American Curl Cat

The American Curl is a cat breed distinguished by distinctive ears that curl back from the face toward the middle of the rear of the skull. A natural mutation gave rise to the breed in Lakewood, California. American Curl kittens are born with straight ears that begin to curl within 48 hours. After four months, their ears should be firm and rigid to the touch at the base of the ear, with flexible tips, rather than curling. Although a pet-quality American Curl may have nearly straight ears, showcats must have ears that curl in an arc between 90 and 180 degrees.

Although a 90-degree angle is preferred, cats will be disqualified if their ears contact the back of their skulls. American Curls, both longhaired and shorthaired, have smooth, silky coats that lie flat against their bodies. They are low-maintenance and like spending time with their owners. While the American Curl is still a rare breed, it may be found in the United States, Spain, France, Japan, Russia, and many other nations. The American Curl is a relatively healthy breed due to its huge genetic pool of non-pedigree cats. Their ears, however, should be treated with care since harsh handling can damage the cartilage in the ear and need frequent cleaning to prevent infections. Several matings between cats with curled ears and cats without curled ears demonstrated that the curl gene was inherited dominantly.