American Wirehair
Meoww!!
The American Wirehair is a medium-size cat with regular features and a sweet expression. This cat’s wiry coat, right down to the whiskers, is thick, hard and springy.
In 5 Words
- Adaptable
- Affectionate
- Loving
- Dog Friendly
- Easy-going
Snapshot
Size:
Female: Medium
Male : Large
Weight:
Male: large: >12 lbs.
Female: medium: 8-12 lbs.
Origin: United States
Life Span: 7-12 yrs.
Colour: White, Blue, Cream, Red, Platinum, Fawn, Chestnut, Chinchilla, Seal, Silver, Golden, Brown, Cameo, Bluecream, Tortoiseshell
Characteristics
Learn About the American Wirehair
The American Wirehair came from the American Shorthair as an unplanned mutation. In 1966, the first random mutation was observed from a litter of five by a pair of barn cats in Vernon, in upstate New York. The red and white male colored feline had wiry fur. Mrs. Joan O’Shea, a local breeder of Rex cats, was called by the owner to take a look at the kitten. She then thought of starting a breeding program with one normal-coated female littermate and the wiry furred cat which she bought from the owner for $50. Adam and Tip-Top became the male and female cats name respectively.
Breeding of the two began, and there were wirehaired kittens produced with most of it being sold off to interested breeders. It didn’t take a long time before the wirehair population grew. Soon after, they were exported to Canada and Germany, where they have become particularly well-known. In 1967, The American Wirehair was recognized by the CFA. In 1978, it was approved for championship competition. They have yet to make an appearance in Australia, Britain, and other cat loving countries.
American Wirehairs are typically small or medium sized. They have a muscular body with medium leg and tail length. Their cheekbones are highly noticeable with a developed muzzle and chin. Their ears are medium sized too with slightly rounded tips. Their eyes are wide-set apart and large in size. The coat is relatively short, coarse and dense. The individual hairs are hooked, bent or crimped.
What makes the American Wirehair unique is the coat. There is also a variation of coats with this breed. Because this is a dominant mutation, about half of the kittens will be wirehaired at birth. The whiskers tend to have apparent wiring while the entire coat is ideally wired at birth. If the coat appears to be ringlets, its length may be too long and may straighten or wave as they grow older. Some of the lightly wired coats may continually crimp throughout their early lives. How coarse the coat gets depends on the sire and dam. If you want to have the best wired coat, both parents should have a hard coat.
American Wirehairs love to get attention from their people. They crave human attention and affection. They basically behave with moderation. They are active but will not go overboard and be hyper. They are affectionate cats but they would not be clingy. They are inquisitive cats and may observe what is happening to its surroundings a lot. They may keep an eye on you and follow you wherever you go. They want to be an important part of your day. Wirehairs will know when you are down and need a companion. They can offer comfort to the person who needs it most. They understand what their owner is feeling. They often offer their comfort and support by purring and sitting beside their people.
The American Wirehair breed is generally healthy. However, because this breed can be crossed with the American Shorthair, it may develop a number of problems that affect that certain breed such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy among others.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common heart diseases in cats. This causes the heart muscle to thicken. To determine if a cat has HCM, an echocardiogram is used. You have to be wary of breeders who claim that their cats are HCM-free. There is no sure guarantee that cats will not develop HCM. You should only buy kittens from breeders who had the parents checked for diseases.
When you decide to have an American Wirehair, or any other cat for that matter, remember that you have the means of letting your cat live longer. One of the most common health problems with cats is obesity. You can protect your feline by keeping its weight in check. Doing so will help maintain your cat’s tiptop shape. It is important to know how you can prevent diseases to ensure a healthier life for your cat. American Wirehairs do not need to be brushed because of the delicate nature of their coat. However, they will require bathing due to oily skin.
