American Wirehair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids American Wirehair
American Wirehair sitting in a cat show
Origin	United States
Breed standards
CFA	standard
TICA	standard
ACFA/CAA	standard
CCA-AFC	standard
Other	FIFe
Domestic cat (Felis catus)

The American Wirehair is a special breed of house cat that first appeared in upstate New York, USA. Even though many people know about this breed, it is actually one of the rarest cat breeds. It is ranked as the most rare among the 41 breeds recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association.

History

The American Wirehair cat came about by chance! It is a natural change, or mutation, from the American Shorthair cat. The first one appeared in 1966 in Vernon, New York. It was one of five kittens born to regular barn cats. This special kitten was a red-and-white male, and it had very unique, wiry fur.

The owner of the cats called a local cat breeder, Mrs. Joan O'Shea, to see the kitten. She was so impressed that she bought the kitten for $50. She also bought one of his sisters, who had a normal coat. Her plan was to start a breeding program with them. The wirehaired male was named Council Rock Farms Adams of Hi-Fi, or 'Adam' for short. His sister was named Tip-Top.

When Adam and Tip-Top had kittens, many of them also had the wiry fur! These kittens were then sold to other breeders who were interested in this new type of cat. As more of these cats were born, some were sent to Canada and Germany, where they became quite popular. The breed did very well. In 1967, it was officially recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA). By 1978, it was accepted for championship competitions. American Wirehairs are not yet common in countries like Britain and Australia.

Characteristics

American Wirehairs look a lot like American Shorthairs. The main difference is their unique, springy, wiry coat. Even the fur inside their ears and their whiskers are wiry! This special coat feels a bit like the wire coats of some dog breeds, such as terriers. Their fur does not need much grooming. However, lighter-colored cats might need sunblock if they spend time outdoors.

Wirehairs have a medium, strong build. They have round heads, high cheekbones, and a noticeable muzzle. Female Wirehairs are usually smaller than males. American Wirehairs can have almost any cat coat color. However, certain colors like Himalayan, Chocolate, and Lilac are not allowed in competitions. The gene for the wirehair coat is dominant. This means that if a Wirehair cat breeds with another cat, the kittens are likely to have wiry fur. Most Wirehairs have golden eyes. However, some white Wirehairs can have blue or amber eyes.

Behavior

The Wirehair cat has a calm and balanced personality. It is very similar to its American Shorthair relatives. Wirehairs are happy to play or to simply nap in their owner's lap. People often describe them as cute and a bit funny. They are gentle and quiet cats, but they are also playful and active. They have soft, quiet voices. American Wirehairs generally prefer to stay indoors.

See also

In Spanish: American wirehair para niños