Domestic shorthaired cat

A domestic shorthaired cat (DSH) is the proper name for a shorthaired cat that does not have a pedigree or belong to a recognised cat breed.

Domestic shorthaired cats are characterised by a wide range of colouring and typically 'revert to type' after a few generations, which means they express their coats as a tabby. This can be any color or combination of colors. They also exhibit a wide range of physical characteristics, and as a result, domestic shorthaired cats in different countries tend to look different in body shape and size, as they are working from differing gene pools. DSH cats in Asia tend to have a build similar to Siamese or Tonkanese purebreds, while European and American varieties have a thicker, heavier build.

Domestic shorthair cats are far and away the most popular type of housecat kept as a pet. They also make up nearly all of the members of groups of farm cats kept on farms. Domestic shorthairs are typically the most successful members in feral cat populations due to not needing human intervention for coat maintenance.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_shorthaired_cat