The American Curl Cat Breed… Everything You Need to Know at a Glance!

If you’re one of those folks who loves cats and likes to be a “bit” different than there is a really good chance that an American Curl cat might be the “right” cat breed for you.

Because…

Not only is the American Curl cat breed a really unique looking animal, it also has a very sweet disposition making it an ideal pet for just about any individual or family.

But…

Like we always say here at IndulgeYourPet when it comes to determining which “type” of cat is going to be right for you, it’s important to fully understand a particular breed so that you won’t be disappointed with what “kind” of cat you get six months from now.

This is why…

We chose to write this article about the American Curl cat breed so that you can get a better understanding of this particular cat breed and be better prepared to decide if you should take the next step and either purchase an American Curl kitten or better yet adopt an American Curl rescue animal.

So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.

American Curl Cat Breed Fast Facts

Country of Origin:  United States

Size:  Medium

Weight:  7 to 10 pounds

Eyes:   Walnut-shaped

Shape of Head:  Round wedge-shaped

Life Span:  15 plus years!

Origin of the cat breed

Unlike many other cat breeds that are out there that may have an ancient and somewhat “mysterious” origin story, when it comes to the American Curl cat breed we know that we Joe and Grace Ruga to thank for its existence.

You see…

These are the folks who on one summer day in 1981 found a young and lost female cat that strayed on to their property in Lakewood, California. This little, somewhat “unspectacular” little cat (which was later named Shulamith) was a just your “average” black domestic long-haired cat.

And while…

Shulamith was certainly a pretty cat, it wasn’t a cat that folks would one day decide to write books about.  But that all changed when 6 months later, Shulamith gave birth to several kittens two of which had curled ears.

From these…

Two curly-eared kittens, Shulamith became the origin of each and every American Curl breed in existence today.

From there…

Nancy Kiester (a cat enthusiast) acquired one of the black long-haired female kitten called Mercedes.  And in October 1983, Mercedes, along with a few other curly-eared kittens sired from Shulamith were displayed in Palm Spring at a cat exhibition.

And as you can imagine…

These three cats got an ENORMOUS amount of attention from many of the cat fanciers in attendance which created a craze leading to many of these same cat enthusiasts to begin selectively breeding American Curls ultimately leading to the emergence of the American Curl as a new cat breed.

In 1986, the American Curl breed was recognized by the American Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) and by the International Cat Association in 1985.

Physical characteristics of the cat breed

In identifying an American Curl cat, all you’re really going to need to do is take a look at their ears which will be “curled” backwards in order to make a positive identification.

That said however…

There are a few other “traits” that you’ll want to be aware of should you decide that you might want to adopt an American Curl cat.  Traits such as these cats will typically grow to be about 7 to 10 pounds and they’re going to take their “sweet” time getting this big.

You see…

The American Curl cat breed is one that typically takes 2 to 3 years to mature fully.  Which means that if your favorite time of a cats life is when they are kittens or rather small, you’ll be delighted with how long your American Curl is going to remain “kitten like”.

Another “oddity” that…

Might be interested in is that most, if not all, American Curls will be born with “normal” or non-curled ears.  Their ears only become “curled” after a week or so after birth.

Their coats can…

Also come in a variety of different colors which include white, silver, blue, red, brown, chocolate, lilac, cream, black, and chocolate. Their coat colors could also be solid or take other patterns such as points, tabby, smoke, bi-color, and ticking. Some are long-haired while others are short haired.

One good thing…

About the coat of an American curl cat is that it doesn’t require any special care or any special grooming “requirements”.  Which means that as long as you keep an eye on your American Curl and periodically brush him or her every now and then, they shouldn’t require being bathed all that often.

The eyes of and American Curl…

Can also vary colors and may be: yellow, orange, copper, amber, gold, hazel, aqua, and blue.

They’re also…

Rather “stocky” for their size.  So, despite the fact that they only weigh about 7 to 10 pounds, these “little” guys are going to “feel” bigger than they actually are.  This combined with their well-muscled bodies and long tails will often give off an impression that they larger then they actually are as well.

Temperament of the American Curl

Just ask any American Curl owner and they’ll surly tell you that the American Curl breed as a whole is quite friendly and has a lovely personality. These cats love being around people and will follow you as you go about your activities.

Plus…

This breed is not only comfortable around you and other “two legged” family member, they also do well with other home pets as well.

Ironically…

For such a social cat breed, it may be a bit surprising to learn that American Curl cats aren’t all that communicative. In fact, at first sight, you may think that they’re a timid and shy breed. However, these cats have their own special way of communicating with their owners by making “cooing” noises.  Which we here at IndulgeYourPet think is really cool!

Did we mention that…

The American Curl cat breed is great with kids?  We’ll if not, we should have because after all, these guys are quite playful and what kid doesn’t love a cat that is willing to be played with and picked up and held and… etc, etc…

In fact…

Don’t be surprise if your American curl tries to play hide and seek with you or decides to turn your house into his or her own “jungle gym” because these little guys also love to jump to reach elevated places such as the top of a cabinet.

That said however…

It’s important to note that American Curls will get lonely when left alone. They may even suffer from isolation. It is, therefore, advisable that you set aside time to spend with them if you were to adopt one or allow them to be both indoor and outdoor animals.  Otherwise, you could be setting yourself up to have a very frustrated cat on your hands if he or she is left by themselves for too long.

Common health issues of the American Curl Cat Breed

One of the really nice things about deciding to purchase an American Curl kitten is that because the cat breed is relatively “young” and because they “emerged” from rather humble beginning rather than from a pedigree lineage, these cats tend to be really healthy.

Us humans…

Haven’t had enough time to meddle with their genetic makeup to really create any problems which is why, the American Curl cat breed isn’t really at risk for any inheritable diseases that we know of as of yet.

Now…

That being said however you should always be sure to do your due diligence when deciding on which American Curl breeder you should choose however, the good news is that you don’t really need to ask about any “specific” medical issues, you’ll just want to make sure that your breeder is willing to guarantee the health or your new kitten.

Lastly…

Even though the American Curl cat breed is a very healthy cat breed, we here at IndulgeYourPet always like to advise any new pet owner to take a look at what it might cost for you to purchase a pet insurance policy on your new little family member.  Because you never know!

Your little guy…

May be perfectly health for his or her entire life until an unforeseen accident forces you to visit your local veterinarian in a panic!  And wouldn’t you like to have a pet insurance policy in place on that day so that you won’t be on the “hook” for 100% of the costs accrued making sure that your little “buddy” gets the care that he or she needs?

For more information about who we feel offers the “best” pet insurance policies in the industry today, we would encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Company article so that you can get a better idea if purchasing a pet insurance policy makes sense of you.