Your guide to finding and caring for an American Wirehair in OKC
An American Wirehair suits a quiet bungalow in Mesta Park or a Deep Deuce apartment equally well. They're mellow, curious cats that like to watch the street from a window, then nap close by. An evening play session is usually enough exercise. The breed is rare, so you won't see one on every block in OKC, but the coat is hard to miss: crimped, springy and nothing like a typical shorthair's.
Adopt an American Wirehair today
While we don't have enough cats near Oklahoma City, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 252 miles
American Wirehair, American Shorthair
F, 5 mo., 363 miles
American Wirehair
F, 5 mo., 363 miles
American Wirehair
M, 1 y., 405 miles
American Wirehair
M, 3 mo., 405 miles
American Wirehair
M, 11 y., 462 miles
Domestic Short Hair, American Wirehair
M, 0-6 mo., 325 miles
Tabby, American Wirehair
M, 5 mo., 431 miles
American Shorthair, American Wirehair
F, 5 y., 513 miles
American Wirehair, Domestic Short Hair
F, 5 mo., 513 miles
Bengal, American Wirehair
The American Wirehair began with one red-and-white kitten born in a farmhouse litter in Verona, New York, in 1966. His crimped, springy coat came from a spontaneous dominant mutation, and crossing his descendants with American Shorthairs established the breed. It remains one of the rarest pedigreed cats, with a coarse, resilient coat, sometimes curly whiskers and a muscular medium to large frame of roughly 8 to 15 pounds.
In an OKC home, that easygoing nature fits apartments and houses alike. Wirehairs are usually affectionate and playful without demanding constant attention, and many get along with children and other pets. The coat needs gentle handling rather than heavy brushing, and some cats have oily skin. Personalities vary, so spend time with a cat before deciding.
Having an American Wirehair in OKC
Wirehairs are relaxed, people-friendly cats with moderate energy and generally sound health. In OKC, the practical questions are keeping a cat safe indoors through storm season, holding weight steady, and handling that springy coat gently.
Many Wirehairs are mellow and affectionate, happy to sit nearby while you cook or work from home. They're usually playful without being pushy and often get along with respectful children and other pets. Some may be unsettled by spring thunderstorms, so a quiet hiding spot helps. Each cat is different.
Expect moderate energy: bursts of chasing and pouncing between long naps. Two short daily play sessions with wand toys or food puzzles keep a Wirehair fit, and tall perches add climbing. The muscular build gains weight easily, which matters in OKC's colder months when everyone stays indoors more.
Wirehairs are generally healthy, but heart disease such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is worth discussing with a veterinarian. Oily or sensitive skin can occur, so gentle bathing and brushing matter. Dental care and weight control support a long life. In OKC, rabies vaccination is required for cats, and flea prevention is a routine part of care.
A Wirehair adapts to apartments and houses alike, given scratching posts, perches, hiding spots and regular play. A window perch or catio offers outdoor stimulation without the risks of roaming, such as traffic and coyotes, which have been spotted in OKC neighborhoods.
| 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* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,200 to $2,700 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* 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 Oklahoma City.
OKC's shelters and rescues help many cats find homes, and city shelter adoptions include spay or neuter and a microchip. Here are the rescues & shelters in the OKC area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an American Wirehair is coming in.
2811 SE 29th Street, Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
9733 NW 4th St, Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Review EMBARK's current rules before planning on it, since whether pets in carriers can board its buses or the OKC Streetcar isn't something to assume. Service animals are allowed, but emotional support animals aren't treated as service animals. If pets are permitted, use a sturdy, ventilated carrier that stays closed, and keep trips short. For vet visits, a car is usually easier.
Yes, as an indoor cat. Oklahoma City summers average about 91°F for highs, and winter nights often drop to freezing, so the climate is only a problem if a cat is outside. Run the air conditioning in July and August, keep your Wirehair inside during ice storms, and have a carrier ready for spring storms.
Yes. OKC requires a current rabies vaccination and tag for cats four months and older, and households can keep up to four cats over six months old. Wirehairs are rare, so watch the listings on this page, browse similar breeds such as the American Shorthair, or save a search to hear about new cats.
Yes. Wirehairs have moderate energy and a calm, adaptable nature, so they do well in apartments when they have a window perch, scratching posts, hiding spots and daily play. Get pet rent and deposit terms in writing before you sign, and remember that the four-cat household limit applies in rentals as well.
Not much. The coarse, crimped coat needs gentle care, since heavy brushing can damage the hairs. A soft brush or damp hand once a week is usually plenty, with a bath only if your vet suggests one for oily skin. Occasional home grooming fits within the Other costs above, and trimming nails and checking ears and teeth round out the routine.
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.
American Wirehair cats are medium to large, sturdy and muscular. Males usually weigh about 11 to 15 pounds and females about 8 to 12 pounds, with a well-rounded body and strong legs. They mature slowly and may keep filling out until around three or four years old. A veterinarian can confirm whether an individual cat is at a healthy weight.
Plan on roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for a Wirehair in OKC, or about $100 to $225 a month. Food runs $25 to $50 monthly, insurance $25 to $50, routine vet care $150 to $350 yearly, and other costs such as litter, flea prevention and dental care $450 to $1,150 yearly.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Oklahoma City.
