The American Wirehair is known as a cat that adapts very easily to new surroundings, but also for its behaviour. One moment he can be playful and active and the next moment he can relax with his owner in the house. The American Wirehair can live indoors as well as outdoors and is a real family cat. Would you like to know more about this beautiful breed? Then read this article.
The origin: a cat from America
As the name suggests, the American Wirehair comes from America. It is a breed originated by a spontaneous mutation in the so-called farm cats. The owner of a farm in Verona, New York, found a litter with six kittens in her farm. What struck was that one of the kittens was different, this was due to a mutation. His coat was different from that of his parents. The striking kitten was taken away and they continued breeding. This is how the dominant gene for wirehair came into being. In the end the American Wirehair came into being.
The American Wirehair is very similar to the American Shorthair. The only difference is in the coat. In 1967 the American Wirehair was officially registered with the CFA. The breed has been popular among breeders ever since and is seen as a breed that is easy to raise.
The character: playful but calm
The American Wirehair is known for its quiet behaviour. It adapts very well and can enjoy playing one moment and lying down and being petted the next. It is an easy cat to get along with, which makes it very popular with families, especially in America.
The American Wirehair has no problem with children and loves to play with them. His general character is therefore calm and quiet, but he is certainly not averse to playing. What is striking about this breed is that the female version is generally a lot busier than the male version. This is something to take into account when buying an American Wirehair.
This breed loves to hunt and will therefore be very interested in insects that occur in the house. Of course that is not the intention, but there are many insects around your house and we can’t ignore the fact that an insect sometimes occurs indoors. This cat also finds birds very interesting. It can live indoors as well as outdoors. They are intelligent and find many things interesting. They don’t necessarily attach themselves strongly to their owner, but they do build a good bond with it.
The look: a bit of an American Shorthair
The American Wirehair looks a lot like the American Shorthair. It has a fairly round head with big eyes. His cheekbones are clearly present. He has ears with a round rounding. His legs are of normal size, but very muscular. The rest of his body is also muscular and of normal size. The back of his back is rounded down. What is striking about his whiskers is that they run round.
On average, the American Wirehair weighs about 3.5 to 7 kilograms. Is your cat heavier? Then he is overweight and needs to adapt his diet. It is always important to be aware of this.
The coat of the American Wirehair can come in different colours, shapes and shades. His coat is stringy, this is the most striking feature of this breed and this is also the difference between him and other breeds. All coat colours are possible, this also applies to all patterns.
The texture of his coat may vary. It is thread-like, but the degree of this threadiness can vary and can sometimes resemble curls. His coat should be thick and firm. In addition, a soft coat is preferred. When you stroke his coat it should jump back into place after touching it.
It can happen that the underlying skin of this breed is sensitive. Because of this it is necessary to apply special care measures. You can read more about this later in this article.
Education: attention and socialisation
The American Wirehair is a healthy breed. Yet a good upbringing is essential and has a great influence on health, happiness and mental condition. Before you buy an American Wirehair it is therefore important to know how to raise it in the right way. Part of the upbringing is done by the breeder. That is why it is important to buy a breeder who is a member of a breed association and therefore knows what he is doing. In this way, the first part of his upbringing will be done well. The second part of the upbringing is up to you, the owner.
The first part of his upbringing is called the socialisation period. This period lasts about 14 weeks on average, but can last up to a maximum of 16 weeks. During this period, attention from the kitten’s mother is essential. As with humans, dealing with a mother figure is important. During his first weeks most of the behavioural patterns and beliefs of a kitten are formed. It is important that this is done in the right way. This prevents a lot of problems. The most important things during this period are his mother’s attention and human attention. Because the kitten will be taken care of by humans later on, it is important that he already knows how this feels. This way he can prepare himself for what will come later. During this period it is important that the kitten is taken care of, think of cleaning his ears. Feeding and learning to drink is also essential during this phase.
When the first phase of upbringing is completed, it is time for phase 2. This is where you, as the boss, have the most influence. During this phase, routine and care are important. A fixed routine is important for a cat. In this way he adapts the quickest and suffers less stress. It is advisable to start a routine as soon as possible. This routine should include sleeping, eating, playing and grooming. Provide fixed times for feeding new food. Also make sure that your cat is cared for at set times. This will allow your cat to feel safer and there is a good chance that you, as the owner, will actually do all this and not overlook anything. When the socialisation period has been done correctly, the grooming will be a lot easier. If this is not done correctly, your American Wirehair may have developed anxiety and other disorders. For this reason it is really advisable to buy a kitten only from a licensed breeder.
