Are Domestic Shorthair Cats Friendly? (Or Aggressive?)


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Domestic shorthair cats are known for their round heads, short coats, and unique patterns and color combinations. In addition, these felines have a muscular build and make great working cats due to their hunting skills, commendable endurance, and impressive balancing skills. But despite their impressive traits, are domestic shorthair cats friendly?

Domestic shorthair cats are friendly cats that love to spend time with their loved ones. Once attached to an owner or a family, a domestic shorthair will be friendly and show affection by rubbing against your legs and jumping on your lap.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at domestic shorthair cats, assessing their main characteristics and other features that make them popular choices among cat lovers. Ready? Then let’s get started.

If you wonder what the best products are for your cat, check out this article that will break down all my recommendations for you: Things To Buy For A Cat Right Now!

Domestic Shorthair Personality

Understanding the personality of the domestic shorthair cat can prove challenging, especially since domestic shorthair cats result from a mix of different breeds. This means you can find one domestic shorthair behaving differently to another shorthair.

Most domestic shorthair cats tend to be affectionate, social, playful, and calm. Their calm disposition and lack of aggression make them ideal pets for families with children and seniors.

Put simply; they are a bit of everything with personality as their behavior largely depends on moods. When happy, these cats will be playful and fun, while they may become quiet, calm, and reserved when in a more relaxed mood.

I know that I would consider my Domestic Shorthair cat, named Charlotte, to be quite friendly.  Charlotte will often be within five or ten feet of me because she likes being near me.  It is not unusual for her to jump on my lap when I’m working at my desk from my home office.  When she jumps on my lap, she is always purring, which is nice. 

Additionally, my Domestic Shorthair cat shows her friendliness by being playful.  Charlotte needs at least 30 minutes of playtime a day.  I think you will find that a domestic shorthair cat is playful and makes a good friend.

Domestic Shorthair Cat

Can Domestic Shorthair Cats Be Left Alone?

Domestic shorthair cats can be left alone, but not for very long. Although they are naturally independent, you shouldn’t leave them for more than 24 hours at a time. If you plan to leave home for more than a day, call a friend or someone he’s familiar with to pet sit until you come back.

Domestic shorthairs are known to be low maintenance and easy-going, meaning they won’t be as needy as most cats. As working cats, they love minding their business, especially when it comes to hunting activities.

And while they will still want to hang around and play with you, he won’t be depressed or sad when left alone for a couple of hours. In fact, you can leave these cute felines for up to 24 hours as long as it has access to clean water, full meals, and a clean litter box.

Are Domestic Shorthairs Independent?

Domestic shorthairs are mostly independent cats that don’t need too much human attention and care to thrive. But, as working cats, they love hunting and know a thing or two about survival, which is why it’s common for these cats to adopt families and move in.

While they are independent, domestic shorthair cats shouldn’t be left alone for long or neglected by their owners; they still require regular grooming. This means that you’ll need to brush her short fur with a soft rubber brush.

It is also advisable to take your cat to the vet for regular checkups despite their reputation as healthy cats. You should also invest in a couple of toys to give your buddy an outlet for her hunting instincts.

Due to their independence and hunting skills, domestic shorthairs are likely to eat more than most breeds, which makes them prone to obesity and other diet-related conditions. Therefore, to boost your domestic shorthair’s health, it’s best to create a balanced meal schedule of healthy meals.

Are Domestic Shorthair Cats Aggressive?

Domestic Shorthair Cat

Domestic Shorthair cats aren’t aggressive as they’re known to have a gentle, calm disposition that makes them such lovable cats. However, since the genetic make-up of these cats tends to vary depending on lineage, it’s not abnormal to find one with aggressive tendencies.

In most cases, a domestic shorthair cat will be aggressive if it grew up as a feral cat with no human interaction. Attempting to pet or hold feral domestic shorthair cats might lead to aggressive behavior and even scratches as a form of self-defense.

As naturally social and playful cats, you won’t have any temperament issues with your cat, especially if you socialize him early enough. But even an adopted adult cat will fit in well with other family members if patiently introduced and made to feel comfortable in his new surroundings. 

But just to be on the safe side, here are some of the reasons why a Domestic Shorthair cat can become aggressive.

Fear

Aggression due to fear mostly occurs when dealing with adopted domestic shorthair cats.

If you adopted one with a history of abuse and maltreatment, chances are he might exhibit aggressive behavior before fully acclimating to his new environment. This occurrence is also common with stray cats that are taken in by loving cat parents.

Therefore, when adopting adult domestic shorthair cats, it’s best to go easy on him first and not overwhelm him with pets and too much attention. He might view you or your family members as potential threats and hide or even scratch you as a form of self-defense.

Pain

Similar to other breeds, domestic shorthair cats can react aggressively when in pain. The pain can cause discomfort to your cat, which might lead to aggressive behavior, especially if you touch an injured area.

So if your cat develops persistent aggressive behavior despite being social to you and family members, it’s best to take him to the vet as something might be wrong with your buddy.

Predatory Play

As working cats, it’s normal for these cats to engage in predatory play whenever their hunting instincts kick in.

And while this play is usually harmless, it can come off as aggressive if your cat ends up using too much force to the extent of scratching other family members. This situation mostly occurs with adopted domestic shorthairs.

Which Cat Breed Is the Most Loyal?

There are several cat breeds that can be described as loyal and loving.

However, of all cat breeds, the Maine Coon is among the most loyal to its owners. Despite being huge, the Maine Coon is known to be gentle, playful, and intelligent. These cats don’t like socializing much, but they won’t shy from showing their owners some love and attention. 

Similar to the Maine Coon, Ragdolls are also known to be loyal and loving to their owners.

Ragdolls’ large sizes might fool you into thinking they’re disinterested in hanging out with their loved ones, but these cats love spending time and playing with their owners.

Another cat breed widely viewed as loyal is the Siamese cat, which, unlike most cats, is highly protective of its owner, especially in the face of danger or any perceived threat. For example, a Siamese cat won’t hesitate to bite whenever she feels her territory is under threat, either by other pets or strangers.

Wrapping Up

Video: Facts About Domestic Shorthair Cats

Domestic Shorthair cats are loyal and loving to their owners, especially once they establish a bond. These cats thrive on their owners’ attention and are great additions to families with children.

Domestic shorthair cats are among the most common cats in the country. These cats don’t have a specific heritage as they usually are crossed from different breeds, which gives them unique but somewhat similar characteristics.

Their calm, gentle disposition and playfulness make them amazing household pets, while their low maintenance is a great feature for busy pet parents with limited time on their hands.

If you enjoyed this article, please check out a few others:

  • 6 Reasons Domestic Shorthair Cats Need Haircuts:  Click Here.
  • Do Domestic Shorthair Cats Shed A Lot?  Click Here.
  • Do Cats Like Blankets? (Simple Answers):  Click Here.

Here are some of my favorite cat products

In addition to checking out some other More Meows articles, I hope you’ll check out some of my favorite cat products as well.  These are affiliate links, so if you end up using them, I’ll get a commission at no extra cost to you.  These are the products I really do find most helpful.

Litter Box:  I started out with normal, traditional litter boxes for my cat.  Then, I tried this automatic litter box on Amazon (affiliate link), which helped reduce the litter upkeep.  Finally, I am now a believer in the Litter-Robot 3 Connect on Amazon (affiliate link).  This robotic litter box is not for everyone based on the price tag, but for me the benefits (very little upkeep, works efficiently, clean, mobile app) far outweighed the cost. 

My Cat’s Litter-Robot 3 Connect (with night light on) – See the link above the photo!

Cat Tree:  I have purchased a couple of this Amazon Basics Cat Tree on Amazon (affiliate link).  My cat spends a lot of time on and around this cat tree, which I position near my sofa.  She uses the scratching posts on this cat tree multiple times a day, which means she is not scratching the sofa instead.

Cat Water Fountain:  I love this cat water fountain on Amazon (affiliate link).  There are three main benefits to having a water fountain like this for your cat.  The first benefit is that it keeps water running so that your cat doesn’t need to drink still water.  The second benefit is that it filters the water.  The third benefit is that it will keep your cat hydrated!

Christopher Carlson

I have an Domestic Shorthair Tabby named Charlotte. She is full of energy when she isn't sleeping most of the day. I share what I learn about cats on this site.

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