American Wirehair
The coat is crimped and springy, whiskers included, from a single mutation on a New York farm in 1966. It is one of the rarest breeds registered anywhere.
Photo by Petful.com, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The American Wirehair began with a single kitten in a barn litter in upstate New York in 1966, born with a coat that was crimped and springy rather than smooth. The mutation is dominant and appears to have arisen there and nowhere else.
Every hair is bent or hooked, including the whiskers, and the coat feels like steel wool rather than fur. It is one of the rarest breeds in the world and remains almost entirely American.
Temperament
Essentially an American Shorthair in a strange coat, and that is the point: it is the same calm, sturdy, undemanding cat.
They are affectionate, quietly playful and adaptable, with a working cat's interest in anything that moves. They are not vocal and they are not needy.
Care and grooming
Less brushing rather than more. The coat is fragile and over grooming damages the crimp, so a light going over occasionally is enough and a wire brush is exactly wrong.
Some wirehairs have greasier skin than average and benefit from an occasional bath, and the ears can collect more wax than usual. Otherwise there is nothing breed specific to manage.
Living and exercise
An ordinary indoor household suits them, and they are sturdy enough for family life.
The practical difficulty is availability. Numbers are very low, waiting lists are long, and anyone set on the breed should expect to travel for a kitten rather than find one locally.
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