LaPerm, The Affectionate And Playful Curly Cat
A cat with soft and curly fur that aims to be the most pampered of the family. This is the LaPerm, a breed born from a natural mutation and which owes its name to the “permanent”. That’s right, the popular hair treatment that was all the rage during the 1980s.
A breed born from a natural mutation
The origin of this beautiful kitten dates back to 1982 in the United States. There, in a barn in the state of Oregon, a specimen of a mixed litter – born to keep farm rats at bay – was born incredibly hairless.
However, after a few months, the animal began to develop curly fur. These “unusual” kittens transmitted this genetic peculiarity to subsequent litters as well. This convinced the owners, Linda and Richard Koehl, to start breeding them selectively.
At the moment, the LaPerm breed is recognized by the main feline associations. In any case, beyond its country of origin, the United States, it is not particularly widespread. Over time, the situation is destined to change, as there are already some farms in Canada, England, New Zealand and Japan.
Physical characteristics of the LaPerm cat
A LaPerm can have short, medium or long hair. What is never missing are her curls, more or less tousled, which become more evident on the abdomen, neck and at the base of the ears. With respect to colors, there are various types of specimens and feline clubs accept any shade. Regarding the weight, there is a small difference between males and females. The former range from 4 to 6 kg, the latter from 3 to 5.
Here are some basic features of La Perm:
- Muscular and strong body, of medium size.
- Long legs.
- Wedge-shaped and slightly rounded head.
- Erect ears, medium to large in size.
- Almond and expressive eyes, yellow, gold, blue or green.
- Stylized neck.
- Tail broad and medium length, with abundant hair.
A curly cat who loves cuddling and playing
The LaPerm cat is happy if it is always in contact with its owners. It is an ideal pet for the elderly, but it also gets along well with children and other pets already in the house, no matter if they are dogs, cats, birds or turtles. If you adopt one, it will always follow you, wherever you go.
But as tender as he is, like any cat he is also curious. He loves to explore his surroundings. And more than once it will climb onto the shoulders of its owners to scan the landscape with greater confidence.
Calm, intelligent and affectionate, it is an animal that loves to walk in a patio or in the garden. Don’t forget to take some precautions to prevent them from escaping. And if you give him some toys, he will be happy to drain energy and train, being a skilled rodent hunter.
LaPerm, a healthy domestic feline
From a health point of view, this kitty has proven to be very healthy. But it is also a young breed, so it will take a few years to get a more comprehensive picture of the possible pathologies that could affect this cat. Generally speaking, LaPerms have a life expectancy of 15-20 years.
On the other hand, it doesn’t require too much care. Long-haired specimens require a little more attention in terms of brushing frequency than short-haired specimens. Either way, and this is great news, its fur doesn’t get too tangled and hardly ever sheds hair.
Like all domestic cats, it requires quality food to grow healthy and strong. And visits to the vet are very important, both for normal vaccines and for periodic deworming, as well as to prevent any problems that, like any domestic feline, LaPerm could present.
