Your guide to finding and caring for an American Shorthair in Sioux Falls
American Shorthairs fit the older apartment buildings around All Saints and the Cathedral Historic District well. They're sturdy, quiet cats that don't need much floor space, just a window perch, a scratching post and a few play sessions a day. That matters in Sioux Falls, where snow keeps most cats indoors from November through March. A wand toy and a cat tree by the glass will keep a shorthair busy and lean. Many are happy to watch the street while you're at work.
Adopt an American Shorthair today
While we don't have enough cats near Sioux Falls, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 3-7 y., 113 miles
American Shorthair
F, 3-7 y., 113 miles
American Shorthair
F, 3-7 y., 113 miles
American Shorthair
M, 3-7 y., 113 miles
American Shorthair
M, 3-7 y., 113 miles
American Shorthair
F, 3 y., 132 miles
American Shorthair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 132 miles
American Shorthair
F, 3-7 y., 132 miles
American Shorthair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 132 miles
Siamese, American Shorthair
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 132 miles
American Shorthair
The American Shorthair descends from working cats that traveled with early settlers to guard cargo and grain from rodents, then spent generations on North American farms. Early in the twentieth century the sturdiest of them became a recognized breed, first shown as the Domestic Shorthair. Today it's a solid, muscular, medium-to-large cat with a broad face, full cheeks and a thick, hard coat in dozens of colors. Silver tabby is the classic look.
In Sioux Falls, that dense coat and steady temperament suit long indoor winters. Most are easygoing and quietly affectionate, enjoy hunting-style play and will gain weight if meals and play aren't measured. Many cats in need of homes here are random-bred domestic shorthairs with the same look, so a cat may share these traits without the label, and each cat's personality still varies.
Having an American Shorthair in Sioux Falls
Calm, sociable and built for work, the American Shorthair is steady company. Its hunting instincts, dense coat and healthy appetite shape daily care, which is worth thinking through before adopting an adult cat or kitten for a Sioux Falls home.
American Shorthairs are usually even-tempered and friendly without being clingy, and they often settle in with respectful children and calm dogs after gradual introductions. They'd rather sit beside you than be carried. In a Sioux Falls apartment, that easygoing nature helps with quiet workdays, though each cat's history and socialization matter as much as breed.
Plan on a few short play sessions a day: wand toys, chase games and food puzzles use their hunting instinct. With snow covering the ground much of the winter, indoor routines carry most of the load, so cat trees, window perches and measured meals help prevent the weight gain these food-loving cats are prone to.
American Shorthairs are generally robust. Obesity is the most common preventable problem, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and polycystic kidney disease have been reported in the breed. Annual exams, dental care and measured meals help, and a veterinarian can check a newly adopted cat's heart, weight and teeth. Sioux Falls requires rabies vaccination for cats from six months.
A medium-sized American Shorthair adapts to Sioux Falls apartments, duplexes and houses alike, provided it has scratching posts, perches, hiding spots and daily play. Keep it indoors or in a secure enclosure, since coyotes live in the city, 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* | $455 to $1,175 per year | $455 to $1,175 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,205 to $2,725 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The Sioux Falls cat license ($5 a year if spayed or neutered, $25 if not), 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 have cats available in and near Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls has a long-running humane society and a network of rescues that help cats find homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Sioux Falls area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an American Shorthair is coming in.
Yes, there are no breed restrictions in Sioux Falls, and South Dakota law bars local breed-specific rules. You'll need a city license and a rabies vaccine once the cat is six months old, and the household limit is four pets total. Cats found off your property must be leashed, so plan on an indoor cat.
Yes, American Shorthairs do well in Sioux Falls as indoor cats. Winters are long, with about 66 days a year that never rise above freezing, so most of the year is spent inside anyway. Summers are mild, and spring storms are the main hazard, so keep a carrier and an interior hiding spot ready.
Yes, an American Shorthair is usually a good apartment cat. They're quiet, calm and content with a window perch, a scratching post and daily play. Read the lease for pet rent, pet limits and any deposit terms, and get permission in writing before you adopt, especially in older converted buildings.
It can be, especially for people who want an easygoing indoor companion. The cat's dense coat and relaxed nature suit long winters at home. The catch is weight: with snow limiting activity, you'll need to measure meals and schedule play every day. Adopters hoping for an outdoor cat should look elsewhere, since coyotes live in the city.
Very little. Brush once or twice a week, and more often in spring when the undercoat sheds, with a lighter shed in fall. Dry indoor winter air can cause some flaking, so brushing helps. Professional grooming isn't normally needed, and any grooming costs fall 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.
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.
American Shorthairs commonly live about 12 to 17 years, and many reach their late teens with good care. Some sources quote 15 to 20 years. Keeping the cat at a healthy weight, living indoors or in a secure enclosure, and keeping up with dental care and annual veterinary exams all help support a long life.
Expect roughly $1,200 to $2,725 a year for an American Shorthair in Sioux Falls, based on the table: food, insurance, routine vet care and other costs such as litter, flea prevention, dental care and the city license. Food and insurance each run $25 to $50 a month. Treats, a cat tree and emergencies can add more.
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