Weird Cat Breed: American Wirehair

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The American Wirehair is a breed of domestic cat originating in upstate New York, USA. As of 2003, though this breed is well-known, it is ranked as the most rare of the 41 Cat Fanciers' Association breeds, with only 22 registered, down from 39 in 2002.

The American Wirehair is a medium-size cat with common features and a nice expression. This cat's wiry hair coat, right down to the whiskers, is thick, hard and springy. It is described as resembling like steel wool. Its unusual coat comes in almost any color or pattern.

The American Wirehair is the product of a spontaneous natural mutation. The first known wirehaired cat made its appearance in the mid-1960s in upstate New York. A cat breeder named Joan O’Shea took an interest in its unique coat. She named it Council Rock Farm Adam of Hi-Fi and bred it to a neighboring cat that may also have carried the gene for wiry hair. The result was a litter of kittens with wiry coats. A second breeding established that the gene for a wire coat was dominant, and consultation with British cat experts, who examined hair samples from the cats, determined that they were unrelated to the Cornish or Devon Rex cat breeds. So a new breed was born.

The cats were most similar in type to the American Shorthair, and that breed was used to mate with the American Wirehair. The two breeds are similar in appearance and personality, with difference only in coat type. The American Shorthair has a hard coat, while the American Wirehair has a hard, dense, springy coat with twisted down, awn and guard hairs. The awn hairs are hooked at the tip.

The American Wirehair is a good cat to have as a companion. It is easy going and placid. The Wirehair is a loving cat and will attach itself to every member of the owner's family.

The Wirehair loves to play and actually doesn't need plenty of attention. If it is in the mood to play, it will bring a toy to its parent. The Wirehair also plays well by itself, and is a good companion for single people.