LaPerm Longhair Cat Breed

This clever, captivating cat is gentle and affectionate and adores human company, making it an ideal family pet.

An ordinary farm cat in Oregon in 1982 produced the original curly-coated kitten that led to the development of the LaPerm. This cat bred naturally with other cats on the farm, and more curly-coated offspring appeared.

Cat breeders then started to take an interest in the unusual coats, and a new breed was born. The coat of this shaggy but graceful cat varies considerably from soft waves to bouncy, corkscrew curls. There is also a shorthaired version.

Long-legged and agile, LaPerms are active cats, but will readily accommodate their owners by switching from playing games to purring on a lap. The breed is gratifyingly responsive to affection and welcomes being fussed over.

Its long, strokable, curly coat is not difficult to groom, since it has very little undercoat to shed or mat. Regular combing is the best way to keep the curls in good order.

Whiskers and Curls

The bouncy texture of the LaPerm’s fur is created by the shape of the curls and a mixture of three hair types: the soft down hairs of the undercoat; intermediate fawn hairs; and longer guard hairs, which form the topcoat.

The tightest ringlets appear on the neck, ruff, and along the plumy tail. The LaPerm is unique among cats with Rex (curly) coats in having very long whiskers; in other Rex breeds, the whiskers are short and brittle.

Origin: US, 1980s

Breed registries: CFA, TICA

Weight range: 8–11lb (3.5–5kg)

Grooming: 2–3 times a week

Colors and patterns: All colors, shades, and patterns.