Physical Description

• Long, fluffy tail
• Ears curl into an arc
• Alert and happy expression
• Sophisticated, stylish presence
• Two coat varieties: longhair and shorthair

Temperament

• People-oriented, faithful, affectionate, smart, curious
• Good with children and other pets
• Attentive to owners
• Makes coo-like sounds
• Keeps kitten personality through adulthood

At Home

• Does best indoors
• Needs sufficient scratching device
• Declawing is not recommended
• Kittens are available after 12-16 weeks

Brief History

• The first American Curl was found in Lakewood, Calif., in 1981
• The Curl, named Shulamith, gave birth to six kittens, most with the unique curled ears
• In 1983, breeders selectively bred to keep the ear-curling trait
• Geneticist Roy Robinson found the ear-curling gene is dominant, which means every cat with the gene will have curled ears

Grooming

• Easily groomed
• Brush gently once a week
• Trim nails regularly

Fun Facts

• Ears are straight when they're born, not curling until three to five days later
• Ears curl into a tight rosebud position, and gradually relax until they set in a permanent position around 16 weeks
• Nicknamed the Peter Pan of cats because of their youthful nature