The LaPerm is a cat breed with a natural perm. The name says it all: it combines the French article “la” and the English word “perm.” These cats’ coats can be simply wavy, curl into ringlets, or form springy locks. Either way, the curls are what set the LaPerm apart from other breeds.
Breed History
This breed comes from The Dalles, Oregon, a town with deep Native American roots. That’s where, in 1982, on an ordinary farm, a plain barn cat named Speedy gave birth to the first LaPerm kitten. At first, the kitten was completely bald and didn’t look like its mother or the other kittens. It had big, wide-set ears and bluish patches on its skin that looked like a tabby pattern. Two months later, the kitten started growing soft, curly fur. So it was named Curly.
The farm’s owners, Linda and Richard Koehl, saw that the kitten was special but didn’t think much of it. So for another ten years, the curly cats kept breeding on their own. Then Linda noticed there were a lot of them and started learning more about such cats. When she realized how unique they were, she began breeding LaPerms seriously. Luckily, the “curly gene” turned out to be dominant and was passed on through both the mother’s and the father’s line.
In Chinook Jargon, the old trade language of the region, many words came from French. That’s how the breed got its name, the “Dalles LaPerm”: the French article “la” plus the English word “perm.” TICA granted the LaPerm championship status in 2003, and the CFA followed in 2008.
The breed has something in common with the Devon Rex.
LaPerm 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 | ★★★★☆ |
LaPerm Breed Overview
LaPerm cats can be shorthaired or longhaired. They’re medium-sized and well proportioned, and they can weigh up to about 12 lb.
How can you recognize these unique cats? Here’s a detailed description of the LaPerm:
- Head: triangular, wedge-shaped with slightly rounded contours, full and rounded whisker pads, long and flexible whiskers, and a broad muzzle with a strong chin;
- Ears: medium to large, continuing the wedge of the head; longhaired cats may have tufts at the tips;
- Eyes: medium to large, expressive, almond-shaped, slanting slightly at the outer corners. Any color is allowed, even if it doesn’t match the coat: copper, yellow, green, blue, and so on;
- Body: medium-sized with an ordinary build. The hips sit slightly higher than the shoulders;
- Legs: medium length; the front legs may be slightly shorter, and the paws are round. Still, the cat looks alert, as if walking on extended legs;
- Tail: in proportion to the body, tapering to the tip;
- Coat: any color, length, and degree of curl is allowed, with the tightest curls on the belly, the neck, and at the base of the ears.
Some LaPerm kittens are born bald and grow fur during their first 4 months. A cat may later go bald again and grow fur back again. Other kittens of this rare breed are born with straight fur, but then shed and grow curls. So during a kitten’s first 6 months, you can only guess what its coat will be like.
Color
The breed standard allows any color or combination of colors. Here are just a few of the main ones:
- white: pure and glossy, with a pink nose and paw pads;
- black: deep coal black, with a black nose and paw pads;
- red: a deep, clear color with no spots or ticking, with a pink nose and paw pads;
- ivory: a solid cream shade with a pink nose and paws;
- chocolate: a rich, warm chocolate brown with a pink nose and paws;
- cinnamon: a light reddish brown, much warmer and lighter than chocolate. The nose and paw pads look slightly tanned or pinkish beige.
You could go on forever, since even the official standards list more than 30 LaPerm colors. Tortoiseshell and tabby patterns run in the breed.
Personality
The LaPerm is a very gentle, affectionate cat that’s always looking for contact with people. They start purring as soon as they sense their owner approaching. People have noticed that LaPerms often reach for a person’s face, touch it with their paws, and, if allowed, lick it. They love to show affection and to feel it in return. The ideal spot for a LaPerm is on its owner’s shoulders, chest, or arms.
These are curious cats that always come when called. LaPerms usually have quiet voices, but when they want attention, they can get louder.
Since the breed’s ancestors came from a farm, LaPerms are also excellent hunters. But they adapt well to life indoors.
What’s special about the LaPerm’s personality is that, despite its exotic looks, it’s very attached to people. These cats can adapt to any conditions, as long as a loving owner is nearby. No wonder reviews of them are the best.
Care and Health
Dalles LaPerms have a light undercoat, so many allergy sufferers find them easier to live with (though no cat is completely hypoallergenic). And despite their unusual curls, they don’t need complicated grooming. Like any cat, LaPerms only need an occasional bath and a towel dry. Don’t use a hair dryer: it will ruin the “perm.” Once the coat is dry, mist it lightly with water to bring out the curls. Longhaired LaPerms need brushing once every week or two.
Feed LaPerms like other cats: a good, balanced food. They aren’t picky eaters.
This breed has no known hereditary or genetic diseases. But if LaPerms get fleas, they can develop an allergy. So it’s important to keep up with vaccinations and to use regular flea prevention.
LaPerms live a long time: 12–15 years.
How Much Does a LaPerm Cost?
The LaPerm is still rare in the US, so the price isn’t low. A LaPerm kitten from a US breeder usually costs about $800–$1,500, and some catteries charge up to about $2,800. The price depends on color, sex, pedigree, and the purpose of the purchase (pet or breeding).
Where to Buy a LaPerm Kitten in the US
There aren’t many LaPerms, so kittens are born rarely. But if you arrange it in advance, breeders will set one aside for you. 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/;
- The LaPerm Society of America (a CFA-affiliated breed club with breeder contacts) – https://www.lapermcats.com/.
If you can’t find a LaPerm, take a look at other curly breeds, like the Cornish Rex.
