Joyful and fun loving, intelligent and curious, the American Curl is a cat that loves to play and hang with its people. This breed is very social and loves to curl up in your lap and follow you around. They also tend to be fond of children, making them the perfect pet for households with kids.
Origin: United States Other Names: The Peter Pan of Cats
Although not every member of the breed will exhibit their namesake trait, most do, and you’ll definitely know you’re in the presence of an American Curl when you spot their signature, curled backwards ears.
“When they are born, their ears are all straight, and within 72 hours they curl up like a rose bud, and then over the next couple weeks will uncurl and eventually they are considered ‘set’ at three to four months old,” says Mike Bull, CFA Breed Council Secretary on American Curls. “The mature ear will have a hard cartilage from at least one-third of the base of the ear, blending into what feels like a normal soft cat ear to the tip.”
Aside from their ears, the American Curl can be either long or short haired, and their silky flat coat can come in a variety of colors and patterns. “One of their trademark looks, aside from the curled ears, is that they have ear tufts which adorn their ears, and they should have large, walnut-shaped eyes,” Bull adds.
Most American Curls weigh between 5 and 8 pounds for females and 7 and 10 pounds for males. A medium sized breed, they may measure up to 12 inches in height.
| Full Grown | |
|---|---|
| Female | 10 in. / 8 lbs. |
| Male | 12 in. / 10 lbs. |
Height is measured up to the shoulders.
A medium sized breed, most American Curls weigh between 5 and 8 pounds for females and 7 and 10 pounds for males.
The American Curl doesn’t need much space to be happy, as long as it’s surrounded by the people it loves.
The American Curl is a social and active breed that loves interactive play and can be trained to perform certain tricks.
This breed is particularly joyful, and they are at their happiest when hanging out with their family.
Because of their love of people and play, the American Curl makes a great addition to any home with children.
An American Curl can be either short haired or long haired, with the longhaired versions requiring more care and attention to their coats. For shorthairs, plan to groom weekly to keep their coats healthy, while longhairs should be combed twice a week to prevent mats.
Like most domestic cats, the American Curl does best in moderate temperatures.
This is a people-oriented cat that requires a lot of care and attention. The American Curl loves to hang with its family, playing interactive games or just lounging in your lap. They don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time, but they are highly adaptable and make great family pets. The breed is often referred to as the Peter Pan of Cats “due to the playfulness that they exhibit, and it generally is prevalent with them throughout the adult years — even 12-year-olds play like kittens,” says Bull.
The American Curl isn’t an overly noisy breed, but when something piques their interest, they are more likely to express their curiosity through a trill or coo. This is a social cat that enjoys being around people and is likely to greet you at the door when you come home. “The American Curl loves to play, and they are good with small children and even are known to be good with dogs,” said Bull. “The American Curl is also noted to be dog-like in behavior at times.”
This breed has a moderate energy level, but they are highly social and do well with activities involving other people and other animals. The American Curl loves to climb and jump, so if they aren’t lounging right next to you or sleeping in your bed, you can often find them curled up on top of a high cabinet or perch.
Frisky, energetic breed that is always ready for action
Nutrition and appropriate quantity of food is not only important in maintaining a healthy weight but also has a direct correlation with improved longevity. Feed a well balanced, high quality age-appropriate diet for your cat. Obesity can be a problem in cats so pay attention to what your cat should be feeding on the bag / can of food. Every food has a different number of calories per cup / can so pay attention to the label and feed what is appropriate for your cat’s weight.
An adult American Curl eats 1/4 to 1/2 cup of dry food per day.
Besides the typical vaccinations and routine preventive care that should be the same for all animals, this breed does not have many health concerns that require special attention. As with most other cats, kidney disease is something that is seen as cats become older. Routine blood testing after the age of 7 years is recommended, in addition to urine testing to evaluate organ function and screen for early renal disease. Dental disease can be more common in some cat breeds so it is recommended that an annual dental cleaning be done to prevent dental disease from occurring.
This breed has not been known to have many health issues. However, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) has been identified in this breed. As always, prior to obtaining this breed, discuss any familial health problems that run in the breed’s family and ask if there have been any other health problems identified in the litter / breeding history.
The American Curl can live to be between 13 to 18 years old.
The American Curl can be either short haired or long haired — with little to no undercoat and a topcoat that’s silky and lies flat — but both versions are relatively easy to care for. “The long hair version is classified as ‘semi-long — about 1 ½ to 2 inches — but should always have a fully plumed tail, which is also specific to this breed,” said Bull.
Short Haired American Curls should be groomed weekly to keep their coats healthy, while the longhaired versions should get combed twice a week to remove or prevent mats and tangles. Grooming is a great way to bond with this breed as well, Bull added.
Short or long haired
Occasional
The American Curl sheds only seasonally.
The American Curl is an American-bred cat that first made its appearance in the early 1980s. A spontaneous natural mutation caused these cats to have ears that curl backwards, rather than sticking up to a point, and have long tufts of fur at their ends. As breeders became more interested in the look of this cat, they were developed into a breed of their own.
