The American Curl is an eye-catching breed of cats: their curved ears would also pass for fancy headdresses designed by a modern-day designer. The American Curl Cat’s character is based on its domestic cat legacy: it is unspoiled, active, and people-oriented.
Story
The story of American Curl began in 1981 in California, USA: A long-haired cat with strange ears caught the attention of cat lovers Joe and Grace Ruga. She begged for some food and moved in shortly afterward. “Shulamith” is the ancestral mother of all American Curl cats.
After the birth of the first offspring, selective breeding of the breed began in 1983. Geneticists examined the genetic basis of the cat breed using 384 kittens and found that the gene responsible for the shape of the ear is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait: every cat with the curl gene has the striking one Ear shape. The British geneticist Roy Robinson also took a close look at the breed’s health and was unable to identify any genetic defects. In order to maintain the robustness of the American Curl, cats with straight ears are also permitted for breeding, as long as they meet the American Curl breeding standard. It is thanks to this crossbreeding of domestic cats that the American Curl cat is a very healthy cat breed. In order for it to stay that way, responsible breeding is essential.
American Curl Cat Breed
American Curl cats deserve their name because of their unusual ringed ears: The ears of the American Curl cat are broad at the base with rounded tips, and are medium-sized and placed upright. The tips of the ears have tufts of hair, they point towards the center of the back of the head. In young animals, the ears pucker up after four to six days – the final shape only appears after several months. Because the curvature of the auricle is individual, it varies from animal to animal and in extreme cases can be up to 180 degrees! However, the cats’ hearing is not affected; their ears are just as flexible as those of other animals.
The curvature of the ear is drawn out for the quality of the cat according to the breed standard: Grade 1 makes the cat a loving animal. Cats with curved ears of the 2nd or 3rd degree are admitted as breeding and show animals. Ideally, the ears curl into a half-moon, two-thirds of the broad base is straight and then one-third ends in a curved point. The angle is 90 to 180 degrees.
These backward-curved auricles were caused by a random mutation. The unusual shape of the ears is inherited dominantly: In cats with a predisposition for curved and straight ears, the “Cu gene”, which is responsible for the curly ears, always prevails. If both parent animals have both curved and straight ears, the offspring can have both curled and “normal” ears. The latter is known as “American Curl Straight Ear”.
However, the flared ears are not the only characteristic of the breed. American Curl cats are medium in size. Their silky fur has hardly any undercoat and therefore lies flat against the body. The breed is available in various coat lengths, but the longhaired animals hardly have any hair due to the small undercoat. In the American Curl breed, all coat colors are permitted, including more exotic colors such as Lynx Point and Smoke variants.
The eyes of the American Curl reveal a lot about their character: They are almond-shaped and expressive, open and friendly.
American Curl Temperament
The American Curl is an exceptionally friendly breed of cats. She seeks the closeness of her people and even prefers that of children. This makes it particularly suitable as a family cat! Its character is shaped by its origin as a shorthair cat: the breed is very active, open-minded, and robust. Intelligent animals love puzzle games and often even learn to fetch and open doors. For this reason, you should keep yourself busy with the help of intelligence toys. Cats look forward to regular hours of play with fishing rods, balls, and the like. Furthermore, a scratching post should be available so that your furry friends can really let off steam. Cats often keep their liveliness well into old age! American Curl cats are curious and often follow their human every step of the way, but they are not pushy or talkative like many oriental cat breeds.
Health and Care
Although the cat breed is described as robust, the backward curved ears lead to health problems in individual cases. A narrow ear canal can lead to increased production of lard and a high risk of infection. Regular ear checks are the best prevention! Excessive wax can easily be removed with a soft, slightly dampened cloth. However, avoid inserting foreign objects directly into the ear canal. You can find more information on the subject in our article on “Cleaning cat ears”.
The American Curl comes with long and short fur. Due to the slight undercoat of the silky coat, both variations of the breed only shed lightly. Regular brushing makes it easier to change fur, but it can be limited to a few grooming sessions per week.
Like all other cat breeds, the American Curl cat should be presented to the veterinarian on a regular basis. They can recommend a sensible vaccination schedule and keep an eye on the cats’ dental hygiene.
High-quality cat food with lots of healthy protein is the best preventative measure for American curls. Cats can only use a small percentage of carbohydrates, as carnivores you get the necessary nutrients and proteins from high-quality meat.
American Curl Diet
High-quality cat food with lots of healthy protein is the best health care for the American Curl cat. The cat’s natural diet, the mouse, consists of about 85 percent meat and only about five percent plant-based components, which are found in the prey’s gastrointestinal tract. Cats can therefore only use a small percentage of carbohydrates, as carnivores you get the necessary nutrients and proteins from high-quality meat.
The right food for your pedigree cat should therefore have a high meat content. When looking at the feed label, please keep one thing in mind: According to the Feed Act, the list of ingredients is sorted according to descending weight in the finished product. One thing should come first: meat. Many types of feed also contain by-products that are not harmful per se. The term “meat and animal by-products” can also include organs such as the liver and spleen or even hair or horn. Caution is called for here! Grain products should only be fed in small quantities, so ideally they appear as low as possible on the list of contents.
Flavor enhancers and preservatives cause allergies in many cats. Unfortunately, they can be found in almost every type of feed available on the market. If your American Curl’s favorite food is free from such additives, this is a big plus! Sugar does not belong in cat food either. Cats are not considered to be prone to tooth decay, but sugar added to the food is a strain on the kidneys and can lead to diabetes in the long term. But don’t worry: with a close look at the food label, it is not impossible to find the right food for your American Curl!
Breed
A professional breeder sees his cats as family members and takes responsibility for his animals and their offspring. He mates considerately and takes the individual genetics and the state of health of the cat into account. A species-appropriate environment and nutrition are important, but of course, they also cost money. However, a responsible breeder does not give up his animals before they are twelve weeks old. Because kittens need at least three months to learn everything that is important to cats from their mother and siblings! A phase that is exciting and exhausting at the same time not only for the breeder but also for the mother cat! In order for a mother cat to be able to socialize her kittens sufficiently, she should have enough time between litters. Because what makes economic sense is not always the best for the animals involved! So take a close look and don’t let yourself be lulled by so-called “multipliers” who offer “pedigree cats without papers at a reasonable price”.
American Curl Prize
The price of an American Curl depends on its breed line and the curvature of its ears: Grade 1 makes the cat a pet that is sold to cat lovers without breeding interests. Cats with curved ears of the 2nd or 3rd degree are admitted as breeding and show animals.
