American Wirehair Cat and Kitten Information

The American Wirehair is a strong, well muscled, medium to large cat with full paws. The head has prominent cheekbones and a developed chin and muzzle. The eyes are round and large. The tail is medium with a round tip. The coat is a distinguishing feature. It is hooked, bent or crooked, giving it a dense, short and springy feel.

Health

Cats who reside in the house should generally visit the veterinarian yearly, unless health problems are evident. Cats who enjoy the outdoors may need to see the vet as many as four times a year. When you take your cat to the vet, be sure to bring along a fresh stool sample so the vet can do a fecal exam to check for worms such as tapeworm, round worm, whip worms and hook worms. The vet can also check for fleas, ear mites and other external parasites.

The veterinary examination should include a dental check. Decisions about vaccinations can be made at this time. Cats who are eight years plus are considered geriatric and additional blood and urine tests may be necessary to screen for any health problems. At about six months of age, the kitten should also be examined for sexual maturity and decisions about birth control should be made.

American Wirehair Cat History

The ancestor of all domestic cats is the African Wildcat, the genus Felis Lybica. This genus is comprised of smaller cats. Cats are thought to have been domesticated with the advent of farming and the storage of grain. The grain attracted rats and other vermin which naturally attracted wild cats. As time evolved, certain of these cats were domesticated for the mutual benefit of both cat and man. The African Wildcat has certain features which is obvious in the housecat of today. The American Wirehair arose as a mutation in the domestic barn cat population in Verona, New York around 1966. The CFA Cat Fanciers Association accepted them as a champion status breed in 1978.

Grooming

The American Wirehair just needs to be washed with cat shampoo and towel dried. During the shedding season, they need to be carefully hair picked to rid them of dead hair.

Special Considerations

Extremely rare breed
Some do not want to be held
Disease resistant

Some terms used to describe the American Wirehair Cat include sweet, loving, intelligent, calm, wild, affectionate and playful.

American Wirehair Cat Registries

American Wirehair International
Cat Fanciers Association CFA
International Cat Association TICA
The Traditional Cat Association, Inc TCA
Canadian Cat Association CCA
The Australian Cat Federation Inc
The American Association of Cat Enthusiasts AACE
American Cat Fanciers Association ACFA
Cat Fanciers Association CFF
United Feline Organization UFO
Cats United International

American Wirehair Cat Kittens

Kittens are generally available and the price depends upon bloodlines color and markings. Unlike puppies, kittens should not be separated from their mother until twelve to sixteen weeks of age. Some very important developmental stages occur during this period including emotional, mental and health. Curtailing this development can lead to medical and behavioral problems. Kittens separated from their mother at too young an age often fail to gain weight fast enough, women's jackets have immune system problems because they have not had enough mothers milk, have eating and eliminating problems, and can have problems socializing with other cats and with people.

Every cat and kitten is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your cat or kitten. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.