| American Wirehair Stats |
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Color: The breed standard accepts all colors and patterns, except those showing evidence of hybridization, resulting in chocolate, lavender, the colorpoint pattern or those combinations with white.
Grooming: American Wirehairs are wash-and-wear cats. Wash them gently with a mild cat shampoo, rinse thoroughly, lightly towel dry and turn them loose. Do not use dryers or combs on the wirehair coat. During shedding season, use a fine hair pick to keep the dead hair from clumping.
Best Home: An adaptable breed.
Personality: Loving and people-oriented, American Wirehairs like to be in the middle of all you do. Each needs one-on-one time. They love playing with anything from shoestrings to fancy toys and can create a toy from a clump of dust or a wad of paper. If these playful clowns can't get your attention immediately, they will work their magic until you notice. At a young age they often learn to give head butts, hugs and kisses. Wirehairs sense their human companions' moods and are always there to offer comfort.
Appearance: Outcrossing with the American Shorthair has influenced the body structure, producing a medium, well-muscled cat. The coat feels harsh and springy. Individual hairs are crimped, hooked or bent, including the hair within the ears and the whiskers. Of the 100-point scale used to describe the ideal cat in the standard, 45 points are assigned to coat - more than any other breed. Beyond the coat, the most visible difference is its very prominent cheekbones.