No breeder is on record here yet. Portugal’s FIFe member club does not list this breed in its breeder directory at all, so an absence here says nothing about whether anyone breeds it in Portugal.
Medium to large cat with a unique crimped, wiry coat that feels springy to the touch. Similar build to American Shorthair but with distinctive coat texture.
Originated in 1966 from a spontaneous mutation in a litter of barn cats in Verona, New York. The unique wiry coat is caused by a dominant gene. Related to the American Shorthair but distinguished by its distinctive crimped coat.
Typically 3.6-6.8 kg and 28-36 cm at the shoulder — published as one range rather than separately for males and females.
Generally described as affectionate, curious, gentle, intelligent, interactive, lively, loyal, playful, sensible and social.
That is the breed in general, not a promise about one animal. Ask the breeder what their own line is like, and meet the parents before you decide.
Because the American Wirehair originated as a natural genetic mutation from an American Shorthair litter in 1966, the two breeds share almost identical body structures, temperaments, and overall health profiles. The fundamental difference lies almost entirely in their fur texture and grooming requirements.
Breed reference from The Cat API.
Drawn from sources rather than written as an opinion — cited health research, the registry’s own standard, and peer-reviewed longevity. The Cat API; UC Davis VGL — PRA rdAc (CEP290) test. One breeder’s animals can differ from any of it, and an empty column means we hold nothing for that side rather than that there is nothing to say.
Breed-level information from The Cat API. It describes the American Wirehair in general; any individual animal can differ.
Known hereditary risks for the American Wirehair breed, and the specific documentation to request from any breeder before paying a deposit. A responsible breeder will have these readily available; deflection is a red flag.
1 condition documentedThis is breed-level literature, not veterinary advice about an individual animal — your vet knows the animal.
Health checklist (PDF)The same late-onset inherited blindness found in Abyssinian and related breeds has also been documented, via genetic survey, in American Wirehairs, and UC Davis lists the breed as appropriate for this specific test.
What to ask for
UC Davis VGL PRA rdAc (CEP290) DNA test result, on both parents
This is where American Wirehair owners’ own photographs will go, from the pet profiles they keep here. Nobody has added one to a public page yet.
A photograph in a pet profile stays private to its owner. We will not put one here unless they ask us to.
No American Wirehair breeder has a record on this platform yet, so there is nothing to list. That is a gap in our coverage, not a fact about the breed.
