While American Shorthair comes from United States, British Shorthair has Great Britain origin.

But honestly, breeds' origin doesn't reveal a lot about it, so please keep reading to learn more about these interesting breeds.

Although both breeds are very intelligent, it's important to consider their differences as well.

Here is some basic information about these breeds:

American Shorthair vs British Shorthair Appearance

British Shorthairs are longer.

British Shorthairs have an average length of 22 to 25 inches and a weight of 7 to 17 pounds.

On the other side American Shorthairs, have a typical length of 12 to 15 inches and an average weight of 7 to 12 pounds.

Temperament

No doubt, each cat has its own temperament, but we'll try to make some generalizations and help you choose the breed that will fit

Affectionate with Family

American Shorthairs and British Shorthairs are known as breeds with a medium need to be around people. They will meow at you when feeding time comes, and they will come to you for cuddles, but they will equally demand their time.

They may come to you when they want and it can be a matter of only a few minutes. They may also decide to spend an entire day on their spot.

For those who want an independent cat, these breeds are to be considered welcoming. To enable the balance they need, think about installing a cat window seat.

Kid-Friendly

Owning a feline and having a kid can be challenging but also so much rewarding. This is especially true if you get a American Shorthair or a British Shorthair because you will enjoy watching your kid growing with them together.

These breeds are major kids lovers, and describing them only as kid-friendly isn't enough.

Both breeds will monitor kids closely whenever you leave the room.

With so kid-friendly breeds around, your kid can easily learn how to behave around cats, and even how to train them. Treats can do wonders, even with cats.

Friendly Toward Strangers

Surprisingly, some cats are more than fond of strangers. They may not show their affection toward strangers like dogs do, but they have their share of showing friendliness toward strangers.

Cats will respond well to strangers when they feel safe. Both breeds will be polite, calm, and friendly toward strangers who treat them right.

In practice, this means that strangers who approach either American Shorthairs or British Shorthairs may expect a friendly greeting.

If you don't mind having a cat who isn't scared of people, you may welcome these breeds into your home.

Just a word of caution: cats that are friendly with strangers and live in indoors on a terrace should have a safe area covered with a cat net. If you are a social butterfly with frequent visitors, both breeds will value the crowd.

Pet Friendly

Cats being generally friendly is one thing, but being friendly toward other pets is a completely different thing.

This trait must be taken into account if you've got another pet, so let's see do these breeds compare.

British Shorthairs are generally more pet friendly than American Shorthairs.

Cats usually tolerate dogs because they are not so territorial beings as dogs are, but make sure that their introduction is done safely.

If you notice your feline moving away from pets, do not force them to mingle, or spend time together. As a general rule, cats and birds shouldn't be under the same roof.

Potential for Playfulness

In general, cats tend to play. They may not enjoy long playtime sessions, but they should display some playfulness.

A lack of interest in play is often a clear indicator that the cat isn't feeling well. Luckily, if you get American Shorthair or British Shorthair, you should know that they are not naturally into playtime.

Both American Shorthair or British Shorthair are calm and peaceful cats who prefer to be left alone. They won't refuse cuddling seasons, but you won't see them chasing a ball around your place either.

They are great as indoor cats, and more than suitable for apartment living. What they need is their corner to spend their days without major activities.

General Health

Both American Shorthairs and British Shorthairs are known for being healthy. In general, cats should reach their senior years without major issues, as long as you deal with responsible breeders and provide regular veterinarian check-ups.

A healthy diet, proper grooming, and exercise should keep your feline in top shape.

Although American Shorthair and British Shorthair are recognized as healthy breeds, health problems may occur during their lifetime. Eye problems, kidney issues, diarrhea, diabetes, and many other issues may appear. Prevention is the key when it comes to keeping them healthy, so stick to regular veterinarian check-ups.

Grooming

Grooming cats is never easy since felines are not known as creatures that love being handled. Some cats may be more tolerant if they are not demanding grooming-wise. If you want a cat like this one, you should stay away from American Shorthairs and British Shorthairs as they are hard to groom.

Brushing is a mandatory part of every health routine, but it's far from being the only section. Cat grooming includes also trimming nails, hair trimming and combining, shaving mats if needed, and bathing only when needed.

American Shorthairs or British Shorthair are typical representatives of breeds being hard to handle when grooming. They are not enjoying when being handled and it usually leads to some disturbance and poor grooming outcomes.

These breeds shouldn’t be your option for ownership if you find it hard to deal with the grooming process.

Shedding

American Shorthair and British Shorthair are known as breeds with a medium shedding amount.

They may shed more during the shedding season which occurs in spring and autumn.

As medium shedders, American Shorthair and British Shorthair should have weekly brushing sessions.

If you are on the lookout for a breed that sheds in a fair amount and won’t make you sneeze, you are on the right track.

Tendency to Vocalize

There are two types of cats: talkative, and silent.

But there are also two types of people: people who like talkative cats, and people who don't.

Therefore, you should consider this characteristic when you're choosing the perfect cat breed.

With American Shorthair, you will probably deal with a breed with a medium tendency to be vocal, while British Shorthairs are often described as a breed with a high tendency to vocalize.

Intelligence

It's a well-known fact that cats are among the most intelligent creatures alive. They are smart to react instinctively, fast to hunt, and smart to hide in a matter of seconds.

If intelligence is an important factor for you, you might prefer a American Shorthair. They are fast to interact, communicate, and demand a lot of your time and playtime to thrive.

Obviously, this doesn't mean that British Shorthairs are dunderhead, they just don't tend to be smart as American Shorthairs.

The Final Word

We hope our American Shorthairs vs British Shorthairs comparison helped you to choose the right breed for you.

You can use the tool below to make a new comparison.