The coat of the American Wirehair is a spontaneous mutation discovered in a litter of upstate New York farm cats in 1966, and all modern American Shorthairs descend from these cats. The coat is unique to the breed, and has a springy, dense, coarse feeling that resembles that of a terrier. Although it is by now one of the older cat breeds, it remains rare in its native country and beyond, partly due to the fact that breeding the correct coat can be difficult—the wirehaired gene is incompletely dominant, and even breeding only wire-to-wire for generations can still produce a straight-haired kitten. The heavy inbreeding that created the breed has also resulted in issues with smallness and infertility, but outcrossing to the much more robust American Shorthair has done a good deal to help. They are happy, personable cats with a moderate level of activity and agility, and usually manage to win over those who meet them!

Type & judging remarks
As this cat is developed from the American Shorthair, it should resemble a slightly lighter-built version of the parent breed. The coat should appear springy and wiry rather than smooth and curly.