American Shorthair Catsand Longhairs are known to most cat lovers. But what is an American Wirehair ? These animals, sometimes called American Wirehair cats , are already very rare in America, and barely represented in Europe. Nevertheless, the American Wirehair is a very interesting cat that, like many other cat breeds, is the result of a random mutation. Learn more about the cats that originated in New York State!
Summary
- Appearance of the American Wirehair
- American Wirehaired Cat Temperament
- History of the American Wirehair
- American Wirehair Health and Care
- American Wirehair Feeding
- Choosing the Right American Wirehaired Cat Breeder
Appearance of the American Wirehair
The distinctive feature of the American Wirehair is its curly coat, from which it gets its name. Its wiry coat came about through a random genetic mutation that is inherited dominantly. It forms a particularly dense and rough coat of hair. The structure of its coat is unique: each hair is curved and curled at its tip. Even the whisker hairs of the American Wirehair cat look slightly bent. This particular coat gives the American Wirehair a somewhat sleepy and disheveled look, while contributing to the breed’s plush appearance.
However, even among American Wirehaired cats, coat texture varies. The gene is inherited dominantly, but cats can have more or less curly coats.
The Wirehair gene is attributed to a random mutation that occurred in the 1960s in New York State in America. Mutations are not uncommon in the cat world. But it is very surprising that this mutation has only appeared once in the American territory in the entire history of the breed! The dominant inherited gene ensures that the trait is passed on to all offspring and predominates in the form of a wire hair.
Due to the shared history of the American Wirehair and the American Shorthair, their physique is similar. Thus, the American Wirehair is powerful and muscular, with a strong chest and strong medium-long legs. Its cheekbones are high, its muzzle is marked. Its attentive, wide-open and often bright yellow eyes are reminiscent of its parent, the American Shorthair. Like the Shorthair, the American Wirehair exists in all colors. In some animals, the presence of the wirehair gene is visible just after birth. In others, it appears from about the fourth month of life. Before that, the kittens look like Shorthair cats.
The coat colors accepted in the American Wirehair are as follows:
- White: White American Wirehaired cats may have yellow or blue eyes, and odd eyes are also allowed.
- Black: An American Wirehair’s black coat should be solid in color, with no gray hairs. The muzzle and pads are also black, with the eye color often being gold.
- Blue: The genetic dilution of the black color is called “blue.” The muzzle and pads are often also blue, and the eyes are a bright gold.
- Red: As with American Shorthairs, red American Wirehairs are preferred without white markings.
- Cream: Cream is the dilution of the red color. The color appears beige.
- Bicolor: As with the American Shorthair, bicolor American Wirehairs are permitted for breeding. These often have a white base color with black, blue, red, or tan markings.
- Chinchilla: The chinchilla color is amazing, each hair is striped with two colors. If the coat is white, and only the tip is black, the coloring of the cat is called chinchilla. If the hair has a red tip, it is called red chinchilla . Many cats of this color have a border around the eyes and nose. American Shorthair chinchillas often have striking bright green eyes. Since the American Wirehair is often crossed with the American Shorthair, this characteristic is also found in him.
- Shaded: Like the chinchilla, shaded American wirehaired cats have striped, two-tone hair. However, the hair of shaded cats has a higher proportion of black. This color also exists with a red tip and is called red shaded .
- Smoked: The smoked color is also made of striped hairs. In smoked cats, the black part of the hair is the most prominent, and only the underside is colored white. Therefore, the partial white coloring is only noticeable if you look at the coat closely. Variants are blue smoke and red smoke , with blue or red hairs. Some cats even have black, red and blue stripes! The animals appear tricolored, and a detailed examination of the individual hairs reveals a white undercoat.
- Tabby: Tiger Cats. Who doesn’t love tiger cats? Tabby American Wirehairs are called tabbies. But not all cats are tabby in the same way. Mackerel tabby coloring shows narrow, well-defined stripes, often with a dorsal line and stripes on the legs and tail. Ticked tabby often only shows patterns on the head, neck, legs, and tail. Patched tabby has cream or red spots.
- Calico: Who doesn’t know the tricolor “lucky cats”? In English, and therefore in American Shorthair and American Wirehair breeders, these cats are called calico. Most of the coat is white, and it is complemented by black and red spots, their dilutions, and sometimes even tabby markings.
Chocolate and cinnamon colors and their dilutions are prohibited.
American Wirehaired Cat Temperament
The American Wirehair is a simple and cheerful cat. It is tolerant and well suited to family life. It gets along well with children and also enjoys the company of other animals and other cats.
This robust breed loves to play. It is in this character trait that the heritage of the American Shorthair shines through . Some American Wirehairs are calmer, but in general they enjoy hunting outdoors in addition to playing with their owners. The American Wirehair is suited to life as an outdoor cat, but, with enough play and climbing opportunities, it can also be happy as an indoor cat. If you are often away, you should provide your American Wirehair with interactive toys. But even intelligence toys are no substitute for a playmate…
The American Wirehair is very sociable. You should consider getting a second cat, especially if your kitten is alone most of the day, and this is ideally done before your American Wirehair moves in!
History of the American Wirehair
You may have noticed that short-haired and wiry-coated cats are physically and psychologically similar to the American and European Shorthair . The only difference seems to be the American Wirehair ‘s distinctive coat . Or maybe not?
In fact, the breed originated as a spontaneous mutation discovered in New York in the 1960s. A litter of Shorthair cats had attracted attention because of the peculiar appearance of their kittens’ fur. The sole survivor of the litter, a red and white tabby, piqued the interest of breeder Joan O’Shea because of his unusual coat. He purchased the cat and named him “Council Rock Adam of Hi-Fi”. A targeted breeding program was soon underway, crossing this particular cat with American Shorthairs . It was several years before the new breed was recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association. In 1978, the breed was registered as a type of American Shorthair. There are currently only a few breeders of American Wirehairs in the United States, and the breed is almost unknown in Europe. In order to preserve genetic diversity and prevent the development of hereditary diseases, the American Wirehair is still crossed with American Shorthairs. Since the gene for straight hair is inherited dominantly, it prevails in about half of the kittens born from these crosses. Depending on the kitten’s predisposition, its hair will either become curly immediately after birth or after four to six months. This depends, among other things, on the texture of the individual’s coat. Mating two American Wirehairs usually produces kittens with particularly curly fur. These kittens often have curved whiskers right after birth.
American Wirehair Health and Care
Despite its exceptional coat, the American Wirehair does not require a lot of care. Its wiry hair does not require any special treatment. As a general rule, brushing it once a week is enough to minimize the amount of hair swallowed. During the shedding season, you can also give your cat catnip or malt paste. The hair swallowed during grooming will then be naturally regurgitated.
The annual check-up at the vet is of course also essential for the American Wirehair . Your vet will examine your cat closely, listen to its lungs and heart and examine its mouth. You can also find out about necessary vaccinations or parasite prophylaxis.
American Wirehair Feeding
Like all cats, the American Wirehair needs a diet rich in protein. Cats are naturally carnivores, as they can only use carbohydrates to a limited extent. Unfortunately, many poor-quality foods use plant by-products as fillers… In the production of dry food, plant-based ingredients make it easier to make hard kibble.
That’s why you should be careful when buying food. If in doubt, take a look at the label! According to the European Feed Regulation, the ingredients in cat food are sorted according to their quantities. That’s why meat should be at the top of the list of ingredients. But cats need not only meat, but also high-quality offal. These are sometimes grouped together under the term “animal by-products”. However, more and more pet food manufacturers are choosing to list the offal in detail. This way, you can be sure that your American Wirehair’s food contains many healthy ingredients, and only a few indefinable ingredients such as greaves, hair or horn.
More and more cat owners are deciding to feed their pets raw food, or to cook their own food. In order for your cat to receive all the nutrients and proteins it needs, thorough training is essential. Fortunately, there are now many guides on BARF feeding. Pet food manufacturers and stores have also followed the trend and are offering raw meat, supplements and often even raw portions ready to serve.
Choosing the Right American Wirehaired Cat Breeder
The American Wirehair is mainly bred in the United States. But even there it remains relatively rare. It is therefore not surprising that the American cat is a rarity in Europe.
If you are interested in this breed, you should therefore contact the American breed clubs directly. The American Wirehair is for example recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association. They will be able to help you find responsible breeders!
As with other breeds, professional American Wirehair breeders must belong to a breeder association. This gives you the assurance that the animals meet the breed standard. Responsible breeders are also committed to ensuring that their animals and offspring live in an environment that is suitable for them, eat the right food for them, and that both parents and kittens receive regular health care. Kittens must grow up with their family for at least twelve weeks. During this imprinting phase, they learn everything they need to become balanced and healthy cats.
Cat breeding is an expensive hobby, so of course, it all comes at a price. Depending on the lineage it comes from, an American Wirehair can cost several hundred dollars. Prices are similar to other breeds.
Even if you want to save money, never go to breeders who sell “purebred” cats at low prices. Although the price may seem good, it is profit that motivates these breeders. They often neglect the health care of the animals, breaks for the mother between litters, and do not feed their animals with suitable food. These breeders are not part of a breeder’s association. Of course, this allows them to save on show fees and club dues. But it also means that they escape the control of the association in terms of breed standards and the living conditions of the animals. It is not uncommon for cats from these breeders to develop hereditary diseases or diseases related to malnutrition, and your good deal quickly turns out to be expensive.
If you don’t want to break the bank to adopt your dream cat, you should consider going to an animal shelter. There are countless cats of all ages, personalities, and appearances that are looking for a new home. Some have been surrendered to the shelter by their previous owner, others have been found wandering on the streets, or others have ended up in the shelter after their owner passed away. You’re sure to find the perfect cat for your family!