Your guide to finding and caring for an American Wirehair in NOLA
An American Wirehair suits a Mid-City shotgun double better than you might expect. This medium, muscular cat is easygoing and playful, content with a sunny front window and a couple of wand-toy sessions a day. Keep it indoors, since coyotes have been reported in neighborhoods from Gentilly to Broadmoor, and give it a window perch to watch the street from. Wirehairs are rare cats, so what's listed for NOLA on this page changes often.
Adopt an American Wirehair today
While we don't have enough cats near New Orleans, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
Every American Wirehair descends from a red-and-white kitten born in a farmhouse litter in Verona, New York, in 1966. His crimped, springy coat came from a spontaneous dominant gene, and his descendants were crossed with American Shorthairs to establish the breed. It's still one of the rarest pedigreed cats.
Beyond the coat, the Wirehair is a medium to large, muscular cat with a round head, a coarse, resilient coat and sometimes curly whiskers. Many are affectionate, playful and easygoing, and most get along with respectful children and other pets, though each cat's personality differs. Shedding is low to moderate, but the coat can turn oily in muggy weather, so gentle wiping and light brushing serve better than heavy grooming.
Having an American Wirehair in NOLA
The Wirehair's springy coat gets the attention, but its relaxed, people-friendly nature and generally sturdy health matter just as much. Here's how temperament, play, health and home preferences play out for a cat living in New Orleans.
Many Wirehairs are mellow and affectionate, enjoying company without demanding constant attention. They're often curious about household activity and happy to sit nearby, which suits NOLA homes with lively schedules, music and visitors. Most get along with respectful children and other pets. Personality still varies, so spend time with the cat you're considering.
Wirehairs usually have moderate energy, mixing bursts of chasing and pouncing with long naps. Two short daily play sessions with wand toys, balls or food puzzles keep them fit, which matters in a hot city where indoor play replaces outdoor time. Climbing spaces help, since their muscular build gains weight easily.
The breed is generally healthy. Heart disease, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is worth discussing with a veterinarian, as it is for many breeds. The wiry coat can come with oily or sensitive skin, which humid New Orleans summers may aggravate. Year-round flea prevention, dental care and weight control support a long life.
A Wirehair adapts to a shotgun double, a converted warehouse condo or a raised bungalow as long as it has scratching posts, perches, hiding spots and daily play. Indoor living is safest, given New Orleans coyotes and traffic. A window perch or catio offers outdoor stimulation without the risks of roaming.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $460 to $1,160 per year | $460 to $1,160 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,210 to $2,710 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The yearly city license tag, litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and other supplies, and occasional gentle home grooming.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near New Orleans.
New Orleans' shelters and volunteer rescues care for all kinds of cats, and these listings change as new cats arrive. Here are the rescues & shelters in the NOLA area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an American Wirehair is coming in.
New Orleans
160 Brookhollow Esplanade, New Orleans
839 Spain St, New Orleans
New Orleans
New Orleans
1700 Mardi Gras Blvd., New Orleans
New Orleans
New Orleans
2520 Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans
Yes, New Orleans has no breed-specific rules for cats, so you can adopt an American Wirehair here. You'll need a rabies vaccine by three months of age and an annual city license tag through a veterinarian. Wirehairs are rare, so keep an eye on the listings on this page, and save a search to hear about new cats.
Often, yes, if you can keep it indoors and cool. Wirehairs are easygoing and adapt to shotgun doubles, condos and busy households, and coyotes, traffic and summer heat all favor indoor life. They need daily play, since their muscular build gains weight easily. A hurricane plan with a carrier and microchip is essential.
It works well for an indoor Wirehair with air conditioning. Summer highs near 90, warm nights and heavy humidity are the challenge, so provide shade, water and cool resting spots, and watch for oily skin. Winters are mild, though rare freezes catch drafty houses off guard. Hurricane season, June through November, means keeping a carrier ready.
Yes, a Wirehair adapts well to apartments, doubles and condos. Its calm nature suits close quarters, as long as it has scratching posts, perches and a couple of short play sessions daily. Lively streets, parades and fireworks can be noisy, so give your cat a quiet room, and confirm your lease's pet terms.
Yes, but only in a carrier. New Orleans has RTA buses and streetcars rather than a subway, and pets may ride if they travel in a carrier that fits on your lap. A medium to large Wirehair may need a roomy but compact carrier. Service animals follow separate rules.
Very little. Gentle brushing once a week or so, plus a soft wipe if the coat feels oily in humid weather, is usually enough, since heavy brushing can damage the crimped hairs. Home grooming costs little, so it fits within the Other costs shown for this page. Don't shave the coat for summer heat.
No, American Wirehair cats are not hypoallergenic. The main cat allergen comes from saliva and skin glands, not hair length or texture, so a wiry coat does not remove it. Their dense, crimped coat may shed a little less than some breeds, but allergic people should spend extended time with a specific cat before adopting and talk to their doctor.
Yes, American Wirehair cats are very rare. The entire breed descends from one kitten born in New York in 1966, and registrations with major cat associations have stayed small for decades. Few are born each year, so it is unusual to find one in a shelter. Breed rescues and saved searches give adopters the best chance of meeting one.
Yes, American Wirehair cats shed, but usually only lightly to moderately. Their dense, crimped coat holds loose hair, with somewhat heavier shedding in spring and fall. Gentle grooming with a soft brush or your hand every week or two is usually enough, because heavy brushing can damage the brittle hairs. Occasional baths help if the skin becomes oily.
Plan on roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for an American Wirehair in New Orleans. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and other costs such as litter, flea prevention, dental care and the city license at $460 to $1,160 a year.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in New Orleans.
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