, which is why it's folded into the yearly Other costs on this page.
Probably not. Cranston is served by RIPTA buses, with no subway or rail station, and RIPTA's rules allow only service animals. Plan on driving or arranging a ride for vet visits instead. Keep your American Shorthair in a secure, ventilated carrier for any trip, since a startled cat can bolt.
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: Handsome Dan's Rescue for Pit Bull Type Dogs. 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 Cranston.
Expect roughly $25 to $50 a month for food and $25 to $50 for pet insurance. Routine vet care runs about $150 to $350 a year, and other costs such as litter, flea prevention and dental care add $450 to $1,150. That puts a year with an American Shorthair at roughly $1,200 to $2,700.
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