CFA標準：美國硬毛貓
歷史起源
1966年，在美國紐約州的猶地加農場所出生的小貓中，毛色出現了黑白相間的突變種。養貓愛好者以這只貓為基礎，審慎地加以繁殖，又加入了美國短毛貓的血統。大約經過10多年的選育，培養出了今日的美國硬毛貓。
原 產 地 ：美國
習 性
性格溫順、活潑好動、聰明伶俐，好奇心很強，膽大，不怕陌生，容易與人相處。
繁殖方式 胎生
體部描述
體 形
頭 部：橢圓形
耳 朵 ：大小適中，尖呈圓弧形
眼 睛 ：大而圓，眼角稍吊，閃閃發出金光
鼻 子： 長短適中
下 巴 ：嘴部為方形，下巴發育良好
四 肢： 四肢長度中等
足 掌： 腳爪大而圓
尾 巴 ：長度適中
披 毛： 短，緊密，均勻。手感粗糙。微卷，末端構型，髭毛和耳內毛髮也是捲曲的。除了巧克力色，淡紫色和重點色，所有的顏色都是可以接受的
毛 色
有多種顏色和花式 美國硬毛貓的最大特點是類似於獵犬的剛毛，毛質強硬而有彈性。毛分兩層，下層毛一根一根緊縮，毛前端的1/3捲曲，就像燙過的頭髮一樣;上層的保護毛也是如此，並且毛很硬。毛色有黑色、白色、斑紋等。美國硬毛貓從中型到大型均有，體形健美，苗條而健壯，肌肉極為發達。
允許雜交的品種：美國短毛貓和英國短毛貓 可接受的顏色如下
玳瑁白色貓(厚厚的被毛呈大波浪狀，頭上尤其顯著。總的來說，被毛外觀和手感很像小羊的毛，而身體下方和下巴下方的毛並不太粗糙，鬍鬚通常捲曲)
棕色魚骨狀虎斑貓(雖然被毛質地特別，但虎斑依然可見，最理想的外觀是斑紋與底色形成很好的對比。)
玳瑁色白色梵貓(只有母貓，“梵貓”圖案由美國短毛貓發展而來。)
不良性徵：深陷的鼻中斷。耳長，尖或間距小。銀色斑紋貓的眼睛色不是純綠色，棕色斑紋貓的眼睛色不是黃色。過短，過粗，過長或過細的頸部。過於矮胖或過於細長的身體。過細或過短的尾。尾舉在背上。
特徵：體格健壯，非常活躍，身體靈活，貪玩。它需要足量的運動來消耗過剩的體力。美國硬毛貓好交際，有愛心，溫柔，有著和他的近親美國短毛貓相同的優良性格。料理簡便。每週一次梳理毛髮即可。
CFA關於美國硬毛貓的評分標準：
頭部(包括大小和形狀的眼睛， 耳的形狀) 25 分
類型(包括形狀，大小，骨和尾部的長度) 20 分
被毛 45 分
顏色和眼睛 10分
CFA官方網站關於美國硬毛貓的品種介紹：
Breed Profile: American Wirehair
The American Wirehair breed is uniquely American. It began as a spontaneous mutation in a litter of upstate New York farm cats in 1966. A spontaneous mutation is an uncommon, although not rare, happening. As it has occurred among cats in the past, two ordinary cats came together and as a result of their mating, a kitten unlike its parents or littermates was born. The progeny of the original mutation, Council Rock Farm Adams of Hi-Fi, are now in all areas of the United States. What is interesting and unusual about this particular mutation is that it has not been reported in any other country thus far.
The coat is the characteristic that separates the American Wirehair from all other breeds. Just as there is a wide variety of texture in Persians or Exotics, there is also considerable variation among the Wirehairs. As this is a dominant mutation, approximately half of the kittens will be wirehaired at birth. The most readily apparent wiring is that of the whiskers and ideally, the entire coat will be wired at birth. If the coat appears to be ringlets, it may be too long and may wave or straighten with maturity. Some of the lightly wired coats may continue to crimp during the early life of the Wirehair. The degree of coarseness depends upon the coat texture of the sire and dam. To produce the best wiring, both parents must have a hard coat.
It was felt, at first, that since this mutation had occurred in the domestic American cat, the standard for it should conform to that of the American Shorthair. However, there were unique Wirehair qualities besides the coat that kept cropping up in each litter, and were worth keeping. In addition, breeders felt that this special cat should remain so, to some extent in conformation, as well as coat. Wirehairs were first accepted for CFA registration in 1967 and for championship competition in 1978.
Breeders find them easy to care for, resistant to disease, and good producers. Pet owners delight with their quiet, reserved and loving ways.
Pricing on American Wirehairs usually depends on type, applicable markings and bloodlines distinguished by Grand Champion (GC), National or Regional winning parentage (NW or RW) or of Distinguished Merit parentage (DM). The DM title is achieved by the dam (mother) having produced five CFA grand champion/premier or DM offspring, or sire (father) having produced fifteen CFA grand champion/premier (alter) or DM offspring.
Usually breeders make kittens available between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. After twelve weeks, kittens have had their basic inoculations and developed the physical and social stability needed for a new environment, showing, or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces (e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching (CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.
There are CFA clubs devoted to the promotion, protection and preservation of the American Wirehair breed. For more information, please send inquiries to CFA, PO Box 1005, Manasquan NJ 08736-0805.