American Curl (Shorthair) Cats

A ginger shorthair american curl with a pink nose

Alert and wide-eyed American curl cat against a green background

A pair of alert American Curl cats against a white background

Tabby American curl cat lying down looking forward

History

The American Curl breed has its roots in California, America. Unlike some other breeds where the origin is unknown, American Curl cats (both longhair and shorthair) can be traced back to one cat in particular. In 1981 a couple living in California found a black longhaired stray cat with unusual curled ears. They named this cat ‘Shulamith’ and they bred from her.

The first American Curl cat was shown in 1986 gaining lots of interest from cat fanciers. In the early stages of the breed's development all American Curls were longhaired, it wasn’t until later that shorthair American Curls were developed. The english feline geneticist Roy Robinson carried out work on the emerging breed and found that the gene causing the iconic ear curl was dominant so any cat possessing one copy of the gene would have curled ears. He also found that the American Curl breed was healthy with no genetic defects.

Behaviour

Not only are American Curls particularly unique looking, but they also have a fantastic personality. This breed is fond of human companionship and is an on the go cat. They are known for getting on well with other pets, and are a great choice for children. They have an inquisitive nature and will always seek adventure, whether that be exploring up high in the kitchen cupboards or wandering around the garden. American curls are fairly quiet, but will let you know when they want something by chirping and trilling. This cat is very loyal, and will follow you around the house asking for attention.