Ratings

Breed Introduction

The curled ears of the American Curl are not man-made but are formed by genetic mutation. The American Curl loves peace and is intelligent, agile, and affectionate towards its owner. They are gentle, charming, alert, and lively. The main feature is the smooth line between the two ears to the neck. The ears are curled, with rounded tips, and decorated with fur around them. Special care must be taken with their ears to avoid breaking the cartilage. Do not intentionally bend their ears into unnatural shapes. They have large walnut-shaped eyes and a medium-sized rectangular body. Both long-haired and short-haired varieties of the American Curl have soft silky coats with very little undercoat; the short-haired variety has elastic fur without a plush feel, while the long-haired variety has a bushy tail.

According to CCTV’s “Cute Pets Growing Up” episode 4, there are no more than a thousand purebred American Curls registered globally. The breed originated in California, USA, but breeding began only in 1983, making it a rare new member of the cat world. It is said to trace back to a black female cat abandoned in 1981. The kittens born to American Curl parents have only a 50% chance of having curled ears. (After generations of stable pedigree genetics, the incidence of curled ears in purebred American Curls has basically reached 100%.) At birth, they appear normal, but the ears start to change between 4 to 7 days after birth, forming curls, and this becomes fixed after four months. Their popular charming personality corresponds to their appearance.

In 1983, American breeder Nancy first showcased the Curl at a cat show, receiving positive reviews and beginning the breeding process. Regardless of coat color, long or short, the American Curl’s ears are always curled and adorned with fur, making them very beautiful. The cartilage of the curled ears feels firm, and there are three degrees of curl: mild, partial, and crescent (best). Purebred American Curl kittens are born with normal ears, which become noticeably curled between 4 to 7 days after birth, until they become fixed after four months.

The American Curl is a mutation breed. Legend has it that in 1981, a black female cat in Southern California with soft, smooth long hair had beautifully curled ears. After being adopted by a couple, she gave birth to a litter, two of whom had curled ears like their mother. This was the ancestor of the American Curl. Roy Robinson, a renowned British geneticist and breeder of felines, analyzed data from the 81 litters of 383 kittens. He confirmed that the curled ear gene is unique and is a dominant autosomal gene, meaning any cat with even one copy of the gene will display the trait. In a paper published in the December 1989 issue of a genetics journal, he reported that, after analyzing genetic DNA, he found no defects, laying the foundation for a new healthy breed.