The American Shorthair is the most popular breed in America. American Shorthair is a medium sized breed but a powerful one with a muscular body type.
This amazing breed is known for their excellent health but are prone to obesity because of their laid back nature so it is important to feed them high protein content, moderate to low fat and low carb diet.
Our absolute favorite is Wysong Epigen 90 Starch-Free Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog & Cat Food as the best cat food for American Shorthairs but all the recommendations are top choices for your American Shorthair.
We have reviewed 5 of the best options for your American Shorthair, ranging from dry to wet and kitten to senior.
Our Best Cat Food For American Shorthairs
- Wysong Epigen 90 Starch-Free Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog & Cat Food (Best Overall)
- ORIJEN Regional Red Grain-Free Dry Cat Food (Best Chicken Free)
- Wellness Complete Health Kitten Recipe (Best For Kitten)
- Purina ONE Indoor Advantage Senior 7+ High Protein Natural Dry Cat Food (Best For Senior)
- Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Duck & Green Pea Formula Grain-Free Canned Cat Food (Best For Sensitive Stomach)
5 Best Cat Food For American Shorthair Reviewed
Wysong Epigen 90 Starch-Free Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog & Cat Food
First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Organic Chicken, Meat Protein Isolate, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Gelatin
Crude Analysis: 63% Crude Protein, 16% Crude Fat, 3% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture, 0% Crude Carbs
Caloric Content: 445 kcal/cup
Key Feature: High Protein, No Carb Dry Food
Best For: Overall
With an incredible protein content of 63%, it is one of the only foods that has is so dense protein content, that is why it is perfect for muscular cats like American Shorthairs to maintain their bodies.
The food is totally carb free which is great for American Shorthairs that are prone to obesity due to excessive carbs in the food and low level of activity.
Wysong epigen is also full of micro nutrients such as probiotics, vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids that are great for the overall health and coat of your American Shorthair.
ORIJEN Regional Red Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Pork, Whole Mackerel, Beef Liver, Wild Boar
Crude Analysis: 40% Crude Protein, 20% Crude Fat, 3% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture, 17% Crude Carbs
Caloric Content: 510 kcal/cup
Key Feature: Chicken free
Best For: Cats with Chicken Sensitivities
Orijen has a high level of protein, 40%, all coming from animal meat such as beef, Pork, Mackerel, Wild Boar making it an excellent source of protein for American Shorthairs.
This recipe is also chicken free making it an excellent choice for American Shorthairs with sensitivities to chicken.
Something very unique to Orijen is that they have added edible bones into this recipe making it as close to a real prey as possible that cats would eat in the wild.
The carb content is a bit higher than we would ideally like for American Shorthair so you might need to portion the food out appropriately so that your cat doesn’t become obese.
Wellness Complete Health Kitten Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Carrots, Natural Flavour
Crude Analysis: 11% Crude Protein, 6% Crude Fat, 1% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture, 3.3% Carbs
Caloric Content: 197 kcal/can
Key Feature: Specially formulated for Kittens
Best For: Kittens
Wellness Complete Health Kitten recipe is one of the best for your growing kitten. With high protein content coming for actual meat, this food will help your American Shorthair grow into a strong and healthy cat.
The carb content is pretty perfect as well at 3.3% providing the right amount of carb to them so they are not dispositioned to obesity as they start growing.
Customers adore this product and the majority say that their kittens love this food.
Purina ONE Indoor Advantage Senior 7+ High Protein Natural Dry Cat Food
First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal
Crude Analysis: 36% Crude Protein, 13% Crude Fat, 4.95% Crude Fiber, 12% Moisture, 36.3% on a dry matter basis
Caloric Content: 413 kcal/cup
Key Feature: High-Protein, With Grain, Formulated for Seniors
Best For: Senior
This formula has been specifically designed for senior cats. This recipe has high protein content with moderate to high levels of fiber to assist senior American shorthair with digestion and maintaining their body mass and digestive health.
The fat content is a bit higher than we would like so if you see your cat gaining weight you might need to give them smaller portions so that they don’t end up obese.
Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Duck & Green Pea Formula Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
First 5 Ingredients: Duck, Duck Broth, Duck Liver, Pea Protein, Ground Peas
Crude Analysis: 9% Crude Protein, 6% Crude Fat, 1% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture, 1.5% Carb
Caloric Content: 190 kcal/5.5-oz can
Key Feature: Limited Ingredient Diet
Best For: Sensitivities
You can’t go wrong with Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet for your American Shorthair if your American Shorthair suffers from sensitivities.
This is free from many common allergy causing ingredients such as chicken with the main source of protein coming from Duck which is an easily digestible protein source.
This recipe is also grain free which is also a common allergen in many cats.
Filled with scores of vitamins, antioxidants, omega fatty acids that will help you provide complete nourishment to your kitty.
How To Choose Food For Your American Shorthair
American shorthair cats are a medium sized breed, considered to be a powerhouse with a friendly demeanour. They are known to be a healthy breed but are prone to obesity. That is why it is important that they get high protein content, moderate to low fat content and low carbohydrate content in their diet. Here’s what to know before choosing cat food for your American Shorthair.
