American Wirehair Cats: Breed Profile

History: In Upstate New York, in 1966, a unique kitten was born. Its fur felt and looked different from all of the other cats its owners had ever seen or felt. This kitten's red and white fur had an odd wiry texture and a kinky appearance. The kitten was named Council Rock Farm Adams of Hi-Fi, and it went on to parent a new breed of cat, the American Wirehair. The wiry hair that distinguishes this breed was a spontaneous mutation that is not known to have occurred in any other kittens worldwide. The breed was developed by mating the original wirehair male with American Shorthair cats. American Wirehairs were accepted as a separate breed in 1967 and allowed to pursue championship status in 1978.

Appearance: The coat is the distinguishing feature in wirehair cats. It is important that the coat not be too long or too short. It should have a springy feel being very dense and resilient. It should feel coarse and rough to the touch. Each hair, including the hair in the ears, is hooked, bent, or crimped. The whiskers are also wiry. Although there is a lot of variation in the wirehairs' coats, they all have the coarse springy feel. This breed has a round head with a well-developed muzzle and a strong chin. The ears are medium sized, round, and wide set. The eyes are large and round, and also wide set. The cat is medium sized to large, and the tail is straight, neither blunt nor pointy, and the length is in proportion to the body. Each cat has five toes in front and four toes behind.

The American Wirehair cats come in a wide variety of colors including solid colors like white, black, and gray; cameos with a white belly, flank, and head, and another color for the rest; various tabbies; and calicos. The eye color of the wirehair varies from blue to gold to green to hazel. Gold is the most common eye color though.

Personality: The American Wirehair is an active cat. It is curious about its surroundings, and when it explores, it does so with strength and agility. It enjoys periods of active play as well as periods of cuddling. It is a loving cat and is relatively quiet. Although curious, this breed often needs some time to warm up to new people. After being introduced, it gets along well with both children and other pets.

Care: The American Wirehair is easy to care for. It is exceptionally resistant to disease. Like all cats it needs an adequate supply of fresh water and high quality food as well as a clean litter box. Grooming should be done carefully to not damage the coat. A gentle brushing once a week should be adequate to keeps its coat in tiptop shape. Due to the exceptionally oily nature of their coat, these cats should also be bathed occasionally as necessary. They also have a tendency to have an oily build up of ear wax which should be carefully removed on a regular basis.