INTRODUCTION

The American wirehair cat is one of the newest and at the same time most special breeds of our days. It is also called the American Wirehaired cat and has an appearance as adorable as it is special.

THE ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN WIREHAIR CAT

The American wirehair came into existence relatively recently, in the 1960s. Back in 1966, when an American family living in New York had a very special litter, because one of their kittens had a different coat from the rest. This fur was curly and very, very rough.

This first rough-coated cat was sold to a breeder who decided to develop the breed, as she had won the heart of this kitten with its peculiarities. To avoid congenital defects and inbreeding problems, American Wirehaired cats were crossed with American Shorthairs. In this way, the number of American wirehairs grew and the breed was recognised in 1978 by the Cat Fancy Association.

WHAT IS THE AMERICAN WIREHAIR CAT LIKE?

American wirehairs are medium sized cats, weighing between 6 and 8 kilograms for males and 4.3 to 5.5 for females. They are very long-lived cats, as they can live even more than 20 years, 20 being the average life expectancy of American wirehair cats.

The body of these felines has a highly developed musculature, with strong and resistant limbs. Their tail, like their legs, is of medium length. The head is round in shape, ending in a short muzzle with a somewhat prominent chin. The eyes are quite large, set wide apart, also round and very luminous, the colours vary according to the coat of the animal. The ears are of medium size, ending in rounded tips and with a narrow base.

As for the coat of the American wirehair, we must say that it is very special, as it tends to attract attention because of its roughness. It is wire-haired and curly all over the body, the intensity of the curl varying according to the area. Also his whiskers are of a hard coat and something very peculiar is that, like the rest of his coat, they are curly.

All colours and patterns are accepted in this breed of cat.

THE HEALTH OF THE AMERICAN WIREHAIR

Being a more or less recent breed, it may not be known all the diseases they can develop. Even so, this cat is usually in fairly good health, being also quite long-lived.

Like other cats, it can have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which causes an increase in the volume of the heart muscle.

The skin of American Wirehair cats is somewhat delicate as explained above. It is important to be aware of whether the food he is fed causes any kind of allergy and, of course, deworming when necessary or more regularly if he leaves the house a lot is essential to avoid skin or parasitic diseases.

THE AMERICAN WIREHAIR CAT'S PERSONALITY

American wirehair kittens are known to be extremely affectionate cats. So much so, that sometimes their pleas for cuddles and attentions can be quite imperative when seeking affection from their humans.

Despite being so attentive and affectionate with those he meets, the American Wirehair is quite reserved, very reluctant to let himself be petted or touched by strangers, as he is slow to gain confidence with strangers. If you have just adopted an American Wirehair and this happens to you, don't hesitate to consult the following article: ‘How to gain a cat's trust’.

These kittens are highly alert and intelligent, they love games, especially those that promote the development of their intellect and skills. Therefore, we can prepare for our wirehair hunting or searching games, as well as different feline puzzles, as he will enjoy them very much, especially if we also take part in the game.

CONCLUSION

The American Wirehaired cat is a cheerful and easy-going cat. It is tolerant and suitable for a family life, gets along very well with children and also likes to fraternise with its peers and other felines.