Chantilly/Tiffany vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison

Often sailors of old would keep cats onboard to protect their stores from mice and rats, and so it was when settlers sailed from Europe to North America.

They had cats onboard and once onshore they interbred. But in the 20th century, a selective breeding program began to bring out the best qualities of these cats.

The American Shorthair is one of these cats – a pedigreed cat that is accepted by all North American cat registries. At first, the cat was known as the Domestic Shorthair but it was renamed in 1966.

The beautiful Chantilly/Tiffany cat gets people thinking the cat is a semi-longhaired Burmese, but of course, it's not.

The way the Chantilly came about was that there were a pair of chocolate-colored cats but their origins were unknown. The first litter of Chantilly kittens was born in New York in 1969 and people were so taken up by the beautiful kittens that a breeding program was started.

The cat was first started as a foreign longhair and then it changed to Tiffany. In a British registry, a cat breed that was a cross between a Chinchilla Persian and a Burmese was named the Tiffanie and renamed Chantilly and referred to as the Chantilly/Tiffany.

The breed is recognized by most major cat registries.

The American Shorthair is a large, sturdy cat with a round face and short ears. Their coats can come in many different patterns and colors. They shed so the fur will need to be brushed from time to time.

They stand at about 20 – 25cm in height and they weigh between 5 and 7kg.

Temperament:

The American Shorthairs are easy, no-fuss cats. They’re also low maintenance, healthy, amicable cats, ready to even be friends with strangers and your dogs.

He is an intelligent cat too so it will be important to provide him with toys that challenge him to think. These good-natured cats make perfect famiy companions.

The Chantilly is a medium-sized cat that can weight between 4 to 6kg.

The cat has a fairly broad head with widely spaced ears of medium size. The eyes are oval-shaped and gold in color. The fur is semi-long and there is no undercoat. The tail is plumed.

Apart from the original chocolate brown of the cat, other colors of the coat can include fawn, cinnamon, black, lilac and blue, with the chocolate brown being the favorite color.

Temperament:

The Chantilly promises to be a devoted and loyal feline companion for you, much preferring the company of his human family than to being alone.

It gets on well with other pets in the house as well as with respectful, gentle children. He isn't a demanding cat and he tries to talk with his family by chirping. It’s a balanced cat, with a fair share of docility and energy, making the cat an ideal companion for single people, couples, families, and elderly people.

It’s a cat that is so devoted, it will follow his human family around the house.

The American Shorthair is a playful cat and is quite capable of amusing himself, but will welcome your games too. He’s a big cat so make sure he gets enough exercise to avoid him becoming obese.

He is a low maintenance cat and you don't have to be worrying about him too much as he just likes to get on with life. He loves being well-fed, getting your attention and lying in the sun.

This is one cat that doesn’t need a lot of attention so being easy to care for, independent, playful, and affectionate, you’re going to have one of a kind companion and friend.

The Chantilly/Tiffany is a gentle and kind breed that is playful and easy-going. They are just your typical middle-of-the-road cats that are not too much or too little of anything.

The Tiffany is playful, docile, happy and content and he wants to be your friend and companion.

If you are looking for a breed of cat that is loyal to its human family, allow this cat into your home... you won't have any regrets.

With good nutrition and a loving caring lifestyle, the American Shorthair can live to be 15 – 20 years of age and even longer.

Their flattish faces also make the American Shorthair prone to respiratory issues.

There is no health issue that the Tiffany is prone to. Like any cat, a healthy diet will keep the Tiffany healthy for years.

These cats are known to have delicate digestive systems so avoid foods with grain if possible. The Tiffany has full hair in their ears, and wax build-up can occur so the inside of his ears must be checked. Checking the ears once a week, as part of a regular routine that includes brushing, and tooth care, should be sufficient to keep the ear canals clear.

Other issues, which are not detrimental but should be kept in mind, are reports that the Tiffany has delicate digestion. This cat relies on a regular diet that doesn't chop and change often.

Because the Tiffany is a low-shedding cat, it is thought to be a popular breed with those people who are allergic to cat hair.

Your American Shorthair will benefit greatly from regular brushing and he looks forward to this grooming period and being pampered by you for a few minutes.

It helps to remove the dead hair from his coat and this is important so that he doesn’t ingest the loose hair. While you’re brushing him, you can also run your fingers over him to make sure there are no unusual lumps. Anything odd or any sign of illness you should take your cat to see the vet immediately.

Diet:

Make sure your American Shorthair has access to the best quality food there is. There are many commercially manufactured cat foods available and your vet can advise you on the best one to choose.

Cats are carnivores so aways choose food that is high in proten. Food must be provided in accordance with the cat’s age and energy levels. Certainly a generic cat or one with a medical condition will need a certain type of food than a young, frisky kitten. Make sure your cat always has access to fresh, cool water.

Make your cat comfortable:

Make sure your furry feline friend has everything he needs to ensure he is comfortable. This includes feeding bowls, toys, a litter box, soft bedding, nutritious food as well as scratching post and climbing equipment.

Desex your cats:

Have your pet neutered or spayed if you don’t want kittens from your cat. These procedures have enormous health benefits for your pet and it prevents even more kittens coming into a world that already has far too many unwanted pets.

Vaccines:

Make sure your cat is up to date with all his vaccines because without being vaccinated your cat can succumb to any one of the life-threatening cat illnesses there are. Kittens need to have their first vaccines at 8 weeks of age.

Transporting your cat:

If you have to take your cat to the vet you need a carrier basket so that your cat feels comfortable and safe inside it.

You can’t just put your cat on a leash and take him to the vet as inside the car he will lurch around and cause you to lose attention. A transport box that is familiar to your cat will be the best way for you and your cat to travel.

Diet:

The Chantilly needs an excellet diet and exercise to ensure he doesn’t become to overweght. Remember that cats are carnivores, and this means they have nutritional requirements that can only be met with meat – they can never do well on a diet high in carbohydrates and will develop digestive problems. Your cat will also require clean, fresh water aroud thd clock to ensure his good health.

Ensure each cat you have has a litter box andencourae good litter box habits by cleaning th litter box every day. Keeping the litter box clean also alerts you anything unusual with your cat’s toilet habits.

Provide your cat with a scratching post and a climbing tree.

The cat doesn’t have an undercoat and is therefore easy to groom. With his semi-long hair, you can brush him once a week to keep the coat soft and shiny. The coat is also low shedding.

Check inside his ears and inside his mouth to ensure there is no redness and signs of infection.

Schedule regular vet visits for your cat for his cat vaccines and for when he is sick.

Spay or neuter your cat to prevent unwanted kittens. Spaying and neutering prevents uterine infections and certain cancers in the felines.