The American Wirehair Cat
A Coat with a Difference

An American Wirehair Cat called Adam!

The year is 1966, the place, Verona, New York State. The event - two free-breeding barn cats (domestic shorthair) produce a litter of 6 kittens. This litter was special; some of the kittens were born with coarse, crimped coats - signifying North Americas' first all-American rexed-type cats. Sadly, only two kittens survived a weasel attack - a normal coated female and a red and white rex-type male.

The farmer was fascinated with this unusual kitten and sought the advice of her neighbor, Joan O'Shea. Mrs O'Shea bought both kittens - she named the normal coated female, Tip Toe of HiFi and the male was named Council Rock Farm Adam of HiFi.

Mrs O'Shea started a selective breeding program - Adam was bred with Tip Toe - the result of this union - more coarse, prickly-coated kittens.

This confirmed that the mutation was in fact the result of a spontaneous mutation of a dominant gene. (A mutation of this nature was uncommon and had not been reported anywhere else but the US at that time).

To avoid excessive in-breeding and to provide what is known as outcross vigor, American Shorthair cat breeds were used as an outcross to further develop the breed.

By 1967, the CFA accepted the American Wirehair and by 1978 it received championship status. Shortly after this, these somewhat 'different cat breeds' were exported to both Germany and Canada - signifying breed recognition.

The cat breed of today differs from Council Rock Farm Adam of HiFi - today they resemble the American Shorthair, the main differentiator been the unusual coarse, crimped coat.

Whilst still relatively rare cat breeds, American Wirehair cats are been bred and shown in France and Japan. Breeding is a challenge as kittens are often born with straight or long hair - both do not comply with the breed standard.

For additional cat information on this wiry-coated cat breed:

American Wirehair - cat facts and full cat breed profile

Cat Photo Courtesy of:

©Heikki Siltala. www.heikkisiltala.com