The American Wirehair

  The American Wirehair is a naturally occurring breed of domestic cat that was found from a single kitten in a litter of American Shorthair cats. Here is a breed profile. The American Wirehair is a rare breed of domestic cat that originated in New York. As of 2003, was ranked by the Cat Fanciers Association as the rarest of their breeds with only 22 registered cats, a fall from 39 the year before.

Breed history
The Wirehair is a spontaneous mutation from the American Shorthair that first appeared as a random kitten among a litter of five barn cats in 1966. This first cat was found in Vernon, New York and was a single red and white male cat with wiry fur. Local Rex Cat breeder Joan O’Shea was asked to look at the cat and she bought it with one of its female litter mates for $50. She started a breeding program with them, naming the male Adam and the female Tip-Top.

The breeding of this pair produced further wirehair kittens, who were sold to fellow breeders. As their numbers began to grow, they were exported to Canada and Germany where they became popular. By 1967, it was recognized by the CFA and accepted for championship competition in 1978. These cats are still not found in Britain, Australia and a number of other main cat fanatical countries.

Description
Apart from their coat, the Wirehair is very much the same as an America Shorthair, from whom it is descended. The coat however is very springy, wiry and is similar to breeds of dog such as terriers. Their coat is different from that of the Rex cats because Wirehairs possess all three types of hair and all of them are crimped, bent or hooked, depending on the coarseness of the coat. The preferred type of coat for showing is the very dense and coarse type but there are a great variety.

This type of means their coat doesn't need much grooming but doesn't offer as much protection as other coats, meaning light colored cats often need sunblock when outside to protect against sunburn. Their whiskers are also usually crimped or curled.

There is a wide range of accepted colors for these cats with only Himalayan, Chocolate and Lilac not accepted for competition showing. Their eyes tend to be golden in color with the exception of white cats that have blue or amber eyes. The Wirehair is a dominant genetic trait so any pairing that contains a wirehair will produce 50% wirehair kittens.

Personality
Breeder describe the Wirehair as a very balanced cat with a good temperament that is unsurprisingly similar to the Shorthair. They like to play but also to have cuddles and sit on the knee. They are quite active cats that prefer to stay indoors and take a great deal of interest in their surroundings, often following their owners around the house to be part of what they are doing.

These cats are also noted for their empathy, seeming to know when their owner needs a cuddle or when they simply need to sit beside them for companionship.

Conclusion
The American Wirehair is a great breed of cat to have as a member of the family with very little special needs or requirements. It is a very loving breed that takes an active part in the family life and enjoys interacting with its environment and its owners.