The American Shorthair (ASH) undoubtedly developed from the first hardworking cats that accompanied the first European settlers to the New World. The feline colonists had to adapt to the new climate, landscape, and lifestyle and developed their own unique characteristics. The selective work to intensify the best features in the breed began as early as the beginning of the 20th century.
     This is a  muscular, compact, heavy-bodied cat with a short, rounded face. American Shorthairs have slightly longer legs than their British counterparts and heavily muscled. They also tend to have a denser, thicker coat. The head is large with full cheeks, the nose is medium in length and should have a pad that matches the coat color. The paws are heavy and rounded. 
These cats are hearty, healthy, versatile, friendly, intelligent, robust, strong, good-natured and independent. Corageous, energetic, and hardy the American Shorthair does its country proud!
Colour Forms: All colours are acceptable.
Solid: White, Black, Blue, Red, Cream, Chocolate, Lilac.
Shaded, Silver and Golden: Chinchilla Silver, Shaded Silver, Chinchilla Golden, Shaded Golden, Shell Cameo, Shaded Cameo, Shell Tortie, Shaded Tortie.
Smoke: Black Smoke, Blue Smoke, Cameo Smoke, Chocolate Smoke, Lavender Smoke, Cream Smoke, Smoke Tortie, Chocolate Tortie Smoke, Blue-Cream Smoke.
Tabby: Brown Patched Tabby, Blue Patched Tabby, Silver Patched Tabby, Silver Tabby, Red Tabby, Brown Tabby, Blue Tabby, Cream Tabby, Blue and Cream Silver Tabbies, Chocolate Silver Tabby, Lavender Silver Tabby, Cameo Tabby.
Parti-Colour: Tortie, Blue-Cream.
Bicolour: Bicolor, Van Bicolor, Calico, Dilute Calico, Van Calico, Van Dilute Calico.
Tabby and White: Seal Point, Chocolate Point, Blue Point, Lilac-Lynx Point, Lilac-Cream Point, Lilac-Cream Lynx Point, Flame (Red, I mean which would you choose "flame point" or "red point") Point, Cream Point, Cream Lynx Point, Tortie Point, Chocolate-Tortie Point, Chocolate-Tortie Lynx Point,
Blue Cream Point, Chocolate Lynx Point (Ow! My paws hurt with all this typing!), Seal Lynx Point, Blue Lynx Point, Tortie-Lynx Point, Blue-Cream Lynx Point.

American Shorthair Clubs:
National American Shorthair Club - magazine: The American Connection, P.O. Box 280831, San Francisco, CA 94128-0831, USA; address: P.O. Box 280831, San Francisco, CA 94128-0831, USA or 1331 N Wingra Drive, Madison, WI 53715, USA.

Further reading for American Shorthair lovers:
American Shorthair Cat (Popular Cat Library) by Karen Commings.
The American Shorthair Cat by Ingeborg Urcia.
The Guide to Owning an American Shorthair Cat by Karen Commings.
The British, European and American Shorthair Cat by Phyllis Lauder.