Page 186 - The Complete Cat Breed Book (DK)

184 C A T AL OG OF BREED S

Long,
plumed tail
Tufted ears
curl backward

Moderately strong
yet slender body Seal tortoiseshell Walnut-
point with
white coat shaped
eyes

Rounded
muzzle Fine, silky coat
with very little
undercoat

Medium-
length legs

AMERICAN CURL

A RARE BREED WITH HIGHLY DISTINCTIVE CURLED-BACK EARS

Place of origin US This breed has its origins in a stray cat begins to take shape within a few days,
Date of origin 1980s with a long, black coat and oddly curled reaching its full arc by the time the cat
Breed registries CFA, ears that was adopted off the street by a is about three or four months old. Cats
FIFe, TICA
family in California in 1981. The cat, a female, whose ears remain straight are of value in
Weight range 7–11lb (3–5kg)
went on to produce a litter of curly eared breeding programs, since their use helps to
Grooming
kittens, and the rare mutation aroused keep the American Curl genetically healthy.
widespread interest among both breeders The longhaired Curl has a silky coat that
Colors and patterns and geneticists. Programs for the planned lies close to the body. There is very little
All solid colors and shades;
patterns include colorpoint, development of the American Curl, in both undercoat, which makes grooming easy
tabby, and tortoiseshell. longhaired and shorthaired (p.109) variants, and means minimal shedding. A further
began remarkably quickly, and the future embellishment in the longhair is the
of the new breed was secured. lovely, long, plumed tail.
In an American Curl, the ears curve Alert, intelligent, and affectionate, the
backward to a greater or lesser extent, American Curl has an attractive personality
the arc of the curl ideally somewhere and is an excellent family pet. This cat
between 90 and 180 degrees. The cartilage is gentle and soft-voiced, but not at all shy
is firm, not floppy, and the ears of these cats about pestering its owner for attention.
should never be manipulated. At birth, all
Curl kittens have straight ears, but in about
50 percent of them the characteristic curve