Your guide to finding and caring for an American Shorthair in Vancouver
American Shorthairs suit Vancouver's apartment neighborhoods well, because they're easygoing cats that don't need much room. Around Bagley Downs or Hudson's Bay, where apartments and condos sit beside older single-family streets, a calm cat with a window perch and a few play sessions a day fits right in. They're hunters at heart, so a wand toy beats a long walk. With coyotes living in the city's greenbelts, indoors or a secure enclosure is the safer routine.
Adopt an American Shorthair today
While we don't have enough cats near Vancouver, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 1990 miles
American Shorthair
F, 0-6 mo., 1991 miles
American Shorthair
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American Shorthair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1993 miles
American Shorthair
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 1993 miles
American Shorthair
F, 3-7 y., 1993 miles
American Shorthair
M, 3-7 y., 1993 miles
American Shorthair
F, 3-7 y., 1993 miles
American Shorthair
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 1993 miles
American Shorthair
M, 3-7 y., 1996 miles
American Shorthair
The American Shorthair descends from working cats that traveled with early settlers to keep rodents off cargo and out of barns. The breed became pedigreed in the early 1900s, and today it's a sturdy, muscular, medium-sized cat with a broad face, full cheeks and a dense, hard-textured coat in dozens of colors. The silver tabby is the classic look.
In Vancouver, many shorthaired cats you'll see are random-bred domestic shorthairs with the same build and easy manner, so the label matters less than the cat in front of you. Most are calm, adaptable and quietly affectionate, and they tend to gain weight without regular play. That makes them a comfortable match for renters and homeowners alike.
Having an American Shorthair in Vancouver
Steady, low-drama company is what this sturdy cat offers, and its hunting instincts, dense coat and healthy appetite shape most of its care. In Vancouver, indoor routines, daily play and weight control matter more than square footage.
Most American Shorthairs are even-tempered, sociable and happy to share a room without demanding a lap. In a Vancouver apartment, that calm nature copes well with neighbors' footsteps and busy households. Cats vary, though, and each one's history and socialization count for as much as breed. Expect soft chirps rather than loud demands.
Aim for two or three short play sessions a day with wand toys, chase games and food puzzles. Vancouver's wet winter days make indoor play the main routine, so add a cat tree or window perch for watching birds. Measured portions plus regular play help prevent the weight gain these food-motivated cats are prone to.
Obesity is the most 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 the heart and kidneys at a first exam. Keep up dental care, yearly exams and rabies vaccination, which Clark County requires from six months.
Apartments suit these cats well, and Vancouver has plenty, from condos around Vancouver Mall to duplexes in Fourth Plain Village. Provide scratching posts, perches and hiding spots. Keep the cat indoors or in a secure enclosure, and screen windows and balconies, since these strong hunters will chase anything that moves.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption fee | $200, one time | $200 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* | $470 to $1,170 per year | $470 to $1,170 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,220 to $2,720 | |
| First-year total (with adoption fee) | $1,420 to $2,920 | |
Adoption fee is the fee on American Shorthair listings in Vancouver on GetBuddy today. 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, home brushing, and the $20 Clark County license for a spayed or neutered cat.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below currently have American Shorthairs available.
Shelters and rescues around Vancouver care for many shorthaired cats, and the ones listed here are the best place to start. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Vancouver area where you can find American Shorthairs and other cats available for adoption.
Yes, but only in an enclosed carrier. On C-TRAN buses, including The Vine, a pet carrier must fit on the floor in front of you or on your lap, without blocking the aisle or taking another seat. Service animals follow different rules. The Current on-demand service doesn't take pets. Vancouver has no subway or rail.
Yes, with some planning. Vancouver summers are dry, with highs near 80 and about 15 days a year at 90°F or more, and heat waves can be extreme. An indoor American Shorthair stays comfortable with shade, fans or air conditioning, plenty of fresh water, and no time in parked cars.
Yes. No breed-specific rules for cats are known in Vancouver. Adult cats need a Clark County license, $20 if spayed or neutered and $40 if not, with free kitten licenses for the first six months. Rabies vaccination is required from six months, so schedule it with your veterinarian.
Yes, they're a good match. With roughly half of Vancouver households renting, apartments are common, and a calm American Shorthair needs only perches, scratching posts and daily play. Read your lease for pet rent and fees, since Washington doesn't cap apartment pet deposits and nonrefundable fees must be in writing.
Often, yes. Their adaptable, quiet nature suits Vancouver's mix of apartments and houses, and their coat handles cool, wet winters from indoors. Be ready for summer heat waves, occasional ice storms and coyotes outside, so plan on indoor living, daily play and measured meals to keep weight steady.
Very little. A weekly brushing handles the short, dense coat, and a few times a week in spring helps with the seasonal undercoat shed. Vancouver's damp winters don't call for coat care for an indoor cat. Brushing is a home task, so it adds little to the yearly Other costs.
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: Furry Friends. 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 Vancouver.
Plan on roughly $1,220 to $2,720 a year for an American Shorthair in Vancouver: food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and other costs at $470 to $1,170 a year. Keeping weight in check helps hold vet bills down.
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