The American Curl is immediately recognized by it’s unique ears, which curl back from the face. They originated in California from a spontaneous mutation – two stray kittens with curled ears were found in 1981 by Joe and Grace Ruga with unusual curled ears. One of the kittens disappeared and the other became the foundation cat for the breed. All American Curls can be traced back to Shulamith, the black kitten that survived.
They come in both shorthair and longhair varieties and a myriad of colors. They have very little undercoat and silky fur. In addition to their easily recognized curled ears, the American Curl also has large walnut shaped eyes.
Size
American Curls are well-balanced, medium sized cats. They typically weigh about 7 to 11 pounds.
Temperament
American Curls are widely known for being very people oriented. They crave human attention and can be quite affectionate and even demanding of attention at times. They adore children, perhaps because they tend to retain their kitten-like antics well into adulthood. Because of their playfulness, they are known as the “Peter Pan” of cats. American Curls are not overly talkative, instead they make gentle trilling sounds to get noticed.
Grooming
Because of their sparse undercoat, American Curls shed very little and don’t require much grooming. Brushing once per week, or 2-3 times for longhaired American Curls, is sufficient.
Health Concerns
American Curls are born with straight ears that begin to curl when they are only a few days old. The curl in their ears affects the cartilage and care should be taken to not damage them. Their ears should never be bent or forced into unnatural positions.
Best Environment
American Curls love to be with their people, so you must have a lot of love and attention to give. They can live happily in an apartment, home or condo but they are not well suited for someone who travels frequently, as they don’t like to be left alone. They get along wonderfully with children and other animals.
