American CurlCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care
American Curl at a cat show. · Heikki Siltala / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0). Cropped and resized.
The American Curl is a cat breed from the USA, recognised by its ears, which curl back in an arc towards the back of the head. All American Curls descend from a black stray cat found in California in 1981. It comes in shorthaired and semi-longhaired varieties; both have a soft, silky coat.
Quick facts
| Common name | American Curl (shorthair and semi-longhair) |
| Scientific name | Felis catus |
| Country of origin | USA (Lakewood, California) |
| Official recognition | FIFe since 2003 (codes ACS and ACL, category 2); TICA, CFA |
| Lifespan | 12–16 years |
| Weight | 2.3–4.5 kg (females 2.3–3.6 kg, males 3.2–4.5 kg) |
| Size | Medium |
| Body type | Moderate, 1.5 times longer than its height at the shoulder |
| Coat type | Short or semi-long, soft, silky, with little undercoat |
| Common colours | All colours, including those with a darker muzzle and legs (pointed) |
| Eye colour | Large, walnut-shaped; any colour, blue in the pointed varieties |
| Activity level | High |
| Temperament | Playful, curious, sociable, well balanced |
| Good with children | Good with children |
| Good with other pets | Sociable with other animals |
| Genetic predispositions | No hereditary diseases linked to the curled ears are known |
- Primary category:Cat breeds
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History and origin
In June 1981, a black stray cat turned up at the door of the Ruga family in Lakewood, California. She was named Shulamith. Her kittens had the same curled ears, and Shulamith became the ancestor of all American Curls today.
The breed was first shown at a cat show in 1986. In 1992 TICA gave championship status to the longhaired variety, and in 1999 the American Curl became the first breed accepted by the CFA directly with both varieties, shorthaired and longhaired.
How the breed developed
- June 1981 – the cat Shulamith turns up at the Ruga family's home in California.
- 1986 – first cat show.
- 1992 – TICA championship status for the longhaired variety.
- 1999 – the CFA accepts it with both varieties.
- 2003 – recognised by FIFe.
At a glance: who is it right for?
- Families with children or other pets. Sources describe it as sociable and well balanced.
- People who want a cat that stays playful all its life. Breeders say it “behaves like a kitten all its life”.
- People without much time for brushing. The coat has little undercoat and is easy to care for.
- Be careful with the ears. The ear cartilage must not be bent or pressed.
Physical characteristics
It is a medium-sized cat. Wikipedia gives 2.3–3.6 kg for females and 3.2–4.5 kg for males. It only reaches its adult shape at 2–3 years. The FIFe standard asks for a body 1.5 times longer than the height at the shoulder.
General appearance
The ears are wide at the base and open, curved back in a smooth arc, with rounded, flexible tips. The head is a slightly rounded wedge, a little longer than it is wide. The eyes are fairly large and walnut-shaped. The tail is flexible and as long as the body; in the semi-longhaired variety it is bushy, like a plume.
| Feature | American Curl |
|---|---|
| Size | Medium |
| Weight | 2.3–4.5 kg |
| Ears | Curved back in an arc, flexible tips |
| Head | Slightly rounded wedge |
| Eyes | Large, walnut-shaped |
| Tail | As long as the body |
| Coat | Short or semi-long, silky |
The standard accepts many colours and patterns, including the “pointed” varieties, with a darker muzzle, ears, legs and tail; in these the eyes must be blue.
Related breeds and how to tell them apart
The Scottish Fold has ears folded forwards, caused by a different mutation, linked to a disease of the bones and cartilage. In the American Curl the ears turn backwards, and a cat with two copies of the curl gene, followed for two years, had no such problems.
Behaviour and temperament
French Wikipedia brings together the views of several authors: Bruce Fogle describes it as playful, curious and sociable, and Christiane Sacase as discreet, calm, well balanced and sociable with other animals. Breeders say it “behaves like a kitten all its life”.
Socialisation
It is sociable with people and with other animals.
A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.
Habits at home
Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.
Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.
Life at home and activity
It is a playful, curious cat that needs daily play and places to climb.
| Activity | How often | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Play with toys (wand toys, balls) | daily | Play imitates hunting and uses up its energy |
| Scratching post or board | always available | It looks after its claws without damaging the furniture |
| High places (cat tree, shelves) | always available | It has somewhere to watch from and to rest |
Tips for a balanced life
- Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
- Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
- If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.
Care and health
Coat care
It has little undercoat, so it is easy to groom: for the short coat, brushing once a week is enough. In the semi-longhaired variety the coat should be combed through more often, especially during moulting.
Check and clean the ears carefully, without bending them.
Common health problems
French Wikipedia describes it as a robust breed with high genetic diversity and no known genetic diseases. The gene that curls the ears is dominant: a single copy is enough for a kitten to have curled ears.
Recommended genetic tests
No genetic test is specifically required for this breed. Kittens are born with straight ears, which start to curl within 48 hours; after 4 months the shape is fixed, and the breeder can then tell how curled they are.
Is it hypoallergenic?
Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.
Other care
- A check-up at the vet once a year.
- Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
- Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
- Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.
Diet and nutrition
The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.
Tips for a healthy diet
The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.
| Cat's weight | Calories per day (neutered) | Calories per day (not neutered) | Dry food per day (approximate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 kg | 170 kcal | 190 kcal | 42–54 g |
| 3 kg | 190 kcal | 220 kcal | 48–63 g |
| 3.5 kg | 210 kcal | 250 kcal | 52–71 g |
| 4.5 kg | 260 kcal | 300 kcal | 65–86 g |
- Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
- Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
- Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.
Dangerous foods and substances
Some common household items are dangerous for cats:
- Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
- Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
- Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
- Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.
Reproduction and development
Maturity
Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.
Mating and pregnancy
Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.
Blood type
Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.
We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.
Caring for the kittens
Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.
Neutering
Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.
How to choose a kitten
- Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
- The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
- The final shape of the ears shows at about 4 months: younger kittens may still have ears that are changing.
- Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
- Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.
Interesting facts
- Straight ears at birth. Kittens are born with straight ears, which start to curl within 48 hours.
- A single ancestor. All American Curls descend from the cat Shulamith, found in 1981.
- Firm cartilage, soft tip. After 4 months the ear is firm at the base and flexible at the tip.
- A late developer. It only reaches its adult shape at 2–3 years.
Frequently asked questions
Why are its ears curled back?
Because of a naturally occurring mutation, passed on by the cat Shulamith, found in California in 1981.
Are the kittens born with curled ears?
No. Kittens have straight ears, which curl within the first 48 hours; the shape is fixed after 4 months.
How much does an American Curl weigh?
Females weigh 2.3–3.6 kg and males 3.2–4.5 kg.
How long does it live?
French Wikipedia gives 12–16 years.
Is it hard to groom?
No. It has little undercoat; the shorthaired variety is brushed once a week.
