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Curly-coated cat · United States

LaPerm

The LaPerm has light, irregular curls and often stays playful into adulthood. It enjoys being near people and is just as keen to explore climbing places and new toys.

Size: MediumActivity: HighCare needs: Low
At a glance Compare breeds ↗
Adult LaPerm cat with a clear view of its face
Black-and-white young LaPerm Ägirs Hus BC Qaffe with a curly coatYoung catLaPerm cat Nertus with curly fur around the neck and earsCoat and featuresTwo LaPerm cats sitting on a garden wall with their backs to the cameraIn the garden

At a glance

Size
Medium
Weight
2.7 to 5.4 kg
Lifespan
12 to 15 yearsUK GCCF cat breed profile
Activity
High
Care needs
Low
Owner experience
First cat with preparation

Affectionate and curious

A LaPerm often follows people around the house and investigates their activities. It may tap at an out-of-reach toy and try another route if the first fails. Many enjoy physical affection and settle close by. Make time with the cat each day and give it a quiet place to retreat.

Climbing and search games

A LaPerm likes finding its own way to a new place. Stable climbing space and short search games give it room to explore. Start with a suitable cat toy partly visible behind an open cardboard box so the cat can spot it and reach it with a paw. Choose a toy without loose small parts and remove tape, staples and string from the box before play. LaPerms often keep playing well into adulthood, so changing toys and challenges is worthwhile at any age.

For practical play, food searches and quiet retreats, read Indoor Cat Enrichment: Play, Food Puzzles and Safe Retreats ↗

Two LaPerm cats sitting on a garden wall with their backs to the camera
Two LaPerm cats with different coat colours

Gently through the curls

The curls are airy with little undercoat. Comb gently with wide teeth, especially around the neck and belly. Hard brushing can pull the curls straight and irritate skin. Some LaPerm kittens start with straight or very little hair and develop curls later; seasonal shedding also changes the shape. Low shedding does not make a cat allergy-free.

LaPerm cat Nertus with curly fur around the neck and ears
Curls around the neck and ears

A natural curl mutation

The breed traces back to a kitten born on an Oregon farm in 1982. After an almost hairless start, its coat grew in curly. LaPerms now come in short- and longhaired forms and many colours. The medium-sized body is lean but muscular, with fairly long legs. Curls show especially around the neck, ears and tail; even the whiskers can be wavy.

Ask for health records

The International Cat Association (TICA) names no inherited disease specific to the LaPerm on its breed page. UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory nevertheless lists LaPerms among breeds at increased risk of PK deficiency, an enzyme defect that prevents red blood cells from getting enough energy. The cells break down too early, which can cause recurring anaemia. Ask a breeder for both parents’ DNA results. If domestic cats were introduced into the breeding line, ask for their DNA results too. The TICA breed committee recommends this testing. Have new bare patches assessed by a vet, especially if the skin is red or itchy.

Could this breed fit your life?

Could work well if …

  • You want an active, affectionate cat and will play regularly.
  • You enjoy a changing curly coat and can groom it gently.

May be more difficult if …

  • You expect a guaranteed allergy-free cat.
  • There would be little safe room for climbing and play.

Meet other cat breeds.

Selected by size, activity, care and play needs.

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Burmese

Medium10 to 17 years

Compact, silky-coated and strongly people-oriented, the Burmese often seeks close contact and joins in family life.

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Egyptian Mau

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The Egyptian Mau is a fast, spotted cat that enjoys playing with familiar people and often watches a new situation carefully before joining in.

Shorthair · Thailand

Korat

Medium15 to 18 years

The Korat, with its silver-sheened blue-grey coat, comes from Thailand. Compact and muscular, it seeks familiar company and often plays with impressive persistence.

Sources and photograph credit

  1. Cats and allergies

    Used in this profile for: Day-to-day care

  2. LaPerm

    Used in this profile for: Lifespan

  3. LaPerm

    Used in this profile for: Size / Weight, Temperament, Everyday life, Day-to-day care, Size and build, Health, Could this breed fit your life?

  4. Erythrocyte Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency

    Used in this profile for: Health