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Written by Cheryl Lock

About American Wirehair

The American Wirehair may not be soft and cuddly — their coats are said to resemble steel wool — but what they lack in snuggle-ability they more than make up for in charming personality. Calm and tolerant, affectionate and loving, this breed makes an excellent family cat that, when socialized properly, will also get along with other pets.

 

Origin: United States   

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General appearance

The wiry coat of the American Wirehair makes it generally easy to spot among other cat breeds. Although their fur can come in almost any color or pattern, the thick, springy texture of the American Wirehair will always be present.

Size & Weight

The average American Wirehair weighs between 6 and 11 pounds. The breed measures 10 to 14 inches in height.

Full Grown
Female 10 in. / 6 lbs.
Male 14 in. / 11 lbs.

Height is measured up to the shoulders.

Female Size Chart
Height Figure
Male Size Chart
6 ft. 4 ft. 2 ft.

Cost of Owning

The average cost of owning an American Wirehair is $850 per year
$250
Vet Care
$200
Grooming & Boarding
$200
Others
$200
Food & Treats

Characteristics

Weight

The average American Wirehair weighs between 6 and 11 pounds.

Light
Heavy

Living space

The American Wirehair is a relatively laid-back, medium-sized cat that doesn’t require too much extra space. As long as they have a sunny windowsill for bird watching, they’ll be happy.

City apartment
Ranch

Exercise

The American Wirehair is an avid hunter that is sure to spot and track any insect that enters your home. Other than that, they like playing interactive games with their people that include hunting elements, like batting at feathers, but they don’t require an extensive amount of exercise in general.

Couch potato
Bring it on!

Personality

American Wirehair cats are loving, patient and adaptable. While some are known to be lap cats, others love nothing more than sitting in a sunny windowsill, watching the birds fly by.

Antisocial
Outgoing

Behavior with kids

The patience and adaptability of this breed makes them perfect for a house with kids, as long as the kids are taught how to properly handle and play with a cat.

Always monitor
Babysitter

Shedding

The American Wirehair sheds seasonally in the spring.

Minimal
Abundant

Climate

Although the American Wirehair’s coat grows longer and thicker in the winter, they still prefer a more moderate climate.

Warm
Cold

Temperament & Behavior

This is a calm and reserved cat, perfectly willing to go with the flow. Some may enjoy sitting on the laps of their owners, while others prefer to relax by themselves in a window and watch the world (and birds, in particular) go by. The American Wirehair is an active hunter, and they enjoy a good hunting game, as well as tracking down any insects that dare to enter their space.

Barking: Understanding your cat

Training

Habits and Exercise

The American Wirehair is beloved for its relaxed and laid back demeanor. They are a relatively quiet breed, and prefer to let their preferences be known with a look, rather than by chirping or meowing. Most can be happy on their own for long periods of time, although they are likely to also enjoy bouts of active play with their people.

 

This breed is moderately active, happy lounge around but ready to spring into action if a feather is dangled in its face or a bug happens to walk by. “American Wirehair cats are perfectly content to play with themselves and do not need constant companions,” said Sara Ochoa, a veterinarian with [Whitehouse Veterinary Hospital](https://www.whitehousevethospital.com/). “This makes these great for single cat houses or people who live very busy lives.”

Energy Level

Enjoys some moderate exercise every now and then

Energy Level

Nutrition

As with all cats, obesity can pose a problem for cats leading to arthritis, diabetes, etc. It is important to ensure your cat is getting a high quality age-appropriate diet and feed for the most ideal weight. Ensuring your cat is on the appropriate amount of food per day and on a well balanced age appropriate diet will help in the long run with overall health.

Daily Consumption

An adult American Wirehair eats 1/4 to 1/2 cup of dry food per day.

Daily Consumption

Preventive care

Many cats suffer from obesity, which can lead to many other secondary health problems such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, etc. So how can you help keep your cat healthy and trim? Well, understanding your cat’s dietary habits is the key. The average cat tends to eat many times per day (approximately 10-12 times) and just a few nibbles of food each time. In these cases, free feeding works well as the cat does not tend to overeat. Boredom may increase the amount of times your cat visits the food bowl. Keeping your cat active and playing more will help your cat stay healthy and trim! For really tough cases of overeating, you will have to put your foot down and take a firm stance on regulating your cat’s food intake. Many cats are prone to renal disease later in life so it is imperative that you begin annual blood testing once your cat reaches the age of 7. Dental disease is another common problem amongst many cats. By bringing your cat in for a professional dental cleaning once yearly, you will help prevent the accumulation of tartar.

Inherited health issues

The American Wirehair is typically healthy, but may develop heart disease. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most commonly diagnosed heart condition in cats. This disease causes thickening of the heart muscle. An echocardiogram is used to help diagnose HCM. Avoid breeders who claim that they have HCM free cats as it is impossible to guarantee that a cat will never develop HCM.

Life Span

The average American Wirehair lives between 13 and 20 years.

Life Span

Did you know?

  • The American Wirehair was developed in the U.S. as the product of a spontaneous mutation. There are currently no other known wirehairs in other countries.
  • Their wiry coat actually requires very little care, except for in the spring, when they shed.
  • Although rumor has it that the American Wirehair’s coat is hypoallergenic, this isn’t actually true. Since cat allergies are actually caused by dander — which is shed by all cats — the nature of the American Wirehair’s coat doesn’t make this a better breed for people with cat allergies.

Coat and Grooming

The American Wirehair is well known for its coat, which is crimped, thick and coarse, and requires very little maintenance. Minimal brushing or combing will keep it in top shape, except for the spring, when old growth sheds and some extra care might be involved. “Sometimes the lighter hair cats may need sunblock if they spend any time outside as they are prone to getting sunburned,” Ochoa adds.

Coat length

Short

Coat length

Grooming

Occasional

Grooming

Shedding

The American Wirehair sheds minimally, except for seasonally in the spring when old growth sheds.

History

The American Wirehair is a breed specific to America, and came about from a spontaneous mutation that occurred in a litter in upstate New York in 1966. To date, this breed has not been established in any other countries.

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