The American Wirehair breed is uniquely American. It began as a spontaneous mutation in a litter of upstate New York farm cats in 1966. This means an ordinary cat gave birth to a kitten unlike its parents or littermates.  In this case, the kitten had a rough, wiry fur unlike its parents’ coats.

The coat is the characteristic that separates the American Wirehair from all other breeds. Just as there is a wide variety of texture in Persians or Exotics, there is also considerable variation among the Wirehairs. As this is a dominant mutation, approximately half of the kittens will be wirehaired at birth.

The Wirehair’s coat is medium in length, springy, dense, and durable.  It is also coarse and hard to the touch. The most noticeable wiring is that of the whiskers, but sometimes the entire coat will be wired at birth. Their coat comes in a wide array of colors in the solid, shaded, smoke, tabby, bi-color and parti-color patterns.

American Wirehairs are easy to care for, resistant to disease and good parents. Pet owners love their quiet, reserved and loving ways.  Wirehairs are also active, agile, and have a keen interest in their surroundings.