American Wirehair Cat Behavior, Facts and Health Care Problem

An American Wirehair may sound like a coarse, rough coated pet, but the hair is actually quite supple. The appearance of the Wirehair may be a little off putting, but this unusual feline’s sweet, playful nature is sure to capture your heart.

History
It was a humble beginning for the American Wirehair as it began as one odd kitten in a litter, born inside of a farmer’s barn. Believing there was something peculiar about this particular kitten, the farmer consulted with a well versed cat fancier who found this unique characteristic fascinating and decided to try breeding this eccentric new breed of cat. With the attempt unsuccessful, due to the trait of the wirehair not being predominant, inbreeding became the main resource for breeding. As long as a cat showed miniscule signs of the Wirehair trait, it was included in the process. With a growing fear of kittens being born with hereditary flaws and diseases as a result of the inbreeding, the originators decided to cross breed the Wirehair with another well known breed which was also conceptualized in the United States, the American Shorthair.

Appearance
Subsequently, after many attempts with trial and error an American Wirehair was created. The body of the American Wirehair turned out to be quite similar to that of the American Shorthair. However, other features of this new breed remained unique. An American Wirehair’s head was somewhat more circular than the Shorthair, and the cheek bones were displayed much higher. As with any attempt at trying to create a new breed of any animal, the American Wirehair still displays a few irregularities regarding the texture of the coat. Regardless of these minute in discrepancies, the American Wirehair is still a part of the Cat Fancier's Association Championship Class. However, in keeping with the strict specific standards held by the association, only those Wirehairs with short, thick hair are considered acceptable for show within the ring. Show qualities are not reflected or recognized in the longhair coats and according to the standards are grounds for strict disqualification as the appearance of their coats are unappealing to most cat fancier’s. This same rule applies to American Wirehairs with thin coats as they are more prone to extreme shedding almost to the point of baldness if placed in situations in which severe stress is present.

American Wirehair Cat Health Problems Info
The American Wirehair is generally, a healthy breed, but as with many pets, the Wirehair does have a few flaws. While other breeds of felines have a soft smooth coat, the coarser hair of a Wirehair tends to be a little greasy. The regiment for this problem is a regular bathing routine. While the old wives tales say cats hate water, luckily this is untrue of the American Wirehair. Grooming is as always an essential part of the care process, however, the hair of a Wirehair is much more frail and fine than that of a traditional cat, so this cat requires a delicate, soothing brushing. Currently, the standard specifics require that an American Wirehair weigh in on the larger body scale, however, at present, most Wirehairs seem to be under in that category. A typical Wirehair should weigh between eight and fifteen pounds with the latter being the recommended requirement. One of the rarest requirements held by the standard specific is that the American Wirehair is just one of a few breeds that are required to have one eye color, deep gold. If the American Wirehair is silver, this rule does not apply. The American Wirehair is a perfect cat for any family looking for a friendly and genuinely sociable pet. It is extremely playful, so keeping a fully stocked house of feline friendly toys is sure to keep them entertained. Even though this particular breed of cat is not an out spoken one; it can become rather demanding of its owner with a slight tendency to become overbearing at times. Even with these quirky little personality traits, an American Wirehair is still a playful, fun loving, affectionate cat that is sure to bring years of happy memories to any home. This unique breed offers eccentric characteristics, a playful and affectionate personality, making it the perfect choice for someone looking for a pet unlike any other.

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