Safari vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Safari vs American Wirehair - Breed ComparisonBoth American Wirehair and Safari are originated from United States. Both American Wirehair and Safari are having almost same weight. American Wirehair may live 4 years less than Safari. Both American Wirehair and Safari has same litter size. Both American Wirehair and Safari requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

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United States
United States
Weight Male:
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
Weight Female:
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 16 Years
17 - 20 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
None
None
Colors Available:
Any color or pattern
black, cream, Silvery gray
Coat:
springy, coarse and wiry
Short with black markings
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

american wirehairThe 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.

safariThe Safari Cat, hailing from the USA, is one of the rarest breeds of cats. There are only about 70 of these cats registered at the International Cat Association.

The Safari cat is a mix of a moggy and Geoffroy's cat. At first, the cat was used for research purposes by Washington State University but then cat breeders took over the development of the breed.

The name ‘Safari’ was chosen because of its wild look.

Description

american wirehair kitten - descriptionThe 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.

safari kitten - descriptionThe hybrid Safari cat is a medium to large-sized cat that at first weighed in the region of 15kg, but the cat now weighs roughly 11kg.

Its body is much like that of the wild parent, the Geoffroy – muscular and compact. The ears aren’t particularly large and are smallish, rounded ears with a fairly broad head.

It has a typical wild cat look and is a spotted or rosetted cat breed. Below the spots, the coat is a silvery grey shade.

The coat which is short actually comes in a variety of colors that come from both cat breeds. The eyes of this cat are either yellow or green. The Safari cat certainly has a wild cat appearance, because of the cross-breeding. This is a rare cat and because of this, there is no breed standard for it.

They can live to be between 17 and 20 years of age.

Temperament:

Even though one of the parent breeds is a wild cat, the Safari cat is described as an easy-going cat that can make a good pet.

The cat is very intelligent and playful and will enjoy swimming and climbing. It is for this purpose that he needs to have quite a large outside enclosure with a pool of sorts so that he can paddle.

There isn’t much information on their interaction with children and other pets in the home. While they are quite likely to make good pets where there are children, there would have to be supervision where there are small children. During play, these cats can bit. It would be extremely important to teach children to respect any animal and to be gentle and kind to them.

Characteristics

american wirehair cat - characteristicsThe 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.

safari cat - characteristicsAs a hybrid cat, your Safari is interesting alright, but unfortunately, you can’t ever be 100% sure of a hybrid cat. It needs careful consideration before you bring one into your home.

Apart from coming into the home from time to time, hybrid cats need an outside enclosure too that is securely fenced and gated and with a roof.

You made a decision to buy a cat with a wild side. It may live up to all your expectations but it may not either.

When you do research you find that the biggest number of behavioral complaints from owners of hybrid cats are about aggression issues and the refusal to use a litter box when indoors.

There is still a raging debate going on as to whether hybrids make suitable pets, but when you bring any animal into your home, as a responsible adult it is your job to provide well for it to ensure its happiness.

Health Problems

american wirehair kittens - health problemsThe 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.

safari kittens - health problemsThe Safari cat isn’t a particularly well-known breed so there isn’t much information on their health. They can suffer from the same illnesses as non-hybrid domestic cats.

Certain hybrid breeds, such as the Safari, can sometimes have issues with reproduction as some cats are infertile. Domestic cats and wild cats have a different number of chromosomes and this results in reproductive problems, and stillbirths are quite common.

Caring The Pet

General:

american wirehair cats - caringBrush 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.

safari cats - caringIt is recommended that you brush this cat each week. He isn’t a big shedder but the brushing once a week keeps the fur in good condition, removing loose hairs and dust.

A high protein diet is imperative. Cats are carnivores and a meat diet is imperative. You can speak to your vet or a cat expert about feeding your Safari cat. Certainly, they need to be fed high-quality cat food. These foods are available in wet and dry form.

He will definitely need some raw meat. Make sure you understand the ingredients in some low- quality cat foods as corn for cats can be a problem for them, hard to digest and it could cause intestinal problems.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Safari vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Safari vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Safari vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Safari vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Safari vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Safari vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Safari vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Safari vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Safari vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Safari vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Safari vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Safari vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Safari vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Safari vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Safari vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Safari vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Safari vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Safari vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Safari vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Safari vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Safari vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Safari vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Safari vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Safari vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Safari vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. American Wirehair vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. American Wirehair vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. American Wirehair vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. American Wirehair vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. American Wirehair vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. American Wirehair vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. American Wirehair vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. American Wirehair vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. American Wirehair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. American Wirehair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Applehead Siamese vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. Ashera vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  38. Asian vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  39. Asian Semi-Longhair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  40. Australian Mist vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  41. Balinese vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  42. Bengal vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  43. Bicolor vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  44. Birman vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  45. Blue Russian vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  46. Bombay vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  47. Brazilian Shorthair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  48. Bristol vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  49. British Longhair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  50. British Shorthair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison