How to Select an American Wirehair

The American wirehair's curly, dense, hard coat is the result of a spontaneous gene mutation found in farm cats in upstate New York in 1966.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cat Collars
• Cat Combs/brushes
• Cat Dishes
• Cat Foods
• Cat Litters
• Cat Toys

KRISTEN I TOOK OUT THE HARD COAT QUESTION.. PLEASE ADD BOOK AND FIX LINK THX

1. Find a responsible breeder who will guarantee that your American wirehair is in good health and doesn't have feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

2. Expect to pay $200 to $500 for your American wirehair.

3. Pick up and hold the cat or kitten to check for good muscle tone.

4. Make sure that the cat isn't sneezing or sniffling, that the eyes have no discharge and that the ears are clean and pink inside.

5. Examine the cat's fur, which should be dense, coarse and hard and have no bald patches or signs of dry or flaky skin.

6. Check for fleas behind the ears and at the base of the tail - flea dirt, which looks like black sand, is a sure sign.

7. Get a written sales agreement from the breeder that provides the breeder's health guarantee.

8. Take your American wirehair to your veterinarian as soon as possible to confirm that the cat is healthy.

9. Take home a kitten no younger than 12 weeks of age.

10. Plan to keep your American wirehair inside and to have the cat neutered or spayed. Vets say it's the best way to keep cats happy and disease-free and to prolong their lives.

Tips & Warnings

• If a kitten's coat is in ringlets, the fur might be too long and could wave or straighten when the cat grows up.
• The American wirehair is active, agile and loving toward humans.
• This breed is particularly resistant to disease.