American Wirehair Cat: Playful, Loyal, and Unique

The American Wirehair Cat was born by chance in America in the year 1966. Adam was the name of this kitten who had a unique feature, his fur, which was hard and curly, more like that of a sheep than a cat. He was born in a litter of American Shorthair kittens. This specimen was taken to a breeder, Joan O'Shea, who mated it with an American Shorthair female from the same litter, in order to fix this mutation. And that is how this breed originated.

It is often referred to as one of the so-called ‘hardy breeds’, i.e. those that are descended from common cats and consequently have a robust build and medium size. It is a breed that is well known in the United States but almost completely unknown to the rest of the world. And this is really a pity, because this cat has a truly sweet, docile and affectionate character.

Character of the American Wirehair Cat

Cats of the American Wirehair breed are really pleasant companions. They are known for their affectionate character. They love cuddles and caresses so much that their demand for attention is sometimes imperious. It is a very lively, athletic and skittish cat, it likes to play a lot and takes great pleasure in hiding in the most inaccessible places inside the house and if it has the chance in the garden.

He needs structures that satisfy his need to move around, so in the home it is a good idea to provide him with some accessories that can make him climb. The best thing for him would be a secure garden where he can run and climb. Beware, however, that he is a great hunter, especially of mice, so he may bring you little presents that are not very welcome.

He also loves the comforts of home, so he adapts well even in a flat, and is recommended for everyone, both the elderly and children with whom he has a truly unique relationship as he likes to play a lot. Every now and then, however, he desires respect and quiet and a space of his own where he can retreat to when he wants to be alone. He is able to learn numerous games, especially games of skill, which enable him to enhance the development of his intellect and abilities.

With other pets he tends to be a bit bossy, but all in all, cohabitation is good with both cats and dogs. With strangers he is sociable and curious. Although it prefers the company of its family, it is a cat that even on its own is perfectly capable of keeping itself busy and finding something to do.

Appearance of the American Wirehair Cat

The American Wirehair Cat is a medium-sized feline. It weighs between 6 and 8 kilograms for the male, a couple of kilograms less for the female. Its bone structure is rather large, but it is well-proportioned and robust. Very similar to the American Shorthair except for the hard, bristly coat, which resembles the coat of the Fox Terrier breed dog.

The tail and legs are of medium length, the head is rounded with ears wide at the base, large and well spaced. The eyes are large and rounded and the colour varies according to the colour of the coat.

As already mentioned, it is the coat that characterises this breed. It consists of 3 layers, the cover, the secondary and the undercoat. It is coarse, thick and thick (each hair is curly or curled), forming curls at the ends. A curiosity: the whiskers are also wavy.

The colour of the American Wirehair's coat, there are no restrictions as to shade, streaks or spots, it can be unicoloured, tiger-coloured, bicoloured and tricoloured.

Care and health of the American Wirehair Cat

In general, this cat is rather robust and has no specific diseases. It has a very long life expectancy, the average being 20 years, so it is easy for it to live even longer. It has rather delicate skin and sometimes suffers from skin problems such as dermatitis, so it must be given appropriate food, rich in vitamins and minerals.

As far as cleaning its coat is concerned, it is more delicate than it looks so it should be treated with care, brushed at least once a week and as this breed has a delicate and oily skin it would be a good idea to bathe it regularly, i.e. at least once a month.