By David Braybrooke
The first American Wirehair Cat, a uniquely American breed, was born to ordinary feline parents on a farm in Verona, New York, in 1966. This cat came in to existence as the result of a 'happy accident'; the six original kittens, born to barn cats, showed signs of a spontaneous mutation, one that has not been reported anywhere else, this being quite uncommon in the cat world!
The American Wirehair was first accepted for registration by the Cat Fancier's Association (CFA) in 1967 and for Champion Competition in 1978; they were interesting looking cats, quite different from any other feline breed.
This variety of cat is distinguished by its unique type of hair, the wirehair coat being genetically dominant over a normal coat; the coarse fur ranges from being very hard, dense and kinky, springy, spiky or curly, however the coats are soft to touch; the ideal type of fur being hard and springy. The three types of hair of this breed, down, awn, and guard, are twisted; the hair grows into ringlet formations rather than waves.
The Wirehair sheds in the Spring and Fall like other cats; there is often significant variation in texture and length in individual Wirehair's coats. Each fur of the resilient, dense coat is crimped, hooked or bent and the hair within the ears are as well. The cat's whiskers are often curled too!
They do need some grooming, occasional light, gentle brushing works best, however, one needs to take great care when grooming in order to not damage the wirehair coat; they have a tendency to oily skins owing to their wiry fur. Some may suffer from skin-related allergies so Wirehairs need bathing periodically yet are generally easy to care for.
They often get excess waxy buildup in their ears so it is important to keep them clean! Healthwise, they have a robust hybrid vigor yet some may lose their coat if subjected to stress or harsh weather; these cats are definitely an indoor breed! Owners have to be on the lookout for hairball problems.
The American Wirehair comes in a large range of colors, up to 27 variations and patterns, these include: white, cream, black, red, blue, tortoiseshell, calico, blue-cream, chinchilla, silver, shell cameo, black smoke, blue smoke, cameo smoke, bicolor; and classical or mackerel tabby in red, blue, brown, cream, cameo and silver. Like the Shorthair cat, the classic silver tabby Wirehair is very popular!
This breed's body type closely resembles the American Shorthair; they are a medium to large sized cat, their bodies being slightly longer than tall yet some of the kittens from a litter may be a bit on the small size owing to so much inbreeding. They are a strong, muscular cat, well-boned with well-developed muscles; American Wirehair's are a very healthy breed and can live from 15 - 20 years. They have strong medium lengthed legs and firm, full paws.
The cat's large head is round with prominent cheekbones and pronounced muzzle and chin; ears are medium-size and slightly rounded in appearance. Its eyes are large, round, clear, and set well apart, they are shaped like an almond that has been cut lengthwise; the tail is of medium length and tends to taper to a rounded tip.
Personality wise, these cats are generally more playful and active than their relatives, the American Shorthair; Wirehairs are naturally athletic. They have a genuine sense of humor and Love to be the centers of attention! Agile and fun-loving they enjoy playing the clown; at other times, they are quiet, reserved, and independent; many are endeared to their tactile, loving ways!
American Wirehairs are extremely sweet and affectionate and they adapt well to children and other pets, including dogs; they're also very people-oriented! Tending towards inquisitiveness and being playful, they can be wild but are friendly, mostly gentle and very lovable! They are active without being 'hyper'! Affectionate but not 'clingy'; these cats generally dislike being held and cuddled.
Breeders find them easy to look after, resistant to disease, and good producers! They are an increasingly popular variety and make good pets for families (some care needed around children).
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