By David Braybrooke
The American Curl, characterized by its unusual looking ears, is a fairly uncommon breed and a relatively new one at that! The first one was discovered, as a stray, in 1981, in Lakewood, California by the Ruga family; they called it 'Shulamith'. It is now recognized as one of the United States native American cat breeds.
This curiously unique type of feline, with the startling looking ears, was first exhibited in a cat show in 1983. In 1987 it was given championship status by The International Cat Association (TICA), and then in 1993, the American Curl was the first breed to be admitted to the Cat Fancier's Association (CFA) Championship class with both longhair and shorthair divisions.
Their ears, the result of a spontaneous, natural genetic mutation, have long tufts of hair fanning outward, similar to that of a Lynx, which accentuate the swept-back effect; the ears curl back from the face toward the center of the back of the cat's skull and they have a graceful, shell-like curvature to them. Owners must take great care not to force the ears in to unnatural positions so as not to break the ear's cartilage!
As kittens, the American Curl usually has straight ears and within 2 - 10 days after birth, the ears begin to curl back in a graceful arc away from its face into a full crescent; the ears look 'whimsical' and curl into a tight, rosebud position, unfurling gradually for 4 months when they no longer continue curling and are then stiff and hard to touch; the ears are erect and open. The degree of curl varies but an incline of 90 - 180 degrees is usual, and much sought after, in show cats; the ears curl to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degrees with the later category being most prized!
As far as cats go, the American Curl is a medium-sized (5-10 lbs) moderately muscular cat, with an elegant appearance, coupled with a sweet, open expression. Both the long-haired and short-haired varieties have soft, silky, lustrous coats, lying flat against their bodies, that need almost no grooming as their minimal undercoat sheds very little. The long-haired variety of this breed has a beautiful plumed tail like that of an ostrich feather! They come in all colors and many patterns, including the striking 'blue-eyed colorpoint'.
The obvious attribute that I noticed with this cat was its impressive looking ears, giving the cat an alert, perky, happily-surprised expression; other than this, the cat is typically normal as far as breeds go and the overall look of the American Curl cat is sophisticated, opulent, and strikingly alluring and beautiful! They have stylish elegance and a dynamic presence. Curls have rounded, wedge-shaped heads with expressive, walnut-shaped eyes, available in a rainbow of colors.
They are an extremely affectionate breed of cat, with infectious personalities that make them very popular, who enjoy spending time with their owners; their behavior is kitten-like even into adulthood and they are known as the 'Peter Pan of felines' for this very reason! American Curls are energetic, curious, astute and playful.
This breed is renowned for being very hardy, with no health handicaps, and adapts well to new surroundings and situations; they tolerate other pets well and have a special affinity for young children.
Although they are not very vocal as far as cats go, they do make trill-like cooing sounds in order to attract the attention of their owners; the Curls are not as demanding and attention-seeking as some breeds!
This type of cat makes outstanding pets, being people-oriented, even-tempered and very intelligent! Some even describe the American Curl as being dynamic, faithful, and spiritual! Their innate curiosity is a strong trait in this breed and they make very playful companions!
Although not as active as the Abyssinian, the American Curl makes for a Great addition for families and older people. They take 2 - 3 years to reach full maturity and some even describe them as being absolutely 'ear-resistable'!
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