American Curl Cat Breed - Overview and History

Dog Breeds

The American Curl is a highly distinctive cat with elegant, wispy ears that curl backwards in a graceful arc, creating an alert, sophisticated look similar to that of a wild lynx.

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Introduction

The American Curl is a highly distinctive cat with elegant, wispy ears that curl backwards in a graceful arc, creating an alert, sophisticated look similar to that of a wild lynx. Kittens of this breed are born with straight ears. Within 4 or 5 days, however, their ears begin to curl back in a tight rosebud formation. Gradually, they unfurl, reaching their permanent shape by about 16 weeks of age. The degree of ear curl varies widely within the breed. Fanciers prefer a more dramatic curl for the show ring, while straighter-eared specimens are typically considered to be pet-quality. Some kittens in American Curl litters never develop the curly-eared trait. This breed is medium-sized, comes in a variety of colors and may be either long or short-haired. Either way, its coat is silky and lies flat, with little-to-no undercoat, so they are not prone to a great deal of shedding. The tail of the American Curl is fluffy and fan-like, said to resemble a feather boa. It should be brushed regularly.

History

The origin of the American Curl dates back to a long summer day in 1981, when Joe and Grace Ruga fed a hungry young stray that appeared on their Lakewood, California property. They named the long-haired black female, who had backwardly-curled ears, “Shulamith.” She gave birth to a litter that contained two curly-eared kittens roughly 6 months later, and thus Shulamith became the foundation of all purebred American Curls. One of those kittens, a black long-haired female named Mercedes, was acquired by Nancy Kiester. She and the Rugas exhibited Shulamith and Mercedes (and her short-haired curl-eared littermate) at a cat show in Palm Springs in October of 1983, attracting considerable attention from other cat fanciers. Thereafter, they and other fanciers began serious selective breeding and developed a breed standard to promote establishment of a new show breed. The breed was recognized by the International Cat Association in 1985, and by the American Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1986.

Roy Robinson, a well-known feline geneticist in London, studied 81 litters of American Curls (383 kittens). He confirmed that the ear-curling gene is an autosomal dominant mutation, which means that any cat carrying one copy of the gene will demonstrate the curly-eared trait. In the December 1989 Journal of Heredity, Mr. Robinson reported that he found no health-related genetic abnormalities in the hundreds of American Curls that he studied. This was the stamp of approval for continued refinement and standardization of this relatively new breed in the United States.

Health Predispositions

The American Curl is a very healthy breed, with no reported associated health conditions. They have an average life expectancy of 15 – 20 years. It should be noted that the ears on the American Curl should not be handled frequently because the cartilage in their ears is very fragile and can be easily damaged.

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