The lineage of the American shorthair goes back to the early days of the US. Pilgrims brought mice-catching cats with them on the Mayflower.
The backward-curled ears are caused by a dominant gene mutation in an American cat breed. Found in the 1980s and bred for a certain trait.
In the 1970s, a domestic cat and an African leopard cat were bred to make the first Bengal cats in the United States. They still have leopard spots.
The American breed Exotic Shorthair looks like a Persian because it has a round face and a short, soft coat.
The Maine Coon is a large cat from Maine that is known as a "gentle giant" for being calm and big. Medium fur needs weekly grooming.
Ragdoll cats were first bred in California in the 1960s. They are friendly and affectionate, and they relax when held.
Balinese cats are different from Siamese cats because they have long hair. They were made by breeding Siamese cats
Selkirk Rex is an American breed with a coat that is curly because of a natural mutation. It was made by crossing Persian, British, and Exotic shorthairs.
The Bombay is a breed of black cat that looks like a small panther. It was created in the 1970s in Kentucky by breeding American Shorthairs and Burmese.
Pixie-bob is a small breed of cat that looks wild and is thought to be a cross between a bobcat and a domestic cat.