American Curl Cat
Cat Facts
General Description
The American Curl Cat is a rare cat breed and as the name implies, it is characterized by curly ears. Kittens are born with straight ears and the ears only begin to curl when the kitten is about a week old. Initially the ears are quite tightly curled, but they gradually unfold at around 3 - 4 months and the curl then settles and remains unchanged. This unusual trait or mutation is caused by an inherited, spontaneous, dominant gene. Apart from the curl in their ears, this American cat breed is free of any genetic defects. There are two varieties of the American Curl Cat, the semi-longhaired and shorthaired variety. Both coats have very little undercoat which means that they do not tangle or matt. American Curl Longhair (Semi-Longhair cat): This is the more common variety, displaying fine, silky hair that lies close to the body. The reason they don't matt excessively is that they have a sparse undercoat. The tails presents as a full plume and there is no ruff.
American Curl Shorthair cat: The hair is silky-soft, lies close to the body and is dense and plush to the touch. Once again, there is minimal under-coat. The tail coat is the same length as the hair on the body. These cats have a body shape which is described as semi-foreign type. Effectively this means that they are slender cats with a well balanced build. Whilst they are not very muscular, they do have great muscle tone and flexibility. Males are larger than females. Their legs are medium in length, and in proportion to their body. Their tail length is equal to that of the body length, it is wide at the base and tapers to a rounded tip and is quite flexible. The tail covering will compliment the coat length. The American Curl cat has a medium sized head, shaped like a modified wedge which means it is slightly longer than it is wide. Their moderately large, wide-set eyes are oval (or walnut) shaped on the top lid contour and round on the bottom lid contour and set and at a slight slant. The eye color should be clear and brilliant and generally has no relation to the coat color - the only exception is for the colorpoints that have blue eyes. American Curl's ears are what really differentiates this breed from other cats. The ears are moderately large, broad at the base, erect, and set high on the skull. The ears curl back towards the top of the head. The cartilage of the ear must be firm from the base to at least one third of the height. The degree of the curl ranges from 90 degrees to 180 degrees maximum and should be a smooth curve. Lynx tips are desired. The curved ears should not touch the back of the head. There are 3 degrees of curl: a full crescent which is the most desired, a partial curl and a slight curl. Note: The cartilage in the cats ears should not be handled except when cleaning them and even then, they should be handled gently and never attempt to bend the ears into a different position as this can damage the cartilage.
American Curl Cat Personality
The American Curl is a very energetic and playful cat that is affectionate and fun-loving. You will need to watch your precious ornaments when kitty decides its playtime. Owners tend to agree that whilst they are intelligent cats, they do tend to retain kitten-like qualities way into adulthood.
The ultimate pleasure for them is a warm lap or a freshly made bed to snuggle into. They are people-orientated and make loyal soul-mates to their human owners. Some say that they are dog-like in their attentiveness towards their owners. They will happily follow you around house and are equally content to watch the game on TV with you. Another trait of the Curl is head butting which is their way of greeting friends and family and displaying affection.
Some American Curl cats are not very vocal, whilst others can be quite talkative - cooing and making trill-like sounds. The good news is they have soft voices and the only time that you are likely to hear them is at dinner-time, when they eagerly demand their food.
American Curl Breed Information
Are they Child and Animal Friendly? Yes. They generally adjust quickly and easily to children, other pets and new environments. We suggest that younger children be educated on how to handle cats and kittens. All cats prefer gentle handling. The perfect Home for your cat. American Curls are not apartment dwellers. They do not like to be confined. They are active cats that require some exercise. A safe, enclosed, escape-proof garden would suit them best. Cat Grooming These domestic cats are medium maintenance cats. Their coats need to be brushed at least twice a week. For complete cat care you may want to visit our extensive pages on cat grooming that includes everything from fur care to dental care. Do they suffer from any Genetic or Health Problems? Apart from common infectious cat diseases for which they can receive cat vaccinations, this is a healthy cat breed. Health cat insurance is something you should consider for all your pets. Cat Nutrition Your American Curl needs a well balanced diet. If possible, feed them premium cat food. You have a choice of dry kibbles, semi-moist, raw or canned food or a combination of dry and wet cat food. Provide your cat with fresh water daily. Minimize their intake of treats and dairy, especially milk. Average Weight of an American Curl Cat Male cats are heavier than the female cats and the average weight ranges from 3.0 - 5.0 kg (7.0 - 11.0 lbs) The Life Expectancy of the American Curl The American Curl has a life expectancy of 12 + years. In this chapter on 'How long do cats live' we elaborate on all the factors that influence a cat's life span.
* Before purchasing a cat, always do thorough research into the bloodlines and genetics of your cat and always buy from reputable cat breeders.
American Curl Related Pages: American Curl - cat history American Curl Breeders - cat breeders from around the world
American Curl Cat Pictures courtesy of: Top Picture: American Curl - Dreamstime Bottom: © Photographer Irene McCullagh www.irene-mccullagh.com American Curl - Shantung Carolina Moon Freya Owner/Breeder: Bev Burchell
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