Macronutrients For Your American Shorthair
High Level of Proteins
Protein is the most essential micronutrient for all cats to have in their daily diet. The cat’s body’s core functions are dependent on protein.
Because of American shorthair muscular build and limbs, they require a higher level of protein content in their diet than other breeds of cats.
American Shorthair cats require at least 35% High Quality Protein content in their daily diet compared to an average of 25% for other breeds.
Always choose food that consists of high quality protein derived from actual animal meats such as poultry, meat and fish and not from by-products or meals.
A good way to check if the protein is of high quality in the cat food is to check whether they have mentioned the actual animal the meat is coming from and not some generic terms such as meat by-products etc.
Moderate Fat Content
Essential fats are critical for a cat’s health after protein. Omega 3 and Omega 6 are great examples of fatty acids that help nourish cat’s skin and maintain their luscious coat.
American shorthairs require around 9% to 10% of healthy fats in their daily diets to lead a healthy and happy life.
Note that this amount varies as they get older and may require less or more of the fats based on their health and nutrition needs.
Fish oil, animal fats and flaxseed oils are great sources of fats for cats.
Low Carbohydrates Content
Cats require very little amount of carbohydrates in their diet. In the wild carbohydrate content makes up about 3% of their daily diet but with commercial cat food the carb content can be much higher at around 12% to 15%.
American Shorthairs are not a very active breed and are prone to obesity. Excessive carbs in their diet can make them gain weight and become obese very quickly.
American Shorthair will do best if the amount of carbohydrate in their diet is less than 10%.
You need to take extra care in terms of calories your American Shorthair is consuming each day to keep them fit and healthy.
Other Factors To Keep in Mind
After ensuring that the cat food meets the above nutritional needs of your American Shorthair, make sure to select the food that best meets your Shorthair’s individual needs.
Age
A cat’s nutritional needs differ based on the life stage they are in. Kittens require a much higher calorie count than adult and senior cats.
American Shorthair Kittens require 60 to 65 calories per day per pound. American Shorthair kittens need a high protein and high fat food to grow into strong cats. Kittens additionally require a lot of micro nutrients to develop fully. Make sure the kitten food includes micronutrients such as amino acids, calcium, essential fats, and glucosamine.
American Shorthair Adults require 28 to 36 calories per day per pound, approximately 280 to 360 calories per day. American Shorthair adults need a high protein and moderate fat food to maintain their health. The diet for adults should be protein rich and as low in carb as possible.
Senior American Shorthair Cats require around 220 to 300 calories per day. At this age you need to pick the most protein rich formula with the lowest amount of fats and carbs to maintain their lean body structure. It is also advised to look for food with glucosamine and antioxidants to support their weakening bones and immune system.
Activity Level
Some cats might be more of a lounger than other cats. So it is important to factor in the activity level of your cat to ensure you are not over or under feeding your cat.
Always consult your veterinarian on the optimal food and quantity based on your cat’s individual needs.
Ingredients to Avoid
You must avoid Artificial additives like colours, flavours, and preservatives such as BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin, non-nutritive fillers like corn, wheat, and soy, unnamed by-products (like animal digest, poultry by-product meal, etc.), high concentrations of carbohydrates, legumes and pulses (like beans, or chickpeas).
Read more on Bad Ingredients to Avoid in Cat Food.
Common American Shorthair Health Issues
American Shorthair are generally considered to be a very healthy breed of cats. They are dispositioned to some health issues like other breeds.
Here are some of the common health issues with American Shorthair
Obesity
Obesity is the most common health problem in American Shorthairs. American shorthairs are prone to gaining weight as they get older due to the lack of activity and their laid back nature.
Obesity can lead to other health issues so it is important to keep your American Shorthair on a healthy diet and serve the correct portion of food.
Final Verdict
Your American Shorthair needs a high protein diet to support their strong body and relaxed lifestyle, without the fillers and ingredients that can put them at risk of obesity.
Our favorite, Wysong Epigen 90 Starch-Free Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog & Cat Food provides them with all the proper amounts of proteins, fats, and vitamins they need to support their health and keep them happy all day.
And, it’s flavorful enough to entice them to eat all of their food to support their caloric needs.
FAQs
Can You Free-Feed Your American Shorthair?
No, you should not free feed your American Shorthair because they have a tendency to gain weight very quickly and become obese. Food left outside can also go bad and cause your kitty to get sick.
How Many Times Should An American Shorthair Eat?
American Shorthairs should be fed 3 to 4 times a day with equal portions. Try feeding your cat at the same time each day to keep the schedule consistent and your kitty is not meowing at you for more food.
Read more on How Often Should You Feed Your Cat.
Why is My American Shorthair Always Hungry?
American shorthair are known to have a large appetite and seem to be always hungry. They are not known to be picky eaters and will eat anything that is offered to them. That is why it is important to always keep them on a scheduled feeding routine so that they don’t gain excessive weight.
Is Wet Food Or Dry Food Better For American Shorthair?
Wet food is generally considered better for American Shorthair because they are not very keen on drinking enough water. Wet food can provide them hydration that their body requires.
