MyCatBreeds
Both LaPerm and American Wirehair are originated from United States. Both LaPerm and American Wirehair are of same weight. Both LaPerm and American Wirehair has almost same life span. Both LaPerm and American Wirehair has same litter size. Both LaPerm and American Wirehair requires Low maintenance.
The LaPerm cat hails from the United States of America but you’ll find him in many other countries around the world.
The cat has a dominant gene which results in the unusual curly coat of the cat. This means he is part of the rex breed. This is a term given for the naturally occurring genetic mutation that gives the cat its wavy coat.
It’s not an old cat breed this and it seems to have come about in the early 1980s for the purposes of controlling rodents. The breed founders were Linda and Richard Koehl from Oregon. They started a formal breeding program and the breed was named after their curly coat.
After the cats got the name LaPerm, it was in 2002 that they got recognition from the Cat Fanciers Association.
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.
The LaPerm is a medium-sized cat that can weigh anything between 3 and 7kg. They’ve got an athletic build. The legs and the neck are fairly long.
It is thought that they are more hypoallergenic than many other cats but no cat is truly hypoallergenic. The coat is the cat's most exceptional feature, with loose curls. The coat can be long or short. All colors and patterns are acceptable, with red, tabby, and tortoiseshell being more common.
There is no undercoat. The eyes of the cat are medium-sized and almond-shaped.
These are affectionate cats with an outgoing personality. He has a sense of humor so becomes an entertaining cat.
He gets on well with children in the home. People who have owned the cat describe him as clownish. He is playful and that means providing him with some interesting toys.
It’s an intelligent cat and learns to use his paws to open doors and tap you to take notice. He is also fairly active and will willingly retrieve small balls. He is gentle, loving, quiet, and affectionate towards his human family.
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.
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 LaPerm cat is known for its loyal, loving personality. It’s a cat that thrives on being involved with its human family and can easily turn into a lap-cat.
They’re active and also intelligent, and will love you to play some games with him. He will become quite vocal when he demands your attention.
Provide him with a climbing tree as he is active and loves to climb where he can survey the room and decide which human being’s lap he has in mind.
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.
La Perms are generally healthy cats. However, any cat owner needs to recognize the signs of some of the common cat illnesses there are.
Cancer, feline immunodeficiency virus, diabetes, and heartworm are all diseases that your healthy cat can at some time succumb too.
Keep an eye on your furry friend, and if he is lethargic and no longer his happy self, get him to the vet immediately for a check-up.
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.
The LaPerm’s unusual coat is easy to care for as it isn’t a big shedder. You’d think that the curls would tangle but they don’t. You can gently comb or brush the curls once or twice a week. Just like with a human perm, you can mist the cat’s curls and comb and fluff them out with your fingers.
Cats are particularly prone to periodontal disease, so look into your cat’s mouth occasionally to see that the teeth are as they should be. Brushing the teeth can stress a cat out and make it miserable and the dry cat foods help to keep the teeth clean.
Pet groomers and the vet can check out the teeth for you and make sure they are in tip-top condition.
Make sure your cat’s eyes are clear and bright and free of discharge. Trim the nails as required – something the vet or the pet groomers can also do for you.
Provide your LaPerm with a litterbox and keep it spotlessly clean, ridding it regularly of the cat’s droppings.
Even though there are excellent commercial cat foods on the market, some cats develop finicky eating habits. Don’t start feeding your cat human foods and snacks to coax him to eat. It can cause a host of digestive problems.
Cats are carnivores and require foods high in protein to remain healthy. A veterinarian will need to examine your cat if he is refusing to eat and is losing weight.
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.
Have your American Wirehair spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted kittens and to promote better health for your cat.
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.