Touch its coat and you immediately understand that something is different: each hair is curved, hooked, "spring-like." The American Wirehair is the only breed in the world with this genetic characteristic, and one of the rarest overall.

## Origins

In 1966, on a farm in New York state, a kitten with a strange coat was born: each hair was curved like a piece of metal. The owner, Joan O'Shea, saw the peculiarity and began the selection process, crossing it with American Shorthair. Official breed since 1978.

Genetics: a dominant mutation that modifies the structure of each individual hair, giving it that characteristic "spring-like" shape.

## Appearance

- **Weight**: 4-7 kg.
- **Coat**: very short, dense. Each single hair is curly or hooked. To the touch, it feels like "lamb's wool."
- **Colors**: all allowed (solid, tabby, bicolor, calico).
- **Eyes**: various colors, lively.
- **Life expectancy**: 14-18 years.

## Character

- **Balanced**: stable, never exaggerated.
- **Affectionate**: attached to family, but not clingy.
- **Independent**: has its routines, loves its privacy.
- **Calm**: less active than other American breeds.
- **Tolerant**: with children and other animals.
- **Discreet**: moderate vocalizations.

## Needs

- **Companionship**: loves family but handles being alone well.
- **Play**: moderate.
- **Space**: adapts very well to apartment living.
- **Grooming**: minimal. In fact, the coat should not be brushed too much (it "flattens" it). A light brushing every 2 weeks is sufficient.

## Health

A very healthy and long-lived breed, with good genetic variability. Very few known predispositions.

## Who is the American Wirehair for?

- Lovers of feline rarities.
- Quiet families, including those with elderly members.
- People who appreciate a balanced and not overly "vocal" cat.
- Apartment living.

## Price

Extremely rare outside the USA: 1,500-3,000 euros. Practically absent in Italy, often imported.

## Curiosities

The hair mutation has never appeared spontaneously in any cat in the world: all current American Wirehairs descend directly from that kitten born in 1966.

## Conclusions

The American Wirehair is a genetic rarity, a feline uniqueness worth getting to know. Discreet beauty, balanced character, robust health: an interesting choice for those seeking something truly different from the ordinary.