The American Curl cat is a distinctive breed with whimsical ears that curl enchantingly up at the tips. They are still considered a new breed and are gaining popularity in leaps and bounds. The unique curl to the ear is a genetic mutation that starts to manifest its self when the kitten is 3-5 days old. http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/american-curl.html All curl kittens are born with straight ears. After the ears begin to curl they will actually curl and uncurl until the amount of curl is set when the kitten is around four months old.http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/articles/acurl.htmlThe amount of curl varies greatly, from a nearly straight ear to the highly praised and sought after show quality(or grade 3) ear with an arc of 90 to 180 degrees.http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/american-curl.html Unlike most cats' ears that are soft and supple, the Curl's ears are firm and feel of cartilage, much like a human's ears.http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/articles/acurl.html Small tufts grow out of the ears and bring to mind the cat's larger cousin the lynx.

Although the ears are what catches one's attention when they first catch sight of the Curl, they also have a variety of other features that make them a unique and desirable companion. They have a silky coat, which when long, lays flat and comes in a rainbow of hues and markings.http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/american-curl.html They are the only breed to be recognized in both the long hair and the short haired coats.http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/articles/acurl.html They have large, expressive, walnut shaped eyes.

These cats are not decorative cats that are going to perch on the window sill or laze on the bed. The Curl is an active cat that is known for keeping its kittenish playfulness its entire life. They are people cats and like to be in the midst of whatever is going on and keep tabs on the household. They are great pets for a family and do well with children and other household pets.

The breed originated from a black stray with folded ears named Shulamith. She showed up with her sister kitten at the house of Grace and Joe Ruga in Lakewood, California in 1981.http://www.petfinder.com/cat-breeds/American-Curl The sister disappeared but Shulamith went on to be the foundation of the breed. In 1986, TICA recognized the cats as a breed, late followed by CFA and CFF.http://www.petfinder.com/cat-breeds/American-CurlTo ensure sufficient genetic diversity out-crossing to non-pedigreed domesticated cats was allowed until January 1, 2010.http://www.petfinder.com/cat-breeds/American-Curl

The relatively thin under coat of the Curl requires very little grooming. Its unique ear structure may occasionally need cleaned, but on the whole the Curl is an easy to maintain cat. Regular veterinarian checkups are recommended, as with any pets, and yearly shots.