‹‹American Wirehair

Our collection of American Wirehair images features champions and best of breed. Whether you are a specialist looking for stock images of breed examples, a designer looking for a striking picture, or you're simply an American Wirehair fan, we're confident we'll have the image you're looking for.

Our images are from top cat photographers from all over the world.

View all American Wirehair images.

American Wirehair overview

The American Wirehair developed from the American Shorthair when a wirehaired kitten was produced in 1966. The Wirehair and the Shorthair originally shared the same Breed Standard, until, in 1967, a separate Standard was written for the Wirehair. Although the Wirehair has achieved breed recognition in the US, and its numbers are increasing throughout North America, the breed remains little known and unrecognized in many countries in the world.

Sweet-tempered, intelligent, affectionate and adaptable, the American Wirehair makes a good pet. The unusual wire texture of the hair is the result of a mutation affecting the guard hairs (top coat hair), causing them to crimp along the shaft. Needs little grooming.

American Wirehair foreign names

Americain a poil long (French)

Origin

United States

Biological data

Size
Medium to large.
Build
Well-balanced, well-proportioned body, with rounded muscles.
Medium-sized ears with slightly rounded tips; eyes large, round, bright and clear.
Hair quality
Dense, resilient, crimped and coarse. The individual hairs are of medium length, and are tight and springy, forming curls rather than waves.
Colours
Any colour with the exception of those showing evidence of hybridization resulting in chocolate, lavender, or bi-colour.
Eye colours 
Varies according to coat colour.
Patterns
Tabby patterns include classic, mackerel, silver, red, brown, blue, cream, cameo, tortoiseshell, calico, dilute cameo, blue-cream, and tabby and white, or 'other wirehaired color' (OWC), any color or patterning with the exception of those showing evidence of hybridization, resulting in Himalayan patterning, with or without patches of white.

American Wirehair links we are happy to endorse

External links are selected and reviewed when the page is published. However, Animal Photography is not responsible for the content of external websites.

American Wirehair – Breed standard

The below links are external
TICA, CFA, ACFA

Please get in touch

If you are an animal photographer, an expert on American Wirehair cats or a breeder, we would love to hear from you. We strive to have all the latest, most helpful and accurate information on our website, but nobody is perfect, so we do ask for your feedback if we can improve our website.

Please get in touch 
Associations and Specialists – We are happy to link to your American Wirehair association or specialist area, all we ask is for you to return the favour.
Photographers – Please visit our 'join us' page to learn about working with us.
Experts – Spotted some detail that isn't right? Please email us your thoughts.
Breeders – We work with many great cat photographers such as Helmi Flick, Alan Robinson and Tetsu Yamazaki and we'd love to build our contact list of leading breeders. Who knows when you might get a call. Please email us with your details.

American Wirehair
picture ideas

Featured image

AP-15LUSC - American Wirehair cat
Photo © Animal Photography, Helmi Flick

American Wirehair kittens

AP-1NDL2C - American Wirehair kittens
Photo © Animal Photography, Alan Robinson