LaPerm
Owner's Guide
The LaPerm cat is a unique combination of curly hair and an affectionate personality. They are reliably affectionate towards owners.
The kitten that exhibited traits of the original mutation for the LaPerm breed sprang from strong, healthy, domestic "barn-cat" stock. According to records from 1982, a litter of six kittens was born to a barn cat on an Oregon farm located near the ancient hunting and fishing grounds of the Wishram Indians. One of the kittens was born completely bald -- looking nothing like her mother or her littermates. While the kitten had no hair, it did have large wide-spaced ears and a blueprint pattern on her skin that mimicked a classic tabby pattern. Within eight weeks the kitten began to grow very soft, curly hair. At three to four months of age the kitten, now named "Curly," had a full coat of curly hair.
For 10 years no attempts were made to breed selectively, but as the frequency of bald kittens increased in the randomly bred litters, the owner of the farm began to seek additional information about her unusual cats.
As she learned how truly unique these cats were, she started to confine the cats and control the breedings. It appeared that the curly gene was dominant and carried by both males and females. This breeder was totally unprepared for the interest and excitement generated by cats she decided to enter in a cat show. The owner gave the cats the breed name "LaPerm," which means wavy or rippled.
The LaPerm can sport anything from a wavy coat to ringlet-type curls that range from tight ringlets to long corkscrew curls. The tightest curls occur on the underside of the cat, on the throat area and at the base of the ears.
These unusual cats come in every recognized color and coat pattern. They are gentle and affectionate, but also very active. Unlike many active breeds, the LaPerm is also quite content to be a lap cat.
Breed Profile
Origin: United States
Color: Any color
LaPerm cats are affectionate, gentle and active. They are also friendly with people.
Videos
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