American Wirehair
Cat Facts

Get hooked on the American Wirehair cat, a cat with a crimped or rexed coat. The breed standard for the 'Wire', as it is fondly called, is not dissimilar to that of the American Shorthair - apart from its very special coat that is! This unique cat breed remains uncommon in the land of its birth and is also one of the rare cat breeds.

What makes their Shorthaired Coat Different?

The American Wirehair's coat has short, springy, dense and coarse hair and curly whiskers. The hair is hard to the touch, but resilient. Individual hairs are tightly crimped with either a hook at the end or slightly bent. This somewhat prickly coat is said to be the result of a spontaneous mutation of a dominant gene. This was the first rex-coated cat to be found in the USA.

This is a shorthaired cat breed. The coat comes in most colors, shades and patterns, but Lilac, ColorPoint and Chocolate are not accepted colors. Some of the recognized colors and patterns are the solid colors (Black, Blue, Cream, Red and White), Classic and Mackerel Tabby, Parti-colors (tortoiseshell and calico), Smoke and Bi-Colors. (If you intend to show or breed, we suggest you visit the all breeds of cat breed standards in your country for the full range of colors and patterns).

General Features and Characteristics

Like the American Shorthair, the Wirehair is a medium to large domestic cat. It has a solid build with well developed muscles and medium-sized bones. One of the distinguishing features is their powerful and defined shoulders, chest and hindquarters. To complement the body, the legs are also heavily muscled and of medium length, but their paws are somewhat small and oval in shape. The tail is in proportion to the body - it tapers from a well rounded rump to a 'roundish' tip (not blunt and also not pointed).

The 'Wire' has a large head which complements the body. They have prominent cheek bones and a square muzzle and chin, the latter being firm and well developed. You can expect to find jowls in adult mature male cats.

Their large eyes are fairly wide-set and round in shape and the aperture has a slight upward tilt. The eye-color is always appropriate to the coat color. Finally, the ears are medium in size and like the eyes, are wide-set with rounded tips and should not be unduly open at the base of the ear.

American Wirehair Personality

Chatting to owners of these crimped-coated cats, we got conflicting views about their personality.

Some owners describe their Wirehair cat as a calm, reserved, loyal and affectionate companion. They go on to say that it is a gentle, quiet and laid-back lap cat, but stress that placid does not mean anti-social! The 'Wire' is a people-orientated cat.

On the flip side, other owners describe their cats as active and agile cats that demonstrate a keen interest in their surroundings. These cats tend to rule the roost - (what cat doesn't)! This intelligent and inquisitive cat does need exercise to burn off excessive energy. They love to play, but are not overly demanding of your attention.

American Wirehair Cat Information

Will this cat get along with children?

Yes, they are generally at ease with children. Cats and kittens need to be handled gently. Children need to be taught how to handle cats.

Are they friendly to other pets?

Yes and no - they tend to dominate other cats. They do get along with 'well-behaved' dogs.

What home and environment would suit them best?

American Wirehair cats do not like to be confined. So this means that apartment living would not be ideal. What they need is an enclosed, escape-proof garden, a space to exercise, hunt and explore. The safest option is to create a cat enclosure that leads off a room from the house. An adventure zone filled with non-toxic plants, cat gyms, cat scratchers and toys

Grooming and caring for your cat

The American Wirehair is a medium maintenance cat. A once-a-week light brushing will do. They are prone to producing excessive ear wax, so their ears will require frequent cleaning. This domestic cat has an oily skin, so regular sponging or a bath would be appropriate.

We have very comprehensive cat grooming and cat care pages, so do take a look at these guidelines for ultimate cat hygiene and cat care.

Do they suffer from any Cat Diseases?

The American Wirehair is generally a healthy breed, with few cat health problems. Naturally, responsible pet owners will vaccinate against all the common cat diseases.

Their coat tends to be 'unstable'. They are prone to hair loss and hair breakage which can be triggered by environmental factors like weather and stress. The American Wirehair cat's skin can be sensitive and prone to skin allergies.

Cat insurance is always advisable. We have prepared important guidelines for pet insurance to assist you with making the right choice.

Any Special Diet needed?

This kitty does not need a special diet. They do of course need a well-balanced diet. Diet information can be found on our cat nutrition and cat food pages. Water is an essential part of your cat's diet, be sure to provide clean, fresh water every day.

How much does the average American Wirehair weigh?

3.5 - 7.0 kg (8.0 - 15.0 lbs) is the average healthy weight, but male cats are larger than the females.

How long can I expect my cat to live?

Cat life expectancy depends on a number of things, but on average, your American Wirehair should live between 9 - 15 years. We have some great information about extending your cat's life in our chapter on 'how long do cats live?'

* Before purchasing a cat, always do thorough research into the bloodlines and genetics of your cat and always buy from reputable cat breeders.

Cat Information Pages

American Wirehair Cat - cat history and cat profile

Cat picture courtesy of:

© Heikki Siltala www.heikkisiltala.com

American Wirehair Cat - licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported