Pantherette vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison

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.

There isn’t too much history to the beautiful black Panetherette cat as it is still in development. It is in other words a hybrid cat and the name ‘Pantherette’ was give to the cat to describe its magnificent looks.

It looks just like the wild Black Panther or Black Leopard. There is, however, certainly no wild black panther or leopard that has been used

The Pantherette is a hybrid breed of cat that is still under development. It is intended to look similar to a Black Panther. It is a new breed based on a Melanistic (Black) Bengals as one of the foundation breeds.

The Pantherette is registered with the International Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance (IPCBA).

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.

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.

The Panehterette is a medium to large black cat still being developed, It weights in the area of 4 – 9kg. It is muscular and strong with a long body and a broadish head.

The legs at the back are slightly longer than the front. The legs are strong and muscular and medium in length with large, round paws. The tail of the Panethereet is medium to long in length, thick and slightly tapered.

The beautiful coat is short to medium in length and luxurious and silky. The ears are small to medium with rounded tips. The eyes are oval and set wide apart. They can be gold-colored or green.

Temperament:

The Pantherette breed is still in the beginning stages of its development, so there isn’t too much information on its temperament. Those who work with these cats say that they have the typical temperament of a domesticated cat and that they are alert, friendly, curious and that they enjoy being in the company of their human companions.

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.

Domestic hybrid cats such as the Pantherette make great pets. However, you need to bear in mind that these cats have that wild side to them and they often try to escape.

They are larger than the regular cat and its always advisable to have an outdoor shelter for them as well. The Pantherette is a truly beautiful cat but read up all you can on hybrid cats before you bring one into your home.

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.

Hybrids suffer from genetic defects. These defects can often require surgery. A cat such as the Pantherette also requires a top-notch diet. You may even have to speak to your vet because these cats often battle to digest their food.

People who work with these hybrid cats say that a problem they often see is inflammatory bowel disease and diarrhea. Remember that cats like these are carnivores and their diets have to be made up essentially of meat if they are to remain healthy.

General:

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.

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.

To ensure a quality lifestyle for your Panetherett, you want to care for him properly. A well cared for cat is one that becomes the best pet.

He will have to go to the vet at some stage for sickness and for his vaccines.

Make sure you invest in a cat carrier or sturdy leash as your cat won’t like going to the vet. These cats can struggle, wriggle and writhe and he will make every effort to get away.

Speak to your vet about ticks, fleas, and worms in your pet as these parasites can cause havoc with your cat’s health.

Domestic hybrids such as the Pantherette will need to have a litter box that is cleaned every day. These cats like a clean litter box. Make sure that you scoop the litter box at least one time each day. If you don't clean his litter box regularly, you’ll find that he tends to use other areas of your home as a toilet. Being a hybrid, it is quite likely that he will in any case as these cat's wild side see to this.

Ensure he gets the best cat food there is. A cat is a carnivore which means he is a meat eater. If you buy commercially manufactured pet food, make sure that the top ingredients on the label have meat and protein listed at the top.

Speak to your vet about the absolute importance of quality cat food for your feline pet, as poor quality food can make your cat sick and you’ll be spending more time at the vet.

Cats can easily become dehydrated, so ensure that he has a bowl of fresh, cool water available to him around the clock. You can have one or two water bowls available to him and the water bowls must be cleaned regularly.