What is a polecat?
A polecat is not a cat, or a pole. It is a nocturnal European weasel.
“The American Shorthair made a comeback onto the Cat Fanciers' Association's top 10 list of most popular breeds for 2026 after renewed interest in the classic breed.”
Reference: Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA)
More cat facts.
More cat facts
How did the American Shorthair's ancestors arrive in North America?
The American Shorthair's ancestors are believed to have arrived with early European settlers, who brought cats on their ships to protect food supplies from rats and mice.
Did the Maine Coon almost disappear?
After Persians arrived in the US in the early 1900s, the Maine Coon lost popularity so badly that it was nearly written off by the mid-1900s. Dedicated breed clubs revived it, and it's now the most popular pedigreed cat in the CFA rankings.