American history books always rattle on about human settlers and their impact on the country. But where would the land of milk and honey be without the cats that came over with them?! In fact, the ancestors of the American Shorthair breed also crossed the ocean with the pilgrims on the Mayflower to the land of the free/home of the brave.

Back then, they were ship cats who held the important job of mouse-catching. They may not be athletic, but their muscular build and low-maintenance nature made the breed perfect for the role. By 1906, the American shorthair was among the first five breeds to be recognised by the CFA. Fast forward to 2020 and the breed has become the 8th most popular pedigreed cat in the world.