American Wirehair: Height, Weight, Colors, Personality, Care Full Info
The American Wirehair is a medium-sized cat, but it is very powerful. She is heavily muscled and heavily boned. Her round, thick appearance gives you the feeling that she will be heavy when you pick her up.
Wirehair is a powerful cat. She has a broad chest, muscular neck, strong jaws, and a well-developed muzzle. His legs are thick and strong. All components of this cat should be well developed. She looks like her ancestors, who were cats to keep rats out of barns and houses.
The coat of the Wirehair is similar to that of the American Shorthair, except for the crimped texture. It is thick and dense. During winter it becomes very long and thick. The texture of the coat is relatively stiff, as it is to protect it and the crimping makes it feel stiffer.
ORIGIN: United States
HEIGHT: 9–11 inches
WEIGHT: 8–12 pounds
LIFE SPAN: 10–16 years
COLORS: white-black / ebony red / orange-blue / gray lavender / Silverstream / beige/tan fawn
Breed Characteristics
The American Wirehair is a medium-sized cat with regular features and a sweet expression. This cat’s wiry coat, down to the whiskers, is thick, hard, and springy. It is described as resembling steel wool. Its unusual coat comes in almost any color or pattern.
This cat’s coat may be wired, but its personality is not. The American Wirehair is a calm and patient cat that takes life as it comes. His favorite pastime is bird watching from a sunny windowsill, and his hunting ability will stand you in good stead if insects get into the house.
If the American Wirehair is well socialized as a kitten, it should be happy to meet and interact with your guests. This six- to an 11-pound cat can be a good choice for families with older children who treat it with respect, but young children and toddlers should be supervised so they don’t handle it. He is also perfectly capable of getting along with the cat-friendly dogs of the house.
You may have heard that the American Wirehair coat is hypoallergenic due to its texture, but that is not true. Allergies aren’t caused by any particular type of coat but by dander, the dead skin cells that are shed by all cats (and people, for that matter). There is no scientific evidence that any breed or crossbreed is more or less allergenic than other cats. Some people with allergies may have less severe reactions to certain cats, but no reputable breeder will guarantee that their cats are hypoallergenic.
The American Wirehair is perfect for any home with people who will love it and give its unusual coat a weekly combing. Keep him indoors to protect him from cars, diseases spread by other cats, and attacks from other animals.
| Adaptability: 5Point | Grooming: 1Point |
| Energy Level: 3Point | Health Issues: 3Point |
| Child Friendly: 4Point | Stranger Friendly: 3Point |
| Social Needs: 3Point | Affectionate: 5Point |
| Shedding Level: 1Point | Dog Friendly: 5Point |
| Intelligence: 3Point |
History
The American Wirehair began as a spontaneous mutation in the domestic cat population; Somewhere along the line, an unusual litter with distinctive fur was produced.
In 1966, Fluffy and Booty, two barn cats with no apparent abnormalities from a small farm in upstate New York, adopted a litter in which all five kittens had strange hair. Sadly, only one kitten ultimately survived. This was particularly unfortunate because subsequent litters between Fluffy and Booty did not include kittens with wiry hair.
Whatever made the unusual waste was apparently a one-time thing. However, one surviving kitten—a red and white bicolor male—lived and thrived.
Joan O’Shea of nearby Vernon, New York, heard about the rescued kitten from a friend, who told her the kitten looked just like her Rex cats. O’Shea rushed to see the kitten and immediately fell in love with the long-legged, big-eared kitten with curly fur.
She also realized that the kitten, named Adam, was not a rex at all but possibly a completely new species. Adam eventually left his farm to become part of Joan’s family. There, Adam produced litters with neighborhood cats, some of the kittens having Adam’s wiry coat.
It was found that the gene responsible for the wirehair coat is dominant; Only one parent needed the gene to produce wirehair offspring. To ensure that the breed was not related to one of the existing Rex breeds, samples of Adam’s hair were sent to well-known British cat geneticists for analysis.
The hair samples analyzed showed that the coat was unique and not related to Cornish or Devon rakes.
Today, all American Wirehairs are descendants of Adam or one of his kittens, named Amy. Although the breed is still relatively rare, they are now recognized by the four largest cat associations in North America.
Appearance
This cat breed has a crimped coat with curly or wavy hair on its body and in its ears – some even have curly whiskers! A short-haired cat, the American Wirehair can be solid black, blue, white, red, or cream.
