American Curl – Mixed Cat Breed Characteristics & Facts

American Curl is distinguished by his unusually shaped ears, but even without them, he is a handsome cat with a kind face.

The qualities of the American Curl are listed below.

American Curl Mixed Cat Breed Picture

American Curl – Mixed Cat Breed Characteristics

Vital Stats:

History

One of the more recent cat breeds is the American Curl. A naturally occurring genetic mutation gave rise to it, and Shulamith, a stray black kitten with long, silky hair and curiously curled-back ears, was the first to exhibit it. In Lakewood, California, she managed to find her way to Joe and Grace Ruga’s welcoming door.

She was given the name Shulamith by the Rugas in honor of the “black and beautiful” princess from the Song of Solomon in the Old Testament. Two of the four kittens Shulamith gave birth to by an unidentified father shared her curly ears. Genetic testing revealed the trait was brought on by a dominant gene.

Cat fanciers started selectively breeding the cats in 1983, and the Cat Fanciers Association started registering the new breed, known as the American Curl, in 1986. They received partial recognition from CFA in 1993 after receiving full recognition from The International Cat Association in 1987. It only took six years for a stray dog to become a pedigreed breed, which is an almost unheard-of speed.

The breed is notable for being the first CFA-recognized single breed with two recognized coat lengths. The ancestor of all American Curls is Shulamith. The cats can be crossed with non-pedigreed domestic cats with straight ears that otherwise meet the Curl breed standard or bred to other Curls. This promotes genetic diversity and a large gene pool. Straight-eared kittens from litters of American Curl can be kept as pets or used in breeding programs.

Size

A medium-sized cat, the American Curl weighs 5 to 10 pounds.

Personality

The amiable and kind American Curl is well known for his outgoing nature. In contrast to cats, he even gets along with kids and has been observed seeking them out. Being a domestic shorthair, he is intelligent, curious, and moderately active. While he may follow you around to observe your activities, he is not talkative or domineering like some breeds.

He will quietly request your attention, food, or anything else he needs if necessary. He will gladly give you a head bump when you get home from work and might even do it for visitors. The “Peter Pan” of the cat world is often used to describe American Curls. It’s not unusual to see older Curls having just as much fun flying around the house as younger ones. Both sexes are equally active.

The Curl can learn to fetch and enjoys playing. Be careful what you store in any cabinets that are within his reach because he can also open doorknobs. He will gladly jump into a lap when he needs a break. He is perceptive and versatile, making him a good fit for any household or loving family.

Health

Pedigreed and mixed-breed cats both have varying rates of health issues that could be genetic in origin. American Curls are generally in good health, but some lines have issues with their ear canals being too small, which can cause wax buildup and ear infections.

Care

Both the short and long coats of the Curl are simple to maintain. The longhaired variety has a thin undercoat, making matting and tangling unlikely. The Curl, whether it has long hair or short, only needs to be combed once per week to maintain its beauty. If you want to get rid of any accumulated dead hair, try combing the shorthair’s coat backwards.

All year long, shorthairs typically shed more than longhairs do. It’s a good idea to brush or comb your longhairs more frequently in the warmer months when they may shed more heavily. Rarely is a bath necessary. To prevent periodontal disease, brush your teeth. Although daily brushing is preferred, once a week is still preferable to never. Twice a month, trim your nails.

To get rid of any discharge, use a soft, damp cloth to wipe the corners of your eyes. To prevent the spread of any infection, use a different area of the cloth for each eye. Each week, check your ears. If they appear to be dirty, clean them with a cotton ball or soft, damp cloth dipped in a 50/50 solution of warm water and cider vinegar. Cotton swabs shouldn’t be used because they can harm the ear’s interior.

Avoid breaking the cartilage by handling the ears carefully. Keep the litter box for the American Curl immaculate. Cats are extremely picky about bathroom cleanliness. An American Curl should only be kept indoors to avoid contracting illnesses from other cats, being attacked by dogs or coyotes, and other risks that face cats who venture outdoors, such as being hit by a car.

American Curl who venture outside also run the risk of being taken by a person who wants to own such a stunning cat without having to pay for it.

Coat Design and Maintenance

The Curl is known for its distinctively shaped ears, but even without them, he is an eye-catching cat with a sweet expression, a silky coat that can be long or short, and any color, including rare hues like lilac lynx point, silver patched tabby, and chocolate tortoiseshell smoke. The tail of the longhaired variety is attractively plumed. The most intriguing feature, though, are the ears.

A kitten is born straight; two to ten days later, it starts to curl back. When a kitten is about 4 months old, they curl, uncurl, and curl some more until they reach their permanent shape. A kitten intended for the show ring must have crescent-shaped ears that are curled no more than 180 degrees, but at least 90 degrees.

The moderately sized ears have flexible, rounded tips that are frequently covered in fur tufts. The tips of Curls’ ears point to the center of the base of the skull when they are alert, but the ears themselves rotate forward.

Kids and other animals

The Curl is a good choice for families who will keep an eye on kids to make sure they pet the cat politely and don’t pull his ears or tail because he is kind to kids. Thanks to his friendly nature, he is content to live with dogs who get along with cats as well. To ensure that they learn to get along with one another, introduce pets gradually and under controlled conditions.

Creator: PetsCareTip