American wirehair

This breed descends from the American Shorthair. It appeared in a litter of American Shorthairs in 1966 in the State of New York. One of the males in the litter, the only red one, had this fur. The kitten's owner called on a breeder of cats of the Rex variety, who bought it along with one of the kitten's sisters who had normal hair. The two were crossed and produced a litter of curly-haired cats. This is how the breed's breeding program began. The curly and kinky hair is due to a spontaneous genetic mutation. The gene is dominant, which is why today it is still crossed with American Shorthairs. The breed is recognized as early as 1987 by the CFA in the United States and by LOOF in France. Arrived in France in 1972, this cat remains unknown outside its country of origin.

The American Wirehair is a sociable, affectionate, and well-balanced cat. Skillful and sturdy, it loves to roam outside and is sociable toward its peers and other animals it may encounter. Its temperament is close to that of the American Shorthair.

The American Wirehair has retained the physique of its ancestors who were farm cats. The physique of this cat should be balanced and no trait is exaggerated. The body is rectangular and gives an impression of power, with a strong bone structure. The legs are medium in length, robust, and parallel to each other. The feet are round. The tail is thick at the base and tapers toward a rounded end. The head is medium-sized, with full cheeks giving it an impression of sweetness. The nose is moderately short and has the same width throughout its length. In profile, a slight stop can be noted. As with the American Shorthair, one of the characteristic features is the well-marked and square muzzle with a strong jaw. The ears are medium-sized and not very open at the base; they are placed well-spaced from each other on the head. The eyes are medium to large-sized, rounded, and placed at an angle. Their color should match the coat. The coat is the most characteristic element of the American Wirehair, whose name literally means "wiry-coated." The fur is composed of a mix of curly hairs, wrinkled hairs, and hairs with a hook at the end. Its dense and curly fur is not very pleasant to the touch as it is very coarse (it somewhat resembles that of the Wire Fox Terrier). It should in no case be crimped, which would resemble the fur of Rex cats. The whiskers are also wavy. Traditional coats are accepted, in all colors except lilac, cinnamon, and chocolate. The first specimens were entirely white.