Cat Breeds #1 (A)

 The American Whirehair

About the American Whirehair:

The American Whirehair is a cat that is usually of the colours White, Blue, Cream, Red, Platinum, Fawn, Chestnut, Chinchilla, Seal, Silver, Golden, Brown, Cameo, Bluecream and Tortoiseshell.The Wirehair is a powerful cat. She has a broad chest, a muscular neck, strong jaws and a well-developed muzzle. Her legs are thick and strong. All components of this cat should be well developed. She looks like her ancestors, which were cats meant to keep rodents out of the barn and the house.The coat of the Wirehair is similar to that of the American Shorthair, except for the crimped texture. It is thick and dense. It becomes much longer and thicker during the winter. The texture of the coat is relatively hard, as it is meant as protection for her and the crimping makes it feel even harder.

Personality of the American Whirehair:

The American Wirehair is a very pleasant cat to have as a companion. She is easy going and placid. The Wirehair is a loving cat and will attach herself to every member of her family.While the Wirehair loves to play, she actually doesn't need hourly attention. If she is in the mood to play, she'll bring a toy to her parent. The Wirehair also plays well by herself.

History of the American Whirehair:

In 1966, a kitten was found in a litter that had wiry looking fur, similar to that of a Wirehaired Terrier. The cats that produced this kitten may have been American Shorthairs, or they may have been farm cats that strongly resembled Americans.
This kitten was sold to a breeder who decided to try to replicate this spontaneous coat mutation. The kittens resulting from these matings were taken by other breeders and a carefully planned breeding program was started, dedicated to producing the American Wirehair breed.
The American Wirehair is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. This breed has a show standard, which is almost identical to that of the American Shorthair. However, every individual hair in the coat is crimped and curly. This texture creates a unique, wiry feeling to the coat.