The American Curl is a breed of cat with unusual ears. The ears
curl back from the face in a smooth arc toward the center of the
back of the skull; they are otherwise perfectly normal cats. The
breed is the result of a spontaneous mutation which occurred in a
cat in Lakewood, California in 1981. The first cat, a black female
domestic cat, was found and taken in by the Ruga family who named
her Shulamith. All American Curls descend from her, the foundation
female. In 1983, the first American Curl was exhibited at a cat
show, and in 1987, the longhair American Curl was given championship
status by The International Cat Association (TICA). In 1993, the
American Curl set a precedent in the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA)
by being the first breed to be admitted to the Championship Class as
one breed with two coat lengths. The American Curl is a medium size
cat (7-11 lbs) with no health handicaps associated with the curled
ears. They are strong, healthy cats remarkably free of genetic
defects that affect many purebred cats, and will not reach maturity
until 2-3 years of age. The The American Curl may have either curled
ears or straight ears. If the cat's ears are curled, it will not be
apparent until two or three days after the birth, and will take
their final form after four months. The curled ears should be hard
and stiff to the touch. The longhairs have a plush, silky coat, and
the shorthairs have a thick, non-wooly coat, and is also silky. The
American Curl may have three degrees of curl - first degree, second
degree, or third degree. The third degree is the preferred one.
Luxurious tufts of fur sprout from the bottom of the ears. The
straight ear American Curl has all of the loving personality of the
curled ear American Curl but may not be shown. The American Curl
comes in two coat lengths - either long haired or short haired. The
American Curl comes in all colors.
The American Curl, while still an uncommon breed, is found across
the world from the United States to Spain, France, Japan, Russia,
and many other countries.
The character "Ray" from the comic strip Achewood is an American
Curl.
"What did you do to their ears? Are their ears always like that? Did
you
use a curling iron?"
Yes, their ears ARE always like that and no, a curling iron was NOT
used
to achieve those extraordinary ears! The curled ear is a natural
genetic
mutation and first time admirers are always surprised by the
American
Curl's unique ears and impressed by their overall striking beauty.
Curls
quickly become a favorite with all who come to know them.
The American Curl's ears, which are firm to the touch and curl back
in a
graceful arc away from their face toward the center back of their
head,
are a genetic mutation given to us by none other than Mother Nature.
Discovered in California as a stray cat in 1981, the American Curl
is now
recognized as one of the United States' native American cat breeds.
On a sunny day in June 1981 in Lakewood, California, a longhair
silky black female kitten with unusual ears wandered up to the doorstep of
Joe and Grace Ruga. Joe scrutinized the situation and determined
that the most effective solution to this stray kitten problem was to ask
Grace
not to feed the kitten. Grace, not abiding by her husband's wishes
but listening to her heart instead, left a bowl of food on the porch.
The
affectionate black kitten quickly worked her way into the Ruga's
hearts
(especially Joe's) and they named her Shulamith, which means "black
but comely". Such are the beginnings of the American Curl as it is
known today. True American Curls must trace their pedigree back to
Shulamith, the foundation female.
In December 1981, Shulamith delivered her first litter of kittens.
Out of
four kittens, two had the same curly ears as Shulamith. A geneticist
was
contacted to study this phenomenon and he confirmed that this
unusual
ear was a genetic trait and was inherited in every case, causing it
to be
labeled a dominant gene, with no deformities attached to it.
Referred to
as a spontaneous mutation, the gene that causes the ear to curl
appeared to be following a single dominant pattern.
Selective breeding and presentation of the Curls began in 1983
allowing
cat fanciers their first opportunity to get a glimpse of a rare, new
addition
to the world of cats. Curls were first accepted for CFA registration
in
1986 and achieved Provisional status in 1991 followed by their
advancement to the Championship Class in February 1993, setting a
precedent in CFA by being the first breed to be admitted to the
Championship Class as one breed with two coat lengths. Due to their
domestic ancestry, American Curls are available in both longhair and
shorthair varieties and come in any color or coat pattern. Both coat
lengths are presented in the Longhair Division at CFA cat shows.
Breeding partners for American Curls are limited to other Curls or
non-pedigreed domestic cats which closely match the Curl breed
standard with the exception of the curled ear. By outcrossing to
domestic cats, the American Curl gene pool grows large and optimum
health is maintained due to genetic diversity. When breeding Curl to
Curl,
the resulting kittens will usually all have curled ears. However, a
Curl
bred to a straight ear cat, regardless of whether or not it is a
domestic cat
or an American Curl Straight Ear, will produce at least 50% Curls
and
sometimes more due to the dominant nature of the curl gene. American
Curl Straight Ears from such litters are very valuable in a planned
breeding program and also make outstanding pets.
When Curls are born, their ears are straight, but within two to ten
days
after birth, their ears begin to curl back. During the first 4
months, the
kitten's ears will gradually curl and uncurl in varying degrees
until they are
set permanently at 4 months of age. At this age, breeders can
determine
the kitten's quality (pet, breeder, show). Along with the kitten's
overall
conformation to the breed standard, degree of curl to the ear is a
key
factor in determining quality as follows: first degree (pet), second
degree
(breeder), and third degree (show) being the most desirable curl to
the
ear, emulating the graceful curve of a full crescent. Ear
furnishings (hair
tufts) fanning outward from the ear accentuate and further enhance
the
curled ear.
The ideal American Curl is a medium sized, alert animal with an
elegant
appearance and a sweet, open expression complimented by their
remarkable ears. Both longhair and shorthair Curls have soft, silky
coats,
but the longhair Curl has the distinction of sporting a beautiful
plumed tail.
Because both coat lengths have minimal undercoat resulting in
non-matting hair, grooming an American Curl is easy -- an occasional
bath
and combing is all that is needed. Care should be taken when
handling
the ears to avoid breaking the cartilage -- do not force the ear
into
unnatural positions.
The Curl's temperament is one of curiosity and companionship. Being
very people-oriented, they like to assist in all household projects
and
delight in "bumping heads" with their owners or new human
acquaintances. Curls are even tempered and intelligent, yet they
retain
their kitten-type behavior throughout their adult life. Not overly
talkative,
the Curls will tell you when they need something or desire
attention.
American Curls easily adapt to almost any home situation and adjust
to
other animals remarkably well. Simply stated, they are extremely
affectionate and absolutely ear-resistible!
Pricing of American Curls usually depends on each individual
kitten's
degree of curl, bloodlines, type and markings. Many breeders allow
pickup of new kittens between 3 and 4 months of age. Along with
reaching their permanent degree of curl by 4 months, kittens have
had
basic inoculations and developed the physical and social stability
to
adjust to a new environment. Four months is also the minimum age
requirement for cat show participation and transportation of kittens
by air.
|
