The American Wirehair originated in upstate New York in 1966. The first
wirehair cat appeared as a random cat mutation among a litter of six born to
two barn cats. This single red and white male had odd wiry fur. The owner of
the cats called a local breeder of Rex cats, Mrs. O'Shea, to take a look at
the kitten. She bought the kitten for $50, along with one of his normal
coated female littermates, to start a breeding program. The wirehaired male
was named Council Rock Farm Adam of Hi-Fi, and the female Tip-Toe of Hi-Fi.
Breeding between the two produced wirehaired kittens, many of which were
sold off to other interested breeders. As the population grew, cats were
exported to Canada and Germany. The breed did well, and in 1978 they were
accepted for Championship competition, although they remain rare.

The unique wirehair coat is genetically dominant over a normal coat, unlike
the genes that create curly fur in Devon and Cornish Rex cats. The fur is
springy, dense and coarse, and even their whiskers are curled. Many find it
pleasant to the touch. All American Wirehairs can trace their ancestry back
to Adam. They are strong, muscular cats, built similarly to American
Shorthairs. They come in a variety of colours and are said to be adaptable
cats resistant to disease. They are described to be intelligent,
affectionate, calm, reserved, loyal, playful, and inquisitive cats.

Breed Standards
   CFA | TICA