The American Curl Cat

The American Curl is a small, lean cat with extraordinary curled ears. The curl of the ears is an unusual mutation that does not affect the cats hearing, and Curls appear to be healthy and normal otherwise. When Curl kittens are first born their ears start off just like any other cats ears, but something happens at about a week and a half into life - the ears start to curl delicately backwards and the kittens start looking more and more like little elves! Both ears usually curl equally and there is a deliberate and purposeful look about them as if they were definitely no accident. Fortunately the rest of the cat follows suit with a purposefully pleasant personality and charm. The coat can be long or short but is always silky and smooth and with no undercoat. This is a very kittenish breed that forms tight bonds with all family members including kids, dogs and other cats. It is a friendly busy-body who must be in the center of the action for maximum enjoyment.

 Cool Cat Facts...
American Curl kittens are born with normal looking
ears that begin to change at 10 days old. The tips
of the ears gradually curl backwards to give almost
an elf-like expression!                                                                         

Is An American Curl Cat Right For You?

The American Curl cat is recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the world's largest cat organization. It is a relatively uncommon pure-bred or "pedigreed" domestic cat breed. The breed can be traced back to one individual, a stray named "Shulasmith" with unusual ears discovered in California in the 1980's. The Curl comes in any color or pattern with white and silver being most common. The coat is unusually silky with no undercoat. Moderate grooming is desired. These are slender, smallish-sized cats that have few breed-related health issues. Because it is active and desires interaction the American Curl is a superb family cat that does well with considerate children, forms strong bonds, and likes to be included in everything.

American Curl Cat Breed Standards

Head: Modified wedge shape that is longer than wide and of medium size in proportion to body size. The nose is of medium length with a rounded, well-formed muzzle and firm chin.
Ears: There should be a minimum of a 90 degree curl to the tips of the ears, but should not curl over further than 180 degrees. The cartiledge in the ear should be firm and normally formed to at least 50% of the height. The ear should be wide at the base and normally open with the top half curved back in a smooth arc, both ears being relatively uniform.
Eyes: The eyes should be large and walnut shaped - with oval curve on top and rounded on bottom. They should be a at a slight angle and one eye width apart. The eye color should be clear and bright and any color is acceptable. With pointed coat color, blue eyes are required. 
Body and Tail: The body should be slim, of medium depth, and about 1.5 times longer than shoulder height. Lean, flexible and medium boned legs with round, medium sized feet. The tail is medium in form, tapered and medium in length. Kinks in the tail are not desirable.
Coat: The coat is silky with a minimal undercoat. It should not be plush but should lay flat and smooth, Soft and varied in length.
Color and Pattern: Accepted in all recognized colors and patterns.
Overall Appearance: This should be a small, lean-bodied cat with a slim appearance. The most notable feature, of course, the remarkable curled ears, should have a natural appearance, fully functioning and attractive. A friendly, sweet-natured cat.

Inside Cat or Outside Cat?

Wondering if you should allow your cat to go outside unsupervised? Well there are definitely some pure breeds that should never be outside cats. Hairless breeds like the Sphynx are extremely vulnerable and should always be supervised outdoors. Docile breeds like the Burmese may not be able to defend themselves. All cats allowed outdoors are exposed to diseases and parasites that they would not otherwise encounter. Fred Flintstone put his saber-tooth out every night, but the cat jumped right back in the window - and he was a saber-tooth! Still, most of us feel a little envy when we see our domestic companion out on some high perch, sniffing the breeze of liberty, and there is no doubt that cats love their freedom. So what do YOU think ....Inside Cat or Outside Cat? Comment Here...

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