Siamese/Tabby vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison

The American Wirehair started as a spontaneous mutation so that somewhere along the line, an unusual litter with this unique wiry type of fur was born.

The cat hails from New York and it was in 1966 that a couple of barn cats had a litter of kittens, some of which were born with this peculiar wiry hair. Only one kitten survived – a male – and later it was discovered that the gene responsible for the wirehair coat was dominant so that only one parent required the gene to produce Wirehair offspring.

Today, all American Wirehairs are descendants of this one surviving male kitten. Today the breed is still fairly rare. It is, however, recognized by the four largest North American cat associations.

Lynx point Siamese cats are believed to also be known as Tabby point Siamese in the UK. Breeding of these cats began in about the 1940s and the first kitten born was crossed with a purebred Seal Point cat. That was the start of the seal tabby point Siamese cat.

After the first kitten was born, many people were intrigued with it and it got plenty of attention, and breeders knew that to please cat lovers everywhere they would have to start producing these wonderful tabby Siamese points.

The American Wirehair is a medium-sized cat, strong and powerful, and can weight 5, 6 or 7 kg.

The head is in proportion to the body and the cat has a strong muzzle and chin. The ears are medium-sized and are rounded at the tips while the eyes are large, round, and set well apart.

It’s the coat that draws attention as unlike a regular cat’s silky fur, the fur of this cat is springy, coarse and wiry to the touch. The coat can be any color or pattern. It is the cat’s very coat that distinguishes it from all other breeds.

With this coat, the less grooming the better. Brushing or combing can damage it, so unless he is shedding heavily, leave it alone.

The only other care he needs really is nail trimming, to check inside his mouth for bad teeth and to also check inside his ears for redness. Both the teeth and the ears can be a source of pain for your pet.

Temperament:

The American Wirehair may have a harsh coat but there is nothing harsh about his personality at all. He is amicable and loving, getting on well with all members of his human family.

He is an independent cat and while he loves spending time with his family, he is quite capable of spending time on his own as well.

The American Wirehair is a playful cat so you want to give him some toys to entertain himself for when you’re not around.

The Tabby pointed Siamese cat is medium-sized and can weigh between 3 and 5kg. He has some stripes, mostly around the legs, and the tail is also striped. These cats are available in many different colors – blue, lilac, apricot, seal, and chocolate. The ears are triangular-shaped and there is an ‘M’ shaped mark on the forehead of the cat. All these markings make the cat most distinctive.

Temperament:

The Siamese and Siamese Tabby cats share many similarities in character. They are social cats, loving the interaction with their human families. They’re loyal, intelligent cats and they love to play.

They can live to be about 15 to 20 years of age and throughout this time they will provide you with love, companionship, entertainment, and joy.

In fact, they thrive so much on your company, that they can easily become lonely and run-down when left alone for too long.

The American Wirehair makes a splendid pet, and while he isn’t the best breed for children, he can make a good pet with those children who have been taught kindness, gentleness and respect for animals.

He is calm, quiet, dependent, and sociable and by providing him with a good home, he’ll prove to be a wonderful pet and companion.

These cats are people-loving cats – they just crave the companionship of their human family although they’re not particularly fond of strangers.

They make wonderful pets as they actually want to be involved in everything that theur human owners are busy with. They truly are companionable.

They’re intelligent and playful and he will even love to go on a walk with you but then it is best to have him on a leash. Bring one of these awesome cats into your home and you’re guaranteed to have a friend for life.

The American Wirehair is a healthy type of cat but any cat can develop health issues.

Be aware of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a common form of heart disease in cats where there is the thickening of the heart muscle.

Be careful of overfeeding your cat as obesity is a major contributory disease to many illnesses that a cat gets. Excess weight can contribute to diabetes and arthritis and put pressure on your cat’s joints. Certainly, carrying extra weight can shorten your cat’s life. Make sure your cat gets smaller, healthier meals and that he is active and exercised.

When you look at your cat, you want to see that his eyes are bright and clear, his fur is shiny, he is of a good weight and that he is energetic and content. Not looking like this could indicate health problems for your feline friend. He will need to get to the vet for his vaccines and the vet will check him over to so as to make sure he is in tip-top health.

Make sure to check him over for parasites and these can cause diarrhea as can other issues such as bacteria, viruses, and the wrong food.

Frequent vomiting is also not normal as well as straining to urinate. These are all instances when you want to get your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

General:

Brush the cat gently once a week. Your cat will love the connection you and he has. While you brush him, make a point of checking inside his ears and inside his mouth as well. It is also time to trim his nails. If you are hesitant to do this, ask you vet for suggestions or you can make use of a pet groomer too.

Make sure your pet cat is free from parasites such as fleas, ticks and heartworm. Your vet can recommend a treatment and it is also a good idea to talk to your vet about vaccines for your cat.

No unwanted kittens:

Have your American Wirehair spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted kittens and to promote better health for your cat.

Diet:

Always choose healthy food for your pet, bearing in mind that cats are carnivores, which means that you need to choose cat-food for your pet that has fish and meat in it. It can be difficult making good homemade food for your cat but there are excellent commercially prepared cat foods to ensure your cat gets the correct balance of nutrients and calories. Bear in mind that your cat's nutritional requirements change through their different stages of life.

Before you commit to bringing a Siamese/Tabby into your home you must have everything ready for him.

He will need food and water bowls, commercial cat food, grooming brush, a soft warm bed, collar and tag, litter box, a carrying container to get him to the vet safely, climbing tree, and scratching post.

The fine, silky coat doesn’t shed much and can easily be maintained with a weekly brush.

You will need to trim your cat’s paws. Trimming the claws can be difficult with a squirming cat and you can easily hurt him because of that. Rather get him to the vet who will do it for you.

Make sure to feed your Siamese/Tabby the very best cat food there is as poor quality food can contribute to poor health.

A cat is a carnivore and you therefore have to ensure that his food is made up essentially of meat. The commercial cat foods of today are formulated as dry, semi-moist, and canned and they offer a wonderfully convenient way for you to feed your cat. When you choose the best ones, they are palatable and digestible for your cat.

You just have to remember that your cat’s nutritional requirements change with his different stages of life. A kitten can’t possibly eat the same food as an adult cat. The nutritional claim on the cat food label will be a guide for you as to what your cat should be eating. Always ensure a constant supply of fresh, cool water.