American Wirehair Cat, originated from a genetic mutation of cats on a farm in New York, then mixed with the bloodline of American Shorthair Cats. After long-term breeding, this breed was formed, making it a unique American cat.
It has a gentle and lively temperament, full of curiosity about the outside world and not afraid of strangers. It enjoys socializing and gets along well with people. It is physically strong and agile, requiring sufficient exercise to consume excess energy every day. This breed has fur in multiple colors, and its fur is a typical characteristic that distinguishes it from other breeds of cats.
The American Wirehair Cat is actually a mutant breed of the American Shorthair Cat. In 1966, on a farm in northern New York, a litter of kittens born to domestic shorthair cats produced a mutant variety with curly, black and white fur. It was purchased by a local cat breeder, Joan O'Shea, for $50, and then bred with American Shorthair Cats. After more than 10 years of hard breeding work, the American Wirehair Cat breed was finally developed.
It wasn't until 1978 that the American Wirehair Cat was recognized by the International Cat Association. Both Canada and the World Cat Federation consider it to be a distant crossbreed descendant of the American Shorthair Cat, in order to preserve genetic diversity.
The American Wirehair cat's temperament is very similar to its close relative, the American Shorthair. It does not have high requirements for activity level or environment and is very good at interaction. It is not timid, so it is more suitable for domestication. Even if guests come, it will not hide. In addition, its fur is hard and short, so it does not require much maintenance, making it very suitable for busy working people.
1. Cat Ringworm
Cat ringworm is a common skin disease in cats, which is simply a fungal infection.
Cause: Kittens with poor physique are more prone to ringworm. Another cause is fungal infections caused by warm and humid living environments.
Symptoms: The most common locations where ringworm is likely to appear are the ears and chin. In the early stages, small patches of ringworm, hair loss, dry flakes on the surface, and even skin ulcers and large patches of baldness may occur.
Solution: Isolate first, shave the fur (shaving the fur around the ringworm is convenient for applying medicine and prevents fungal spread), take oral medications (commonly used medications include itraconazole/fluconazole/ griseofulvin), apply ointments (such as ketoconazole cream/ miconazole cream/ tolnaftate cream/ piroctone olamine spray, remember to follow the doctor's advice before using), take medicated baths (ketoconazole solution/miconazole solution, continue for 1-2 weeks until recovery), increase nutrition (cats infected with ringworm often have some immune problems, and need to increase nutrition, cook some chicken breast + carrots), and get more sunlight (sunlight and ventilation can help kill bacteria).
2. Cat Flu
Cat flu is also one of the common diseases, and weak kittens are more prone to the disease.
Cause: A bacterium called the herpesvirus strain invades the cat's respiratory tract. This virus will attach to the cat's trachea and start to invade their respiratory system.
Symptoms: High body temperature, mucus around the nose, frequent sneezing, abundant secretions around the eyes, and serious cases may have conjunctivitis.
Solution: When the condition is not too serious in the early stage, you can take lysine and use antiviral eye drops in combination. It is recommended to vaccinate kittens, which reduces the chance of cat flu. Cat flu virus has a strong survival ability, so do a good job of disinfection and cleaning the entire house. Formaldehyde and phenol can be used for disinfection.
3. Vomiting
Vomiting in cats is also common. Sometimes, cats will vomit their own vomit as a protective mechanism, and they usually feel better after vomiting.
Cause: Inhaling too much hair, indigestion, ingesting foreign objects, rapid change of food, catching a cold, and gastroenteritis can all cause vomiting in cats.
Symptoms: Vomit with hair and mucus; or vomit food, yellow water, and foam, etc.
Solution: If the cat vomits hair, it is recommended to buy some hairball paste or cat grass for the cat to eat.
When the cat is vomiting, it is recommended to let the cat fast for a day, give it warm water to drink, and then feed it some pet probiotics to regulate its gut flora. If the symptoms of vomiting stop, you can feed it a small amount of soft cat food or canned food with more soup, which is easier to digest. If the vomiting does not improve, it is recommended to seek medical attention.
Hygiene: Because cats have more hair, they are prone to carrying various bacteria and fleas. For the health of the cat and the owner, the cat should be bathed regularly and groomed;
Diet: Different cats have different preferences for food. Owners should not randomly choose cat food from the market for convenience. They should carefully select cat food based on the type of cat, growth situation, and physical condition, and prepare dedicated utensils for the cat;
Health: Like humans, cats can also get sick. When a cat is sick, it must be taken to a specialized animal hospital for treatment. Regular physical examinations and vaccinations should also be carried out. Only when the cat is healthy can it have the energy to play with the owner;
Safety: There is a saying that "curiosity kills the cat." Cats are restless and always have great curiosity about various things. Moreover, their nature makes them particularly fond of entering enclosed spaces, so owners must close doors, windows, and box covers to prevent cats from being potential dangers;
Living space: Cats like to lie down and take a nap, so as the owner, you should prepare a small mat for it to sleep on. After long-term use, these mats will accumulate a lot of bacteria, so you must pay attention to cleaning and disinfection at all times;
Cat litter: The problem of pets defecating anywhere has troubled many pet owners, but cats are actually very clean animals. As long as the owner provides cat litter for them, cats will go to the litter box to defecate on their own;
Cats are not good at bearing anger. When the owner forces it to do something, it will become annoying. Therefore, the owner should trim the cat's nails at any time to prevent being scratched and infected during playtime.
The fur of the American Wirehair Cat is shorter, harder, and very elastic, so it doesn't require special grooming. Regular bathing and brushing can actually damage the hard fur. The only time it needs grooming is during the shedding season in spring, when there may be some shedding of the undercoat.
When we stroke the American Wirehair Cat, it doesn't feel as soft as we would expect, but its highly elastic fur is its charm and beauty. The fur of the American Wirehair Cat is of medium length with a curly and tight texture, giving it a hard but pleasant feel. Even the whiskers and the hair inside its ears are curly and elastic.
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