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American
Wirehair Cat
The American Wirehair
cat is a breed of
domestic cat that originated in upstate New York.
The first wirehair cat
appeared as a random coat mutation among a litter of six born to two barn
cats. This single red and white male had odd wiry fur.
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American
Wirehair cat
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The owner of the cats
called a local breeder of Rex cats, Mrs. William O'Shea, to take a look at
the kitten.
She bought the kitten for $50, along with one of his normal
coated female littermates, to start a breeding program.
The wirehaired male
was named Council Rock Farm Adam of Hi-Fi, and the female Tip-Toe of Hi-Fi.
Breeding's between the two produced wirehaired kittens, many of which were
sold off to other interested breeders.
As the population grew, cats were
exported to Canada and Germany. the breed did well, and in 1978 they were
accepted for Championship competition.
As of 2003, though the American wirehair breed is well known, they are ranked as the most rare
of the 41 CFA breeds, with only 22 registered, down from 39 in 2002.
The unique wirehair coat is genetically dominant over a normal coat, unlike
the gene that creates rex fur. The fur is springy, dense and course, and
even their whiskers are often curled. Many find it pleasant to the touch. It
is unusual in that this coat has not appeared among other cats (most
mutations occur in various places), and all wirehairs can trace their
ancestry back to Adam.
Apart from the wiry coat, the American
wirehair cats are strong,
muscular cats, built similarly to American
Shorthairs. They come in a variety of colors.
Their personality is described as intelligent, and affectionate. They are
said to be adaptable cats resistant to disease, and have been described as
both cool and reserved, and wild, playful and inquisitive cats.
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