Coat patterns for these cats include chinchilla, smoke, cameo, calico, tabby, and bicolor. They have large eyes that tilt slightly upwards at the outer corners. The eye color of the American Wirehair can be blue, green, or gold.
Because the American Wirehair’s crimped texture keeps loose hair tight to their bodies, some consider them hypoallergenic cats. And while they’re not completely allergen-free, their coats shed hair and may be slightly less irritating to some owners with allergies.
Before bringing home an American Wirehair kitten, spend time with the breed and see how your allergies react.
The American Wire Hair is compared to the American Shorthair. And while they have many similarities, their main difference lies in the texture of the hair—the American Shorthair doesn’t have the coarse, curly coat of the wirehair.
Temperament
The American Wirehair is a true companion breed, with a loving, calm demeanor. This easy-going cat gets along with almost everyone – including dogs, other cats, children, and seniors. This affectionate breed has plenty of love to give and is likely to bond with every member of the household.
Wirehairs are smart, playful, and independent. They are active and affectionate, but not overbearing or demanding. These well-mannered cats love interactive play with their humans but are perfectly content to spend time alone playing with toys as well.
When they’re not playing, they love to snuggle up next to their humans and offer comforting hugs and purses. These cats are sweet, gentle, and friendly pets.
Personality
The American Wirehair can be expected to have a similar personality to the American Shorthair: adaptable, good-natured, affectionate, and playful. He is sometimes described as a clown.
This is an athletic cat with a moderate activity level. He enjoys as much playtime as the next cat but doesn’t demand too much attention or activity. A working-class cat who is well made is smart and enjoys playing with puzzle toys and interactive toys. He has a friendly nature and is not the type to hide under the bed when visitors come over.
The American Wirehair is a calm cat that loves people and will follow them from room to room. He takes a keen interest in everything going on around him. He may or may not be a lap cat, but he will always appreciate having a place next to you on the sofa or at the end of the bed.
Health
All cats have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all humans are prone to hereditary diseases. Any breeder who claims his breed has no health or genetic problems is either lying or is uninformed about the breed.
Run, don’t walk, from any breeder who doesn’t offer health guarantees on kittens, who tells you the breed is 100 percent healthy and has no known problems, or who tells you their kittens are different from the mainstream. Family for health reasons.
The American Wirehair is generally healthy, but because it can be crossed with the American Shorthair, it can develop some of the problems that affect that breed, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common form of heart disease in cats. It causes thickening (hypertrophy) of the heart muscle. An echocardiogram can confirm whether a cat has HCM. Avoid breeders who claim to have HCM-free lines. No one can guarantee that their cats will never develop HCM.
American Wirehairs that are to be bred should be screened for HCM, and cats identified with HCM should be removed from breeding programs. Do not buy a kitten whose parents have not been tested for this disease.
It is always wise to buy from a breeder who has a written health guarantee.
Remember that after you take a new kitten into your home, you have the power to protect her from one of the most common health problems: obesity. Keeping the American Wirehair at the right weight is the easiest way to protect his overall health. Make the most of your preventive abilities to ensure a healthy cat for life.
Care
The American Wirehair’s unusual coat requires little care. Brushing or combing can damage it, so this type of grooming is not necessary except in the spring when the cat is shedding its winter coat. Bathing is rarely necessary.
Brush teeth to prevent periodontal disease. Daily dental hygiene is best, but weekly brushing is better than nothing. Trim nails every two weeks. Wipe the corners of the eyes with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge. Use a separate area of the cloth for each eye so that you don’t risk spreading any infection.
Check the ears weekly. If they look dirty, clean them with a cotton ball or a soft damp cloth moistened with a 50-50 mixture of cider vinegar and warm water. Avoid using cotton swabs, which can damage the inner ear.
Keep the litter box spotlessly clean. Cats are very particular about bathroom cleanliness.
It’s a good idea to keep the American Wirehair as an indoor-only cat to avoid diseases spread by other cats, attacks by dogs or coyotes, and other dangers that cats face, such as being hit by cars.
American Wirehairs that go outdoors also run the risk of being stolen by someone who wants to keep such an unusual cat without paying for it.
Best Food For
- Hill’s Prescription Diet y/d with Chicken Wet Cat Food
- Hill’s Prescription Diet y/d Chicken Flavor Dry Cat Food
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Chicken Recipe Cat Food
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Ocean Fish Entrée Cat Food
Feeding
Remember that the American Wirehair shares recent ancestry with the biggest cats — tigers, lions, and panthers, etc. — so keep that in mind when feeding your American Wirehair. You will never see an adult cheetah on Animal Planet chewing grass, eating an apple, or drinking milk in the wild.
