The American Curl is a cat breed that stands out from the rest with ears that curl backward. These curled-back ears give them a permanently happy and slightly alert look. The way American Curls are bred and cared for is also shaped by their unique ears.
Breed History
As the name makes clear, the breed comes from the US. The American Curl’s story began in 1981 in Lakewood, California. A local couple, the Rugas, found a black kitten with unusual ears. It turned out to be a girl, and they named her Shulamith. Six months later, in her first litter of 4 kittens, two were born with the same curled ears.
From 1983, professional breeders began working with this unique gene. Even the well-known English cat geneticist Roy Robinson took an interest in the breed. He studied 383 kittens from 81 litters and confirmed that the curled-ear gene is unique.
In some ways, the breed resembles the Siberian cat.
American Curl Personality and Traits at a Glance
| Affection for family | ★★★★★ |
| Shedding | ★★★★☆ |
| Health | ★★★★★ |
| Playfulness | ★★★★☆ |
| Vocality | ★★★★★ |
| Good with kids | ★★★★☆ |
| Friendliness toward strangers | ★★★★☆ |
| Ease of grooming | ★★★★☆ |
| Gets along with other pets | ★★★★☆ |
| Intelligence | ★★★★☆ |
American Curl Breed Overview
The American Curl was the first breed the CFA accepted in both longhaired and shorthaired varieties under one breed standard. The standard describes the body and especially the ears in detail:
- Head: a modified wedge; the muzzle is about 1.2 times longer than it is wide, with a firm chin in line with the upper lip and nose; a smooth transition from the nose to the bridge and forehead.
- Ears: should look attractive, wide at the base, moderately large, and open. They’re set equally on the top and sides of the head. The minimum curl is 90 degrees, and only the tip should curl, no more than 1/3 of the whole ear. The curled part is smooth, and the tips are rounded and flexible, preferably with small tufts.
- Eyes: walnut-shaped, oval on top and rounded on the bottom, moderately large, set wide apart, at a slight angle between the base of the ears and the tip of the nose. The color is clear and bright and doesn’t have to match the coat, but pointed cats must have blue eyes.
- Body: rectangular, about 1.2 times longer than it is tall at the shoulder.
- Legs: medium length, in proportion to the body, with rounded paws.
- Tail: flexible, wide at the base and tapering to the tip, equal to the length of the body.
- Coat: soft and silky, lying flat along the body; it can be short over the whole body and tail, or semi-long with a plumed tail. Minimal undercoat.
American Curls are medium-sized cats weighing about 5–10 lb. They reach maturity at 2–3 years.
An American Curl kitten is born with straight ears. They start to curl during the first two months (usually as early as day 3–5) and take their final shape by 4 months. After that, the ear cartilage hardens. An adult American Curl can also have straight ears, but that’s considered a departure from the standard.
At shows and competitions, the ears are the breed’s main distinguishing feature. So the curl should be 90 to 180 degrees. The more the better, but the tips shouldn’t touch the head.
Color
American Curls can come in all kinds of colors: tortie, tabby, bicolor, colorpoint like Siamese cats, or solid.
Personality
The American Curl is a curious, quirky, and loving friend. Every day brings this cat new joys, new challenges, and new adventures. They’re very attached to people and constantly want your attention and involvement in what they’re up to. These cats always want to be close to their owner: sleeping in your bed, sitting in your arms, or warming your neck.
American Curls adore children. Even adult cats often stay as playful as little kittens. They also get along well with other animals.
These cats are well-balanced and well-mannered. In unfamiliar territory, they behave cautiously and carefully, even respectfully. They’re not very talkative and have quiet voices. But they’ll happily delight a loving owner with soft purring.
Care and Health
Studies of American Curl genetics have shown that the breed hasn’t inherited any particular defects or tendencies toward disease. The only mutation these cats have is their curled ears.
But it’s worth remembering another breed with an ear mutation, the Scottish Fold. In Folds that carry two copies of the gene, problems with the bones of the hind legs and tail occur. So the question remains open about the risk of cartilage and bone abnormalities in Curls with two copies of the gene too. Owners, however, say that with proper care, nothing like that has been noticed.
In any case, a Curl’s ears need cleaning more often. Do it gently so you don’t damage the firm cartilage: don’t pull or straighten the ears.
Shorthaired cats only need brushing once a week, longhaired cats twice.
A distinctive trait of the American Curl is fast-growing claws. So it’s best to trim a tiny bit (about 1/16 inch) off every week. Brush your cat’s teeth every 2–3 weeks.
Get your Curl used to these routines from kittenhood, which won’t be hard with these well-behaved cats. They live about 12–16 years on average.
Experienced breeders recommend feeding American Curls a quality food with vitamins. Don’t spoil your cat with human food, especially fatty food. It’s also best to avoid milk.
How Much Does an American Curl Cost?
In the US, an American Curl kitten from a breeder usually costs about $1,000–$3,000. If you want a Curl for shows, be ready to pay a lot. That’s because Curls that fully meet the breed standard are born very rarely, even to experienced breeders. Kittens whose ears ended up straight are usually sold for much less.
Where to Buy an American Curl in the US
The breed is still uncommon, so you may need patience to find a breeder. Here’s where to start:
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/;
- ACFA American Curl breeders’ directory – https://acfacat.com/american_curl.htm;
- Phantasia (Wingina, Virginia);
- ShadyNook (Mondovi, Wisconsin);
- Curlessence (California) – https://www.curlessence.com/.
When buying an American Curl, remember how to recognize this breed for sure: the kitten should already be 4 months old. At that age, you can clearly see whether its ears are curled or not.
