How to Identify an American Wirehair

American Wirehairs are unique cats whose characteristic crimped coats began as a spontaneous mutation in a litter of New York farm cats. These affectionate and good-natured cats make excellent and attractive pets. To determine if your cat is an American Wirehair, examine its physical appearance and observe its temperament.[1]

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Examining Physical Appearance

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    Feel for a dense, kinky coat. American Wirehairs are known for their unusual wirehaired coats, which means the hair will have a textured, crimped appearance. The coat’s ripples often make it stand straight up on the back of the spine. To the touch, the coat will feel thick and dense.[2]
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    Look for rounded ears with crimped inner hairs. American wirehairs have medium sized ears with rounded tips. Inside, the hairs of their ears will exhibit the same characteristic crimp of their coat. Examine your cat’s ears gently when you stroke it to get a better look.
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    Look for kinked or curled whiskers. American Wirehairs often look as though they’ve put their paw in an electrical socket, because their whiskers have exaggerated kinks and curls, almost like in the cartoons. To get a better look at your cat’s whiskers, scratch under its chin so you can examine them better.[3]
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    Check your cat for bright, round eyes. American Wirehairs have round, bright eyes that turn slightly upward. Their eyes can come in a variety of colors but always exhibit a slightly enlarged, rounded shape.[4]
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    Weigh your cat. American Wirehairs are muscular cats of medium build. American Wirehairs weigh 6-11 lb or 2.5-5 kg. If you want to weigh your cat at home, a good method is to weigh just yourself, then weigh yourself holding your cat. The difference will be the cat’s weight.[5]
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    Look for rounded paws with heavy pads. American Wirehairs have medium-size rounded paws. Because they are good hunters, the cats often have heavy pads that are good for grasping prey.[6]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using Temperament and Other Factors

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    Note your cat’s desire to hunt. American Wirehairs are skilled hunters who enjoy chasing small birds or mice. They may even bring you a “gift” or two. If your cat is not an outdoor cat, this hunting behavior may manifest itself indoors in stalking toys. Pay attention to your cat’s desire to hunt, and try to coax out its inner hunter with feathered toys to gauge its interest.[7]
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    Encourage your cat to vocalize. American Wirehairs are usually on the quieter side, preferring play and hunting to lots of meowing. Try engaging your cat in conversation with a few of your best meows to better establish its desire to vocalize. If it is very quiet and meets the other criteria, it could be an American Wirehair.[8]
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    See if your cat follows you around the house. American Wirehairs are affectionate cats that enjoy the company of people. Many American Wirehairs like to follow their owners from room to room, preferring their company to being alone.[9]
    • Just because a cat enjoys your company doesn’t mean it’s a lap cat. Even if your cat doesn’t enjoy being held, it may still be an American Wirehair.
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    Look for an adaptable cat. American Wirehairs are easygoing cats that are not disturbed by minor changes in routine. They are also receptive to learning if you want to reroute undesirable behaviors, for example, offering up a scratching post rather than your favorite chair. Move your cat’s food bowl to a new place to see if it goes with the flow.[10]
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    Get a cat DNA test. If you really want to find out for certain if your cat is an American Wirehair, the only way to do so is with a DNA test. Have your veterinarian swab your cat’s saliva to determine what breed or mix it is for sure. It usually takes at least one week to receive results.[11]
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    Consult any breeding papers. If you cat is an American Wirehair, it will likely come with a pedigree. This can provide additional information about your cat’s breed and lineage.
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    Are American Wirehair cats affectionate?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    The American Wirehair is definitely a friendly and affectionate breed. They thrive on attention from their owner and spending one-to-one time together.
  • Question
    Are American Wirehair cats hypoallergenic?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Sadly no, the American Wirehair is not hypoallergenic for people. Even though the coat is wiry, it is still hair. Also, it is the dander (flakes of dead skin) and cat saliva that are most allergenic, both of which are part of what makes up an American Wirehair cat.
  • Question
    What is the average lifespan of a Siamese cat?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    The Siamese cat has a longer than average life expectancy. This ranges from around 16 years up to 20 years. However, Siamese cats are more prone to feline leukemia infection, so consider vaccination in order to protect the cat in younger life.
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References

  1. ↑ http://cfa.org/Breeds/BreedsAB/AmericanWirehair.aspx
  2. ↑ http://cfa.org/Breeds/BreedsAB/AmericanWirehair.aspx
  3. ↑ http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/american-wirehair-cats#/slide/2
  4. ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/cats/american-wirehair#overview
  5. ↑ http://www.tica.org/cat-breeds/item/181-american-wirehair-introduction
  6. ↑ http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/american-wirehair-cats
  7. ↑ http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/american-wirehair-cats
  8. ↑ http://www.dogalize.com/2017/02/cat-breeds-american-wirehair-cat-origins-personality/
  9. ↑ https://catingtonpost.com/american-wirehair/
  1. ↑ http://www.tica.org/cat-breeds/item/181-american-wirehair-introduction
  2. ↑ https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/cat/ancestry/faq.php

About This Article

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Co-authored by:
Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. This article has been viewed 20,780 times.
5 votes - 80%
Co-authors: 6
Updated: June 21, 2019
Views: 20,780
Categories: Cat Breeds
Article SummaryX

To identify an American Wirehair cat, look for a crimped and rippled coat that feels dense and thick when you touch it. Check the cat’s ears, as American Wirehairs have rounded, medium-sized ears with crimped hairs inside. Give the cat a scratch under its chin to encourage it to look upward so you can check its whiskers and eyes. If the cat is an American wirehair, its whiskers will look kinked and curled, while its eyes will be round, bright and turned slightly upward. Look at the cat’s physique, as an American Wirehair will have a muscular, medium build, with medium-sized paws that have heavy pads. For more tips from our Veterinarian co-author, including how to assess the cat’s breed by its behavior, scroll down!

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