You will never see a puma cub in the wild drinking milk from a cow or any other animal. As silly as these examples look, it’s exactly how many owners feed their American Wirehairs. So you shouldn’t be surprised when your American Wirehair gets hungry.
American Wirehairs do not eat the same way dogs and humans do. As far as their diet is concerned, they are very strict, and owners should always take that into account. The American wirehair consumes almost entirely protein and fat, which are omnivores like humans who also eat vegetables and fruits.
If we ate like American wirehairs, we’d have heart disease by age 20. Even though they are a member of your family, that doesn’t mean they have to eat like you or the dogs. It’s not uncommon for people to treat their American Wirehairs like they treat dogs, who can eat a variety of foods and stay healthy.
Since dog food is primarily carbohydrates, dog food can actually be fatal to your American Wirehair if fed for long periods of time. American wirehairs do not eat carbohydrates and do not process them well.
Often, when you see a domestic American Wirehair overweight, it’s because she was fed a high-carbohydrate diet. It also puts them at risk of diabetes. American Wirehair’s system is not designed for carbs. They are to avoid.
Grooming
With this coat, the less grooming the better. Brushing or combing can damage it, so unless it’s shedding too much, leave it alone. Regular bathing helps remove dead hair, however, as well as the greasy feeling that the coat sometimes develops.
If you introduce your American Wirehair to bathing when he is a kitten and make it a pleasant experience, he is more likely to accept it. The only other care it requires is weekly nail trimming, regular tooth brushing with a vet-approved pet toothpaste, and occasional ear cleaning with cotton balls and an ear cleaning solution recommended by your vet.
Training
Because of their intelligence, American Wirehairs are very easy to train. These cats can also be trained to fetch and do tricks. Use positive reinforcement to train the American Wirehair as you see fit.
Exercise
American Wirehairs need a lot of mental and physical stimulation. They are very playful and intelligent. For this reason, American Wirehairs need much more exercise than other breeds.
Investing in some interactive toys is a great way to ensure that your American Wirehair gets the exercise they need. Additionally, play with your American Wirehair once a day. They don’t need constant social interaction but will be happier if you play with them regularly.
If you can provide your cat with an indoor and outdoor environment, even better. The American Wirehair loves to explore the outdoors and hunt squirrels and rodents. Just bring them in at night to make sure they stay safe.
Adopting Centar
Breeders are not the only source for adult cats. Pedigree American Wirehairs are not commonly found in shelters, but their domestic shorthair cousins are readily available.
If you’re interested in keeping a pedigree cat, contact local shelters, peruse the listings on Petfinder, or ask breeders if they know of any American Wirehairs in need of a new home. Sometimes breeders choose to place cats in pet homes after their show or breeding careers are over.
Regardless of how you get your American Wirehair, make sure you have a good contract with the seller, shelter, or rescue group. States with “pet lemon laws,” confirm that both you and the person you get the cat from understand your rights and remedies.
Once you’ve found a good American Wirehair match, take your kitten or adult to the vet as soon as possible so problems can be detected quickly, as well as to set up a preventative regimen to help prevent future health problems.
American Wirehair Video
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FAQs
American Wirehair Price
The American Wirehair is quite rare, despite the fact that the breed is relatively well known. Generally, American Wirehair kittens cost as little as $800 to $1200.
How can you tell if a cat is an American wirehair?
American Wirehair cats get their name from their coarse fur. Some say their coat resembles steel wool. This cat breed has a crimped coat with curly or wavy hair on its body and in its ears – some even have curly whiskers! A short-haired cat, the American Wirehair can be solid black, blue, white, red, or cream.
Are American wirehair friendly?
American Wirehairs are good-natured, easy-going cats that are popular with families, as they are known to be very tolerant of children. They are quiet but can become playful even in old age. Female cats are busier than males; Men are easier.
What is the unique characteristic of the American wirehair breed?
characteristics. The American Wirehair is distinguished from other breeds by its wiry, dense coat, which is described as feeling like steel wool or sheep’s wool. There are many degrees of wireless, varying from barbed to curly, with individual hairs being pinched, hooked or curled.
What is the rarest pattern on a cat?
An albino cat is the rarest color pattern of all. To get an albino cat, you need two parent cats with recessive genes and the offspring must receive both.
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