American Wirehair Breed Standard

GENERAL: the American Wirehair is a spontaneous mutation. The coat, which is not only springy, dense, and resilient, but also coarse and hard to the touch, distinguishes the American Wirehair from all other breeds. Characteristic is activity, agility, and keen interest in its surroundings.

HEAD: in proportion to the body. Underlying bone structure is round with prominent cheekbones and well-developed muzzle and chin. There is a slight whisker break.

NOSE: in profile the nose shows a gentle concave curve.

MUZZLE: well-developed. Allowance for jowls in adult males.

CHIN: firm and well-developed with no malocclusion.

EARS: medium, slightly rounded at tips, set wide and not unduly open at the base.

EYES: large, rounded, bright, and clear. Set well apart. Aperture has slight upward tilt. The color should reflect intensity, and complement the color of the cat.

BODY: medium to large. Back level, shoulders and hips same width, torso well-rounded and in proportion. Males larger than females.

LEGS: medium in length and bone, well-muscled and proportionate to body.

PAWS: firm, full and rounded, with heavy pads. Toes, five in front and four behind.

TAIL: in proportion to body, tapering from the well-rounded rump to a rounded tip, neither blunt nor pointed.

COAT: springy, tight, medium in length. Individual hairs are crimped, hooked, or bent, including hair within the ears. The overall appearance of wiring and the coarseness and resilience of the coat is more important than the crimping of each hair. The density of the wired coat leads to ringlet formation rather than waves. That coat, which is very dense, resilient, crimped, and coarse, is most desirable, as are curly whiskers.

PENALIZE: deep nose break.

DISQUALIFY: incorrect coat. Kinked or abnormal tail. Long or fluffy fur. Incorrect number of toes. Evidence of hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern, or these combinations with white.

AMERICAN WIREHAIR COLORS

WHITE: pure glistening white. Nose leather and Paw pads: pink.

BLACK: dense coal black, sound from roots to tip of fur. Free from any tinge of rust on tips or smoke undercoat. Nose leather: black. Paw Pads: black or brown.

BLUE: blue, lighter shade preferred, one level tone from nose to tip of tail. Sound to the roots. A sound darker shade is more acceptable than an unsound lighter shade. Nose leather and Paw pads: blue.

RED: deep, rich, clear, brilliant red, without shading, markings or ticking. Lips and chin the same color as coat. Nose leather and Paw pads: brick red.

CREAM: one level shade of buff cream, without markings. Sound to the roots. Lighter shades preferred. Nose leather and Paw pads: pink.

CHINCHILLA SILVER: undercoat pure white. Coat on back, flanks, head, and tail sufficiently tipped with black to give the characteristic sparkling silver appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded with tipping. Chin and ear tufts, stomach and chest, pure white. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.

SHADED SILVER: undercoat white with a mantle of black tipping shading down from sides, face and tail from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, chest, stomach, and under the tail. Legs to be the same tone as the face. The general effect to be much darker than a chinchilla. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.

SHELL CAMEO (Red Chinchilla): undercoat white, the coat on the back, flanks, head, and tail to be sufficiently tipped with red to give the characteristic sparkling appearance. Face and legs may be very slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest white. Nose leather, Rims of eyes, and Paw pads: rose.

SHADED CAMEO (Red Shaded): undercoat white with a mantle of red tipping shading down the sides, face, and tail from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, chest, stomach, and under the tail. Legs to be the same tone as face. The general effect to be much redder than the shell cameo. Nose leather, Rims of eyes, and Paw pads: rose.

BLACK SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with black. Cat in repose appears black. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask black with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when the fur is parted. Nose leather and Paw pads: black.

BLUE SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with blue. Cat in repose appears blue. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask blue, with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. Nose leather and Paw pads: blue.

CAMEO SMOKE (Red Smoke): white undercoat, deeply tipped with red. Cat in repose appears red. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask red with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. Nose leather, Rims of eyes, and Paw pads: rose.

CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and broad. Legs evenly barred with bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail evenly ringed. Several unbroken necklaces on neck and upper chest, the more the better. Frown marks on forehead form an intricate letter “M.” Unbroken line runs back from outer corner of eye. Swirls on cheeks. Vertical lines over back of head extend to shoulder markings which are in the shape of a butterfly with both upper and lower wings distinctly outlined and marked with dots inside outline. Back markings consist of a vertical line down the spine from butterfly to tail with a vertical stripe paralleling it on each side, the three stripes well separated by stripes of the ground color. Large solid blotch on each side to be encircled by one or more unbroken rings. Side markings should be the same on both sides. Double vertical rows of buttons on chest and stomach.

MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and all narrow pencillings. Legs evenly barred with narrow bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail barred. Necklaces on neck and chest distinct, like so many chains. Head barred with an “M” on the forehead. Unbroken lines running back from the eyes. Lines running down the head to meet the shoulders. Spine lines run together to form a narrow saddle. Narrow pencillings run around body.

SPOTTED TABBY PATTERN: markings on the body to be spotted. May vary in size and shape with preference given to round, evenly distributed spots. Body spots may subtly suggest a mackerel or classic pattern, may not be connected and preference given to spots in a random pattern. A dorsal stripe runs the length of the body to the tip of the tail. The stripe is ideally composed of spots. The markings on the face and forehead shall be typically tabby markings. Underside of the body to have “vest buttons.” Legs and tail are barred. On the upper chest there are one or more broken necklaces.

TICKED TABBY PATTERN: the overall appearance is a cat without obvious markings on the body and with the distinct tabby striping on the head, neck, legs, and tail. The hair shafts on the body should be ticked with various shades of the marking color. The marking colors (stripes), ground colors and eye colors are the same as for the classic, mackerel and spotted tabby patterns. When viewed from above, the body is free from obvious spots, strips or blotches, except for darker dorsal shading. The lighter underside may show tabby markings. The cat must have at least one distinct necklace. The hocks are the same color as the tabby marking color.

SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color, including lips and chin, pale, clear silver. Markings dense black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.

RED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color red. Markings deep, rich red. Lips and chin red. Nose leather and Paw pads: brick red.

BROWN TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color brilliant coppery brown. Markings dense black. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes. Back of leg black from paw to heel. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black or brown.

BLUE TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory. Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: rose.

CREAM TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color, including lips and chin, very pale cream. Markings of buff or cream sufficiently darker than the ground color to afford good contrast, but remaining within the dilute color range. Nose leather and Paw pads: pink.

CAMEO TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color off-white. Markings red. Nose leather and Paw pads: rose.

TORTOISESHELL: black with unbrindled patches of red and cream. Patches clearly defined and well-broken on both body and extremities. Blaze of red or cream on face is desirable.

CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of black and red. White predominant on underparts.

DILUTE CALICO: white with unbrindled patches of blue and cream. White predominant on underparts.

BLUE-CREAM: blue with patches of solid cream. Patches clearly defined and well-broken on both body and extremities.

BI-COLOR: white with unbrindled patches of black, white with unbrindled patches of blue. White with unbrindled patches of red, or white with unbrindled patches of cream.

OWC (Other Wirehair Colors): any other color or pattern with the exception of those showing evidence of hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern, or these combinations with white.