American Curl
The ears curl backwards, and kittens are born with them straight: they turn in the first week or two. The whole breed traces back to one stray found in 1981.
Overview
The American Curl traces to a single stray kitten found in Lakewood, California in 1981, named Shulamith, and every Curl in the world descends from her. The ears curl backwards in a smooth arc, and the gene is dominant.
Kittens are born with straight ears. They begin to curl within a few days and set by about four months, which means a Curl litter cannot be sorted until the ears have finished deciding.
Temperament
Even tempered, curious and people focused without being demanding. Curls are often described as keeping a kitten's playfulness well into old age, and the description holds up.
They are quiet cats. The voice is soft, they are not prone to attention seeking, and they generally get on with other animals.
Care and grooming
Coat care is minimal in the shorthaired form and weekly in the semi longhair, since there is little undercoat.
The ears need care that other cats' do not. The cartilage is firm and the ear canal is a little more open than usual, so it collects wax, and it should be cleaned gently and never forced, because the cartilage can be damaged by rough handling.
Living and exercise
An ordinary indoor life suits them. They are moderately active, they enjoy climbing and they settle easily.
Because the founding population is small, buying from a breeder who outcrosses to domestic cats matters more here than for a broadly based breed. Twelve to sixteen years is normal.
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