American Wirehair
The American Wirehair is a domestic cat breed that originated in upstate New York. The American Wirehair is a well known cat breed; however they are extremely rare and ranked #41 in CFA breeds with only twenty two registered. At first glance they may appear scruffy looking with a shamefully neglected coat, but if you look closely you will suddenly realize that this is how they are supposed to look. They have wild, frizzy, and kinky hair that stands up on end.
Appearance
You are right to think that the American Wirehair looks very similar to the American shorthair as they are used in wirehair breeding programs. They are medium to large in size, strong and well muscled with strong legs and firm full paws. They have a round head with structured cheekbones and a well developed chin. The ears are medium in size, slightly rounded with large round eyes. The coat of the Wirehair is what really sets it apart from other breeds. Each hair on this cat is either hooked or bent, including the whiskers and the hair inside the ears. It is a short, resilient, springy, and very dense look. Since this breed is still being developed the fur can vary in texture and length from cat to cat.
Fur varies in density and length from cat to cat.
History and Origin
The very first wirehair cat appeared as a random mutation among a litter born to two barn cats; the male had odd wiry fur. They were born in 1966 to ordinary cat parents. A spontaneous mutation is quite uncommon, although not rare. It has occurred in the past when two ordinary cats come together in mating and produce a kitten unlike either of the parents. This mutation has not been reported in any other country yet. The owner of the cat called a local breeder and she purchased one of the odd kittens as well as one of the normal females so she could begin a breeding program.
The gene governing the unique hair has been determined to be dominant. Approximately fifty percent of kittens in any given litter will be wirehairs if just one parent has a copy of the dominant gene. In 1967, the first wirehaired breeder, O'Shea was joined by Bill and Madeline Beck and was instrumental in getting the breed recognized by the Cat Fancier's Association. Breeding between the two produced wirehaired kittens which have also been sold off to other interested breeders. They have been exported to Canada and Germany and in 1978 the breed was accepted for Championship competition.
O'Shea stopped breeding around the 1970s and the Becks stopped soon after. A small handful of breeders have continued to keep the breed going and they are now in their 35th year. The American Wirehair is one of the Cat Fancy's best kept secrets with only fifty eight registrations in 2000.
Personality
The temperament of the American Wirehair cat depends largely on upbringing and bloodline. The American shorthair crosses also have an effect on the personality. Generally speaking however, most owners of wirehairs say that they have sweet and loving personalities. They are playful without being too energetic, and affectionate yet not clingy. They love to be the center of attention and are particularly in tune with human's feelings. They can offer a lot of comfort and companionship as household pets.
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