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The American Wirehair is the result of a spontaneous mutation that was first seen in a litter in 1966. While there are some physical differences besides the coat, the American Wirehair is similar to the American Shorthair, and breeding one to the other is allowed.

The wiry coat defines this breed and comes in degrees of wiriness, from spiked to curly. Individual hairs, including the whiskers, may be crimped, hooked, or bent. They need very little grooming because a brush or comb can damage the coat, but occasional bathing to remove dead hair is a good idea to prevent loose, hooked hairs from irritating the skin.

American Wirehairs are quiet, loving cats, a bit on the reserved side. They weigh between 6 and 11 pounds (2.7–5.0 kg) and have a lifespan of fourteen to eighteen years. The breed is generally healthy but may develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).