American Wirehair is a domestic cat breed. Its unique attribute is its wiry fur.
American Wirehair is a domestic feline that was first seen in the
mid nineteen sixties in United States when two otherwise normal cats
produced kittens with curled 'wiry' hair. An interested breeder took to
their development and after some years of dedicated efforts, litters
with consistent physical and behavioral traits were born. Registration
came soon afterward and the cat was accepted for championship status by
the late seventies. Even as the cat has been exported to European
nations, its spontaneous mutation occurred only in the United States, a
fact that surprises some geneticists. Since American Wirehairs evolved
from a single ancestor, they are periodically outcrossed with American
Shorthairs to maintain diversity in their gene pool.
Physically
the pretty cats resemble American Shorthairs to an extent. They are
well built cats with good physical development. The wire-like hair are
often not seen uniformly in litters. They may even change in character
with age. Coat can range from short and dense to curly and spiked. It
is generally very soft though and may occur in any color like the eyes.
Cheek bones are well developed, giving the eyes a slanted appearance.
Even the whiskers of the American Wirehairs are like curled up wires.
Owing
to their wiry hair these cats are prone to an oily coat. They also get
allergic readily and may lose hair under stress, and thus require
regular grooming and maintenance. It is best to keep them indoors. Also
it is suggested that their ears be swabbed regularly since they often
accumulate wax.
American Wirehairs are very people oriented and
affectionate. They totally adore their owners and shadow them
everywhere they go. Like most cats, they have a pleasant temperament
and are tolerant of other pets. Active and vigorous animals, American
Wirehairs just love to play and have fun in a calm indoor environment.