Care: pay enough attention to sensitive skin
The American Wirehair needs to be taken care of on a weekly basis. Sensitive skin can still occur in this breed. Therefore it should be brushed several times a week. This makes his loose hair disappear and reduces the chance of tangles. In addition to brushing, it is also advisable to bathe your American Wirehair regularly. This will remove excess fat from its skin. This prevents skin irritation and is healthy for his coat.
Besides taking care of his coat and skin, the care of his ears is also very important. Ear infection can still sometimes occur in cats. By regularly cleaning the ears with a cotton cotton bud you can prevent this.
The nails should also be kept in good condition. A scratching post contributes to this. In addition, it is wise to keep an eye on the nails and cut them regularly. This prevents problems, especially when a cat lives mainly indoors.
Last but not least, dental care is important. The teeth of the American Wirehair can be sensitive to problems. That is why it is really wise to clean your cat’s teeth several times a week. This can sometimes be difficult and your American Wirehair will not like it. That is why it is important to start doing this as soon as possible and to do it at set times. In this way your American Wirehair will get used to this the quickest and will be easier to do in the future.
Nutrition: care for a balanced diet
A balanced diet is essential for a cat’s health. A cat that gets enough to eat is generally a healthy and happy cat. Most of the nutrients a cat needs on a daily basis come from its diet, which is why it is so important to ensure good food.
The basis of any diet consists of proteins. Those proteins must come from animal products. A cat’s intestinal system cannot digest proteins and fats from vegetable sources. So go for a diet based on meat and fish. Animal proteins contain all the essential amino acids, including taurine. Taurine ensures healthy heart function and prevents blindness.
If you choose for a complete meal there is always taurine in it. It is therefore advisable to choose this and if you want to be sure what you buy, always check the label.
It is possible that your American Wirehair likes fried meat. During the frying of meat, taurine is broken down. In such cases it may be wise to choose taurine supplements. These can easily be purchased.
So choose a diet consisting of complete meals. This is stated on the packaging. If your American Wirehair prefers fried meat, no problem, but consider a taurine supplement. Your cat will notice.
Diseases that are common at the American Wirehair
The American Wirehair is a healthy breed. However, because it was bred with American Shorthairs and because it is very similar, it is susceptible to heart disease. This heart condition is called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). This condition causes the heart muscle to contract or relax less well, which can cause various symptoms. For this reason it is wise to have your American Wirehair regularly checked by a veterinarian.
It is also wise to keep an eye on his own behaviour. An American Wirehair is:
- Playful
- Friendly
- Curious
Do you notice that he is no longer this and is really going to behave differently then something is probably wrong. Then call in a vet, he can determine what is going on and draw up a treatment plan. So it is always good to be very alert, even with the slightest change in behaviour.
How old can the American Wirehair get?
The American Wirehair reaches an average age between 12 and 16 years old. This has to do with the fact that he suffers little from hereditary diseases. The life expectancy of the American Wirehair largely depends on his care and the period of socialisation. If you make sure that you buy your American Wirehair from a licensed breeder and take good care of him yourself by means of routines and a good diet then you can enjoy the company of this cat for a very long time, and he will enjoy you as well.
What you need to know before you bring this cat into the house
Compared to other varieties, the American Wirehair is somewhat less active. He likes to play, but also has a quiet side. It is therefore important that he can have moments to rest. If you have a family with many busy and small children this can be difficult for an American Wirehair. The American Wirehair is a family cat, but make sure it needs rest now and then and has enough room to retreat to once in a while.
What price do you have to think of if you want to buy an American Wirehair?
The American Wirehair costs about $800 to $1200 on average. This depends a lot on the breeder and the health of the cat. Go for a licensed breeder and you will often pay between $800 and $1200.
In addition to the purchase costs, it is also wise to take the care costs into account. Compared to other varieties this variety is a bit cheaper. This has to do with his health. Also this cat doesn’t need any special food, this makes it a bit cheaper to take care of. Keep in mind that you will have to pay a few hundred dollars a year for grooming. Check for yourself if you have this left over to take care of an American Wirehair. If this is not the case, make the choice not to take the cat into your home.
Do you also choose the American Wirehair?
The American Wirehair is a quiet but playful family cat that adapts quickly and is therefore ideal for a family. Do you have an American Wirehair in your house? Then we are very curious about your experiences with this breed. Please let us know what you think of this breed in the comments below. We and our readers would love to hear your reaction!
